Japan to issue vaccine passports free of charge

No thanks

Well, it will be pretty well useless unless it’s in English, and other languages

slippery slope, no thank you

If it makes traveling easier then I will take one and I guess JP government must be thinking to ease the quarantine rules for holders re-entering Japan at some stage.

how generous of them!

@zichi probably after the Olympics.........

When will Japan open its borders to other travellers with a vaccination passport?

exactly! it should be reciprocal.

MyNumber should be used in these matters other than depriving tax of us. they force us to apply every single thing that takes up time of staff in local governments.

Yeah, I'm good. Thanks. I can't believe people are going through with this stuff. Do you think vaccine passports will ever be repealed one day? The government won't just willingly give you freedom back unless you take it back.

Unfortunately will need one to get to the states for a funeral. Amazing how much China has changed the world in such a short time. Oh, and they are not free of charge. Using our taxes.

It's gonna be the usual pattern.

They'll keep announcing they wanna make a vaccine passport but nothing will ever get done.

slippery slope, no thank you

Slippery slope to what exactly? Do you realize humanity has had vaccine passports under some form or other as far back as 1885 and that it never "sloped" into anything else?

Is this exclusive for Japanese citizens only? Or anyone who has a valid residence visa?

Japan is looking to have its vaccination passports accepted by over 10 nations, including Italy, France and Greece, according to government sources.

Will it also be accepted by Japan?

They are the ones making it difficult to re-enter the country from abroad for expats.

It’s ridiculous, not being able to take a domestic flight after arriving in Tokyo on an international flight. Not everyone lives in Tokyo, despite what the government thinks.

This “passport” will most likely only be used in Japan anyways.

Yep - Will be applying for mine as soon as is possible (second shot 30th July) If only for the simple reason at SOME point in the future it will probably allow us to return as residents with a much reduced quarantine period. - and then there will be a rush and it will take months to obtain one.

Of course it own't be reciprocal, don't be silly - and frankly I don't care, But once Japan gets up to 60+ % vaccinated it will be removed from more and more watch lists in the modern world and we will probably be free to travel with a couple of tests either way.

Days of privacy are over peeps - if you don't like it then you might have to accept you are stuck here for the next 2-3 years if you DON'T want to quarantine.

@Dman - Any legal resident can get one.

There’s never and nowhere such a thing like free vaccination passports or certifications. You need the resources for printing, IT, working time of the staff, energy… That all will have to be paid one day sooner or later, probably it is covered by our paid taxes. Estimates (in similar other countries) are mostly in the range of ¥2000 to ¥4000 , just for only one printed page. Neither the vaccinations nor the according certifications are free, that’s simply a lie.

Great news! I'll be applying for mine directly after my second jab, if that's possible. Let's get the world back to normal.

Well, it will be pretty well useless unless it’s in English, and other languages.

The certification-related decals on the voucher issued by my ward are bilingual: Japanese English.

Thats right @JeffLee - The Vaccine passport will also be Bilingual. My vaccine seal showing brand/batch number etc the same as you - in both languages.

Great. So when can I get my vaccination?

Have no idea what purpose a Japanese language document would be if it is supposed to be used for people travelling FROM Japan to another country.

Oh right, the people handling immigration wouldnt be able to read it!

So they should.

Useless or not, I will be applying for it. At this point, anything to be able to Travel. The US is already back to normal, meanwhile Japan is lagging. Its stiffling, not being able to travel without all the rules.

AFAIK the first version will be paper one and then they will release digital ones. I am positive that they are waiting for offers from companies like NEC to make a mobile app which will cost at least 50 million USD. That tracking one for athletes was 30 something, so this one should cost tax payers more. And no one will complain (sadly) and no one will vote out jiji party

Well, when there are too few vaccine passports to give out to begin with, it shouldn't be such a big deal that it's free.

My worry is that even with the vaccine passport, I will be required to do the 2 week quarantine on return for quite some time. Why? Since vaccination can't be legally required here, won't it be considered discriminatory to have vaccinated folks do no quarantine and the unvaccinated do a quarantine? Having finished my two shots, I was thinking to travel to visit family this Aug. Sept. Now not sure..

HankB - I honestly don't see the 14 day Quarantine ending (including the 3, 6 or 10 day stays in hotels depending on point of departure) for several months, possibly through to next April. What i do now, is that when its lifted there will be a rush for said vaccine passports.

