Japan to ease entry ban to allow long-term stays from Oct 1, but not tourists

While I am very skeptical regarding relaxing measures, I am totally for responsibly opening the borders, with strict measures - as testing upon arrival, to avoid any infections.

If izakayas are open and packed, why wouldn’t students and workers move to Japan if properly tested and quarantined, right?

Designed purely to allow Olympic athletes in. Who on earth needs a longterm stay without a visa..

This news means nothing at all.

Designed purely to allow Olympic athletes in. Who on earth needs a longterm stay without a visa..

This news means nothing at all.

absolutely.

Lipstick on a pig

@Reckless, I am 'sure' JGov knows this. No test results within 72 hours, Hairimasen! 入りません！

So in effect, the 'ban' continues?

Designed purely to allow Olympic athletes in. Who on earth needs a longterm stay without a visa..

There are thousands of people around the world who have job offers or acceptance letters to Japanese universities, Certificates of Eligibility already in hand, but the Japanese Embassies and Consulates still will not process our visa applications. While still not official this is a major step forward for new entrants. I am an internal transfer who has been waiting in limbo since June. Meanwhile my Hong Kong office has continuously received several Japanese expats in a one-sided arrangement. I would like to get on with my life too.

Just since when has Jpn not got an issue with “foreigners”?

it just goes on and on, foreigner this, foreigner that.

exclusivity reigns supreme

As Luddite says. I cannot travel until either the advanced test or the quarantine is dropped. With a test at the airport the advanced test means nothing. With a negative result at the airport the quarantine is also meaningless. Prices for returns to Haneda have gone through the roof because nobody can afford an uber from Narita.

I cannot find anything in this article either...

Wake me up when there is real news and change.

With all the hurdles like testing 72 hours before departure, fully aware that testing for people showing no symptoms is near impossible and expensive, and being holed up after arrival in a hotel near the airport for two weeks if you don't have a private car, just who the heck is going to come?

Or maybe that was the outcome Japan had hoped for, while making it look as if they were being so generous to foreigners.

I bet Japanese tourists are able to go to Britain with no prior testing or quarantine measures. Perhaps they're incapable of picking up viruses. Britain acting like a welcome mat, as usual, for everyone to walk on.

coffee:

Meanwhile my Hong Kong office has continuously received several Japanese expats in a one-sided arrangement. I would like to get on with my life too.

If they're HK residents, then that's old news. Lots of residents from the Indian subcontinent have been allowed back since day zero. It's time HK and other countries reciprocate. So damn sick and tired of this hypocrisy, and this 'all take and no give' attitude by Japan.

Olympic support staff, JET, any of them. If they are from countries on the banned list, they should not be allowed into Japan, if that is policy.

Then this should also apply to Japanese nationals re-entering the country. Foreigners must test negative 72 hours pre-departure and upon arrival, whereas Japanese nationals only need to test negative upon arrival. Are you ok with this?

Tokyo reported 59 new cases today out of a whopping 419 tests conducted on September 20. Are you not concerned about Japan's own abysmal testing rate. 14% positive test rate, try extrapolating that to Tokyo's 13 million population. Whereas in Hong Kong we mass tested 1.7 million people with 26 confirmed cases. India and US may be train wrecks but at least they are testing.

If proper protocol is in place people should be able to get on with their lives. My office continues to received new Japanese expats so why can my internal transfer not be processed? International agreements should be two-way.

Does this mean those with visas awaiting first time entry to Japan can come at last - the spouses, children, students, workers? Or is this just to allow those involved with the Olympics easy entry? Either way, I bet after testing they won’t have to quarantine, just like the athletes. The whole point of testing is to avoid the disruption of quarantine; the current policy of testing and quarantine for non-athletes is designed to hamper travel.

I think this is also to allow in people with newly issued visas.

From what I understand, the JET teachers' contract expires this year on Sept 30 (it was pushed back 2 months to not coincide with the Olympics). Therefore, any new teachers wouldn't be able to enter and begin teaching from October, which would leave many schools without their ALTs (the school in our town being one of them).

Exclude China please, or anyone having a connection to the CCP.

I just returned from overseas few days ago. While it took alot of work (visiting Japanese embassy to get certification and COVID swab test at local Red Cross), it is doable.

The procedure at Haneda took almost 2hours from arrival until customs gate which includes test using saliva. My managers picked me up and now back at my apartment working from home while waiting for my 14day quarantine to end. I order my groceries online to avoid the crowds.

Again, it is doable if your papers are in order and of course negative from Covid.

I really feel bad for residents in Japan who have not been allowed to enter back into their country of residency so far.

People canlegally have only ONE residency place. How can they have been rejected this way?

I am deeply speechless!

Specifically, anyone having a connection to the CCP. Should be barred from entry to Japan.

I found the Japanese news version from Asahi Shinbun, Yahoo news, which mentioned new entry visa for people who already have Certificates of Eligibility. Hope this is true.

Pukey2:

If they're HK residents, then that's old news. Lots of residents from the Indian subcontinent have been allowed back since day zero. It's time HK and other countries reciprocate. So damn sick and tired of this hypocrisy, and this 'all take and no give' attitude by Japan.

I am talking about new expats from our Japan HQ that previously did not have HK residency. We have been accepting long-term residency visa applications this entire time. So has Singapore, which is why they probably only announced the one-sided "business track" travel arrangement that mostly benefits Japanese business travelers.

