Visa Information

◆ RE-ENTRY
Foreign nationals with Status of Residence (regardless of its category) who have departed from Japan with a valid Re-entry Permit/Special Re-entry Permit.

 

◆ NEW ENTRY
Foreign nationals who will newly enter Japan (i.e., enter Japan without re-entry permit) under the cases below with a proper entry visa of Japan depending on the purpose of their entry:

• Foreign nationals who have departed from Japan on or before August 31, 2020 with a valid Re-entry Permit/Special Re-entry Permit but have been unable to re-enter Japan because the validity of the permit has expired after their departure from Japan.
• The spouse or child of a Japanese national or permanent resident of Japan.
• The spouse or child of a foreign national with the status of residence of “Long-term resident” whose family is staying in Japan and who have been separated from their family.
• A foreign national who is going to acquire the status of "Instructor" or "Professor" and who needs to enter Japan to fill a vacancy at the educational institution s/he is employed by or will be employed by, provided such a vacancy would result in the suspension of educational activities at the above-mentioned educational institution.
• A foreign national who is going to acquire the status of "Medical Services" and will contribute to the enhancement and strengthening of the Japanese medical profession.
• Those who are eligible for “Phased Measures toward Resuming Cross-Border Travel” (SUSPENDED):
  Starting from October 1, 2020, [1] foreign nationals with a Certificate of Eligibility (this includes all types of Status of Residence except for “diplomatic” and “official”) who intend to enter Japan for a mid to long term stay, as well as [2] those who intend to enter Japan for a short-term stay for the purpose of temporary business will, in principle, be incrementally permitted to enter Japan under the condition that the person is hosted by a company/entity that can assure the observation of quarantine measures. However, the number of people who will be permitted to enter Japan will be restricted. Foreign nationals intending to enter Japan using this scheme should apply for the entry visa (even for a short-term stay) and will need to submit the same documents as the applicants of the “Residence Track.”

Note:

• On December 26, 2020, the Government of Japan announced the suspension of the Phased Measure for Resuming Cross-Border Travel above. This suspension had been implemented from December 28, 2020 till the end of January 2021.
• On January 13, 2021, the suspension was extended till lifting of the State of Emergency.
• On March 18, 2021, the suspension was decided to remain in effect for the time being. ( https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page22e_000921.html)

◆ OTHERS
Foreign nationals who do not fall under the cases above but have been acknowledged to have special exceptional circumstances (e.g., cases that require humanitarian consideration) by the Japanese authorities.

For further details, please visit the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.

◆ Presentation of Inspection Certificate (Negative Test Result)
You are required to obtain an inspection certificate (negative test result) before departing the U.S. for Japan (the test must be conducted within 72 hours of the intended departure). You will be denied entry into Japan if you fail to submit the certificate upon your arrival to Japan (Therefore, airlines will not give you permission to board an aircraft departing for Japan without the certificate).

• To all who enter Japan
• Requirements for Certificate of Testing for Entering Japan
  (A Certificate of Testing listing the specimen type as "nasal swab" is invalid, therefore airlines will deny you permission to board an aircraft departing for Japan. See the link above for more information.)
• Certificate of Testing for COVID-19 [Form]*
• List of Local Travel Clinics/Medical Clinics that can issue a Negative Certificate

Notes on the requirements of the certificate:
In principle, you are strongly recommended to use the designated form, however, other forms of certificates are also acceptable only if it includes all required information.
*For the designated form: Although the designated form reads “signature by doctor,” any authorized medical personnel, including but not limited to doctors and nurses, can sign the certificate if it is issued in the United States.
*For other forms of certificates: Medical institution/laboratory’s letterhead and an authorized healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, etc.)’s printed name can be substituted for the imprint of a seal/doctor’s signature if it is issued in the United States.
 

◆ Submission of a Written Pledge
You will be asked to pledge your compliance to a number of mitigation measures which are indicated in the Written Pledge form (Summary / Form).

 

◆ Carrying a smartphone and installing necessary APPs

• Installing apps required for preventing the spread of COVID-19 (Summary / Detail)
• Regarding the use of apps following your arrival (Summary / Detail)

◆ Submission of Questionnaire
You will need to register necessary information (ex. your contact details, travel history, health condition) prior to entry into Japan. Registration can be found HERE.