Might as well sign up early.

If I get my vaccine passport, go back to visit family and avoid quarantine rules etc. What happens when I come back to Japan?

Will Japan honor it’s own vaccine passport, or will it require us all to quarantine?

Just hurry up with the actual vaccinations first, eh

sandoval:

I am positive that they are waiting for offers from companies like NEC to make a mobile app which will cost at least 50 million USD.

Yes, Suga has to decide which one of his friends is going to get the contract.

Did they put a time limit on these vax passports? Say 6-12 months only? The key when giving up privacy rights, is to have it be for a limited time that is shorter than expected and can be renewed once or twice easily, but not after that. On the 3rd renewal, it should be harder.

Slippery slope to what exactly? Do you realize humanity has had vaccine passports under some form or other as far back as 1885 and that it never "sloped" into anything else?

It sure did, but you just haven't noticed. For one, passports weren't even introduced globally until the 1920s. Since then, our freedom of movement has been slowly but steadily curtailed and controlled.

I got my vaccine, and I'll get my vaccine passport because I need to travel. But I am not happy about it, and am well aware of the slippery slope.

Personally I dont see the big deal. The vaccine passport just ties your vaccination you had in Japan and the records of that, which they already have, including the form you got after vaccination, with your passport number. And most likely you will need this to travel overseas in the future. If you dont want to travel overseas dont get it as you won't need it.

What I would like to be sure of is will they issue this for people vaccinated here for their foreign passports or will it only apply and be possible for Japanese passports. One would think it would apply for all passports for anyone vaccinated here with the normal Japanese records of vaccination, however this is Japan and what one thinks is logical or expected may not always be the case. Remember the time only residents with foreign passports needed extra pre covid tests, even inablitility to return form overseas, compared to residents with japanese passports. Completely illogical rules based only on passport, not residence and not health precautions. The vaccine passport rules could just as easily be written this way too. Anyone know it will be possible for non Japanese passports?

GOJ, it's all good if you practice what you preach.

Totally dumb idea! Discrimination will be uncontrollable. Burn the passports!

Yes @Matej: There are two types of Citizen, those who see everything in black and white and truly believe that all are equal and basically refuse to recognise any kind of power (like yourself), and those that accept that a little bit of paperwork and revealing a little personal info isn't the end of the world if it makes life easier.

Some still seem confused, If you had your vaccine here and you are a legal resident you will be able to get a vaccine passport.

NOTHING is free..everyone pays tax in Japan...these aren't "FREE".

There is already an app called Amulet. With this you can record the dates of your shots, the vaccine maker, and the copies of the stickers certified by the doctor/vaccine center.

Let’s say someone gets the Russian or Chinese vaccine or some other weak one. Will that be enough? Even Astra Zeneca is being discriminated against. All stupid just like the govt minister who proposed banks to freeze financial help to businesses that don’t follow alcohol ban.

Nope. @Chili - you know its GOT to be a vaccine that's been administered here, with the relevant docs. Stop being difficult. No one is discriminating against AZ - its just not being used here. Maybe it will in the future and then it would be acceptable.

It sure did, but you just haven't noticed. For one, passports weren't even introduced globally until the 1920s. Since then, our freedom of movement has been slowly but steadily curtailed and controlled.

Are you advocating for the eradication of actual passports and complaining about the existence of actual borders?

that's cos hardly anyone has had the bloody jag....it'll cost them next to nothing.....LLF

@resident im talking about residents of other countries they can only afford what’s donated. You act so entitled…lucky you can get the best vaccine you say or what if you can’t get a vaccine because of an underlying health issue, then what?

but Chili - It doesn't matter does it? Japan is closed to tourists. Visa Waiver inactive.

It is quite funny that some are complaining about a vaccine passport when they live in a country where they have to carry a chipped card to go outside.

I think they are more concerned about getting a jab in the arm than actual privacy.

@Chili: This topic is about the Japanese Vaccine Passport. For Citizens and Residents here and who have been vaccinated here Not about overseas residents. What's so hard to understand?

Very adult response.

Yeah, I'm good. Thanks. I can't believe people are going through with this stuff. Do you think vaccine passports will ever be repealed one day? The government won't just willingly give you freedom back unless you take it back.

They shouldn't call it passport but rather a vaccine fastpass. It bypasses the quarantine requirements of countries.

