Japan – Expanding Entry Ban to 73 Nations to Control Coronavirus

Japan–Expands Entry Ban to 73 Nations Control COVID-19

The government of Japan imposed new significant measures to expand to 73 countries and regions in total its entry ban on foreign nationals. Due to the restrictions on entry, those foreign nationals with a valid residence status in Japan, including expatriates on international assignment who temporarily departed from Japan to the below-listed countries with the Re-Entry Permission, are no longer able to return to Japan until further notice. Japanese nationals and the “Special” Permanent Residence Permit holders are exempt from the entry ban.

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CONTACTS

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The government of Japan imposed new significant measures to expand to 73 countries and regions in total its entry ban on foreign nationals.  (For prior coverage, see GMS Flash Alert 2020- 129, 30 March 2020.)  As a consequence, flight restrictions and route cancellations are happening on a daily basis to curb the number of arriving passengers to Japan in order to foster the effective implementation of quarantine measures.  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan is regularly providing appropriate information and advisories to promptly respond to the urgent needs of those Japanese nationals or overseas travelers wishing to return to Japan.  

WHY THIS MATTERS

The information provided in this article will be updated periodically upon new announcements by the Japanese government.  Due to the restrictions on entry, those foreign nationals with a valid residence status in Japan including expatriates on international assignment who temporarily departed from Japan to the below-listed countries with the Re-Entry Permission are no longer able to return to Japan until further notice.  Japanese nationals and the “Special” Permanent Residence Permit holders are exempt from the entry ban.

Denied Entry (Updated)

Effective from 3 April at 0:00 (JST), foreign nationals who have been physically present in the countries or regions listed below within the 14 days prior to their arrival in Japan are not permitted to land in Japan.Japanese nationals who have physically been in any of these countries or regions within the14 days prior to their arrival in Japan are not included in the scope of the entry ban, but are required to be in self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

 

 

 

Asia

Brunei

People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong and Macao

Indonesia

Malaysia

Philippines

Singapore

South Korea

Taiwan, Republic of China

Thailand

Vietnam

 

 

Oceania

Australia

New Zealand

 

North America

Canada

USA

 

 

Latin America

Bolivia

Brazil

Chile

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Panama

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

Albania

Andorra

Armenia

Austria

Belgium

Bosnia Herzegovina

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Kosovo

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Moldova

Monaco

Montenegro

Netherlands

North Macedonia

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

San Marino

Serbia

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

United Kingdom

Vatican City

 

 

Middle East

Bahrain

Iran

Israel

Turkey

 

 

 

Africa

Cote d'Ivoire

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Egypt

Mauritius

Morocco

 

KPMG NOTE

  • Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) applications already filed for foreigners in the above listed countries will be suspended and any new applications will not be accepted until further notice.
  • Visa applications at the embassies/consulate of Japan in the above listed countries will not be accepted. Visa applicants in other countries are required to fill in and submit a questionnaire on whether or not they have (or will have) travelled to the countries listed above within the 14 days before arriving in Japan.
  • Those foreign nationals who hold a valid entry visa for Japan (whether short/long or single/multiple-entry) will not be considered an exception to the refusal of entry.
  • Foreign nationals with the status of residence of “Permanent Resident,” “Spouse or Child of Japanese National,” “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident,” or “Long Term Resident” have temporarily left Japan with Re-Entry Permission after 3 April are also subject to the denied entry. The “Special Permanent Resident” is not in the scope of the entry ban.2
  • All travelers entering from abroad including Japanese nationals are strictly required to self-quarantine for 14 days after their arrival regardless of whether they show any signs of symptoms.  They must take PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests in Japan upon arrival at the airport and are strictly asked to refrain from using public transportation (e.g., rail, bus, taxi, domestic flight).  They should secure accommodations in Japan where can stay for 14 days and private transportation from the airport to the destination before their arrival. They are not allowed to leave the airport unless the quarantine officer confirms the accommodation address and the means of transportation.
  • The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has raised its travel alert for Japanese nationals to travel to the above listed 73 countries to “Level 3” – Avoid All Travel, to urge Japanese nationals to avoid all travel to the countries/regions regardless of the purpose.  Japanese residents in the countries/regions may be advised to consider or prepare for an evacuation.  All the rest of world is raised to “Level 2” – Avoid Non-Essential Travel.3

FOOTNOTES

1  See the Ministry of Justice website.

2  See the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website.

3  See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

* Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.

 

The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Japan.

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© 2024 KPMG Tax Corporation, a tax corporation incorporated under the Japanese CPTA Law and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

GMS Flash Alert is a Global Mobility Services publication of the KPMG LLP Washington National Tax practice. The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organization. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee and does not provide services to clients. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

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