Japan Set To Announce Entry Changes As Early As This Week

A cabinet member disclosed in a TV interview on Sunday (read more here) that there would be changes to Japan’s entry requirements in the “not so distant future.”

Now, there is news from Japan that this “not so distant future” maybe by the end of this week with new requirements coming into effect by October.

Here’s an excerpt from the Japan Times:

The government is planning to allow independent tourists to come to Japan and exempt them from visas if they have been vaccinated three times or submit a pre-arrival test result, Fuji TV reported Monday. It also intends to abolish the daily arrival cap, which is currently set at 50,000, the report added.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly plans to make a decision as early as the end of this week, with an eye to implementing the revisions by October.

Japan last week removed the PCT-RT test requirement from those entering the country who have been vaccinated and boosted (three jabs). The arrivals cap was raised from 20,000 to 50,000 in recent weeks.

Japan started to allow small-scale group tours to enter in June, and roughly 8,000 arrived in June and July, a much smaller number than anticipated.

Then the Japanese government decided that visitors with visas would be allowed to enter also on non-guided tours, but a Japanese travel agency would be required to “plan” the tour (just collect some cash) and issue the ERFS to the visitor that is required for visa issuance.

Japan also relaxed visa issuance for US and Canadian citizens who could apply over the internet instead of appearing in person at the closest consulate or embassy.

Japan’s Road To Reopening:

• Japan To Remove Daily Arrivals Cap & Remove Visa Requirement “Not So Distant Future”
• Japan’s Non-guided Tours Partially Clarified
• Japan Increases Daily Arrivals Cap To 50,000 & Soon Allows Tourists On Non Guided Tours
• Japan Drops Pre-Departure PCR-RT Test Requirement September 7, 2022
• Japan Plans To Remove Covid-19 Test Requirement, Raise Daily Arrivals Cap To 50,000 & Tours Without Guides?
• Japan Opens eVISA Applications For Citizens Of The US & Canada On August 18, 2022
• Japan Tourism Trial Disaster, Tight Entry Requirements Continue & Long Term Goals
• Japan Tour Canceled After Thai Visitor Tests Positive For Covid
• Japan Allows International Visitors On Package Tours From June 10, 2022
• Japan Doubles Arrivals Cap & Testing Changes June 1, 2022
• Japan Tourism Trial Disappointment
• Japan Begins Tourism Trial In May For Fully Vaccinated From United States, Australia, Thailand & Singapore

Conclusion

It seems that Japan will soon reopen international visitors without having to apply for visas (they temporarily halted all visa waiver programs) or being part of organized or non-guided tours.

Japan closed its border for most international non-citizen arrivals in March 2020 and started to allow some business visitors and students to enter from late 2021 with a quarantine.

Japanese citizens have been allowed to leave and enter as they please the entire time, however. There have been brief periods of quarantine and the arrivals cap that have made returning sometimes challenging.

Even when Japan reopens, there will be significantly fewer international visitors compared to 2019 as long as China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, where Japan received half of the incoming tourists, have quarantine requirements for returning residents.