Calling it a passport spawns anti-vaxxer 2nd amendment trolls.

MatejToday 12:05 pm JST

Japanese constitution

Article 14. All of the people are equal under the law and there shall be no discrimination in political, economic or social relations because of race, creed, sex, social status or family origin.

Peers and peerage shall not be recognized.

No privilege shall accompany any award of honor, decoration or any distinction, nor shall any such award be valid beyond the lifetime of the individual who now holds or hereafter may receive it.

Suga READ IT,there are no two categories of citizens here!

What are you talking about ? This is just an official documentation stating you're been vaccinated to be used OUTSIDE Japan by the receiving country.

so if I don't get vaccine I am forced to live here forever, I can't visit my family, I can't visit my wife's family.

It's an open air jail and people looks like is happy for this, the most unconstitutional thing ever made by every state, human beings have lost their freedom of travel.

@Cognac: Welcome to the New World. Get Vaxxed or Get Stuck.

Pretty much @Matej - Not just in Japan either, Heading that way in Western Europe too.

Useless unless they stop requiring us to quarantine on return. Those countries listed already would allow us to travel there without this new document. The point is to get rid of the quarantine in Japan.

Woohoo! I love free stuff..... The price is right , I can't wait to get one.

Can I use it to return to Japan? Why not? If it's issued by Japan then surely it can be used here.

Or would I be wrong to imply logic with the Japanese government?

Antivaxxers crying about second- class citizens.

Get down off that cross...somebody needs the wood

PharaohChromiumToday  07:57 am JST

Yeah, I'm good. Thanks. I can't believe people are going through with this stuff. Do you think vaccine passports will ever be repealed one day? The government won't just willingly give you freedom back unless you take it back.

That's right. But it seems like a sizable proportion of the population, including a big slice of posters on this forum, seem to be welcoming the approaching authoritarianism with open arms.

Give us security at any cost, they say. They just have no idea how high that cost will be. Vaccine passports are just a small piece of it.

Exactly what's happening as I said earlier this will contribute to discrimination ...vaccines are not equal..

https://apnews.com/article/europe-business-lifestyle-health-travel-f678a53270470d9b35ce6259e48548bf

Common sense to have a vaccine passport. The fact is the virus is highly contagious and an unvaccinated you could actually kill someone else (without you even knowing it) and vice versa. That it is so difficult to know who is infected and who isn't at any given time means that vaccination is obviously the only feasible solution (yes, it's not even 100% but it's far better than 0%). If you want to spend 1, 2, 5, 7, 10, 15 hours or more sitting next to someone on a plane or train etc. who isn't vaccinated (and probably can't understand that masks help to reduce the spread), you've got rocks in your head. Those who really believe it's all a grand scheme of global elites to control everyone, or that it's all a big hoax, seriously need help.

As always, the usual belly-aching. You can absolve yourself from all of this and abstain from the vaccine, passports, travel, living in Japan and not bother yourselves anymore with any of it. Hopefully by then, you won't be a bother to the rest of the world either.

May I have a single one way ticket on the next Shinkansen to Tokyo.

Do you have your vaccine passport.

Yes I have.

Sorry it not up to date.

But I had both Pfizer vaccine and it show it on the certificate.

Sorry but you don't have your annual Flu vaccine.

To avoid this get your document/ passport/ certificate and be up to date with your vaccination. All of your vaccination !

The so-called vaccine passports Japan plans to issue to allow people inoculated against COVID-19 to travel internationally will be free of charge, the government's top spokesman said Monday.

"plans" is the operative word here. So it could be next year when Japan actually issues these?

Japan has done a lot of great planning over the last 18 months--I wish them continued success.

Might as well get one just in case.

In retrospect, what was Japan doing all those months when they were waiting for the vaccine rollout? They couldn't have come up with this stamp card idea in that time, so as to provide concurrent with receiving the second vaccine?

Bet I can get a vaccination passport before my shots

@Northernlife

How about getting the vaccine rollout sorted out first...

That is ridiculous. There is no reason the government can't work on two things at one time.

@Pukey2

Great. So when can I get my vaccination?

Have you applied for a ticket? Most cities are vaccinating under 65 year old now. Appointment slots are limited but you should be able to get vaccinated already.

Other countries would require these vaccination certificates to enter their countries

It's only reasonable to give J-residents to have these so they can travel to other countries