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The Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic has been a wild ride for Japan’s foreign residents. Currently denying entry to travellers from 146 nations and regions, Japan has been incredibly strict with its re-entry policies, only recently clarifying that residents under ‘exceptional circumstances’ are allowed back into the country. Now, it looks like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is taking another careful step towards allowing non-Japanese residents back into the country.
Starting August 5, certain foreign residents will be granted re-entry to Japan. This process is confusing, so we break it down for you here:
- Foreign residents who left Japan to visit a country or region before it was added to Japan’s entry ban list will be allowed back into Japan from August 5.
- For these residents, ‘exceptional circumstances’ are no longer a requirement.
- However, those residents will need to present two documents: a 'Letter of Confirmation of Submitting Required Documentation for Re-entry into Japan' and a certificate confirming a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, conducted within 72 hours of the flight. (You’ll find the required official documents here.)
- MOFA says the new policy applies to foreign residents with any of the following residence statuses: permanent resident, spouse or child of Japanese national, spouse or child of permanent resident, and long-term resident.
For more information, see the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
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