The government has been ramping up the number of polymerase chain reaction tests that can be administered at Japan's three largest airports -- Narita and Haneda, serving Tokyo, and Kansai, serving Osaka -- and will now shift its focus to New Chitose near Sapporo, Chubu near Nagoya, and Fukuoka airport, the sources said.

Ramping up at the airport and ramping down inside the country. Tale of two perceived views.

Tokyo reported 59 new cases today out of a whopping 419 tests conducted on September 20. Are you not concerned about Japan's own abysmal testing rate. 14% positive test rate, try extrapolating that to Tokyo's 13 million population. Whereas in Hong Kong we mass tested 1.7 million people with 26 confirmed cases. India and US may be train wrecks but at least they are testing.

The number of test is never mentioned on TV so the general populace knows that infection is on a downward trend which is the narrative.

Reckless ...

"If anyone has experience getting the PCR test in the States 72 hours before returning to Japan please post your experience. I have been unable to find such a provider in Florida yet."

I live on an outer island in Hawaii and the odds of me meeting the re-entry requirements are insurmountable. Mine is a spouse visa.

Those those who normally live in Japan, and who're currently caught outside of the Country, I feel for you.

Those words are easy to say, but don't help much, so sorry. In reality, there is little anyone here can do to help, except to share your experience and sympathise with you, whilst at the same time being thankful that we're not in the same situation as you. ... that sadly is the harsh reality of this situation.

I believe it is 1 hour antigen tests being performed at airports, not PCR tests which takes much longer.

If anyone has experience getting the PCR test in the States 72 hours before returning to Japan please post your experience. I have been unable to find such a provider in Florida yet. I guess these travelers will have that problem as well.

I'm using a company called The Covid Consultants. They send you a package by Fedex, you spit into a packet, return it to them overnight, they get the result in 24 hours and email to you. You print it out and take it to the airport.

@reckless, @tom young. My brother in LA was also having trouble finding a place that can guarantee the 72 hour turnaround. The hospitals and the larger drug store chains with clinics could not, but he found a small place that did (set him back $250).

It isn’t just getting the test and result within 72 hours that is the issue, but also getting the results on the precise format required by Japan. An emailed result won’t cut it.

@reckless, just also found out that the Japanese Consulate takes reservations only in LA (no walk ins), and they have limited slots. You must visit in person and the form takes around 4-5 days!

Ok so I am from germany and want to go to japan to visit my japanese girlfriend as fast as possible (10 month not seen..). How can I do that, is there any possibility? I need a student visum right? But I see you can only get student visum for April 2021 because then the courses start

How can I come to japan to see my girlfrien this year, is there a possibility?

You can see your GF on ZOOM or Webex bro. Then one day you will be able to see in person. Sorry to hear your missings. Hope you can soon.

Is there any further explanation regarding this 'ease entry ban'?

I was supposed to enter japan in april, but because of the entry ban, I have been on hold for so long.

I already have Certificates of Eligibility and visa in hand, is there any possibility to enter early October?

I am Anil kumar I used to live in Japan since 2016 June to 2020 February . after that I got on live for three months in India my mother Land. When I come here during staing time government order to lock down deutoo corona virous. my visa had expire in 31 August 2020 . until now I am in India. My visa was skill labour as cooking visa. what I can do now. My owner is waiting for me. I am eager to go to Japan to work there again and again. Please advise me as soon as possible please.

Not such a bad thing, as far as tourists are concerned. It's typhoon season.

Olympic support staff, JET, any of them. If they are from countries on the banned list, they should not be allowed into Japan, if that is policy. Hard reality. The point is to prevent the spread of SARSCoV-2 from countries who have large numbers of cases - and as is evident in the USA, incapable of employing the simplest manner of protocols to tamp down the number of cases. The lack of ALTs, however an inconvenience is hardly reason to lift restrictions barring individuals from countries that are simply banned from entry for very good reason.

The contagion has been in place, less than a year and as in Europe there is a second wave, same in Canada and the USA an endless wave. India, is a complete trainwreck. It is not simply a matter of being annoyed at an inconvenience or lack of patience, the inability to understand the impacts of the crisis beyond one's self-interest seems continual among certain segments of the population. Take even a cursory look at the incredible craziness that is the USA in terms of its response.

Is this official?

@AG

While I am very skeptical regarding relaxing measures, I am totally for responsibly opening the borders, with strict measures - as testing upon arrival, to avoid any infections.

If izakayas are open and packed, why wouldn’t students and workers move to Japan if properly tested and quarantined, right?

Very good. And this is what they call, constructive criticism.

And yes, let’s relax the travel restrictions, but gradually, and over time. That’s the right way to go.

Its very doable if are happy to pay a premium price. Pretty much everywhere. This discussion has been had since the restrictions were lifted and is stale. If you HAVE to travel in a Pandemic then this is a cost you should and must take into consideration.

I hope they delay it longer, Its so nice without tourists.

Another step in the right direction.

Japan is moving through the steps,from allowing domestic travel,to gradually allowing foreign tourists cant complain about the careful procedural nature.

Hopefully, won't hit any speed bumps and my parents might be able to attend their granddaughters graduation in the spring.

Who on earth needs a longterm stay without a visa

Obviously you need a visa? I have a visa and would be let in under these new circumstances.

Designed purely to allow Olympic athletes in

No, it would let:

foreign students who are not on government grants, medical staff, athletes and those participating in cultural activities

among others in.

This news means nothing at all.

Yes it does. It would be the biggest lift of restrictions yet. What are you talking about.