The latest COVID-19 situation and immigration in Japan
As development of vaccines against COVID-19 and vaccination are getting advanced each day in the world, it seems like the number of infected people is decreasing. Since the world-wide situation is getting improved, on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, there is an announcement about the new regulations to start accepting the entry to/exit from Japan again.
On the website, the new orders to enter Japan, and to follow after the entry are explained as following:
- New regulations for new entry of foreigners
According to the government’s decision made on January 13th, 2021, generally speaking, the new entry of foreigners was used to suspended after the midnight on January 14th (Japanese time), except if the immigrant is in special circumstances. Today, with the new restrictions, it is possible that they will accept foreigners’ new entries if they are short-term residents (3 months or less) and/or long-term residents who came for business and work purposes, and if the person in charge of acceptance in Japan/(the host) (companies/organizations that hire the immigrants or invite the immigrants for business/entertainment; the same will be applied below) submits documents including written oath and activity plans to the ministries of commercial jurisdiction. Also, the submitted documents must be approved in advance, by a specific ministry (generally, the ministry that has jurisdiction over the type of activity of the host; the “ministries in charge of business”).
The applications created by the host, for the ministries of commercial jurisdiction will be accepted from 10 am, on November 8th, 2021.
- Restrictions for activities after entering Japan, for immigrants with vaccination certificates
Under the control of the host, immigrants with valid vaccination certificates will be able to follow different regulations from their fourth day after the entry, in the shortest case. Specifically, they can allow immigrants or returnees to carry out activities under the control of the host that are based on their activity plan (“the specific action”) during the waiting period after the fourth day counting from the day of entrance to Japan (originally, the period lasts for 14 days) in the facilities they are staying, after submitting a negative test result of PCR or antigen quantitative test that is voluntarily taken again after the third day (during the period in the facility, which is, the holding facility or home insured by the host; the same shall be applied in the following) to the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, if they meet these 3 requirements:
-They have a vaccination certificate that is confirmed as valid by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare.
-Their application form including the written oath and the plan of activities presented to the competent ministry are checked in advance
-They do not have history of staying in a designated country/region that is subjected to require the stay at an accommodation for 6 – 10 days during the 14 days counting from the date of entry.
In general, this regulation will be applied for long-term residents who are approved by the commercial jurisdiction ministries that they do need the deregulation, and for short-term residents (3 months or less) who come for business or employment purposes, in addition to Japanese or foreign returnees (if they meet the requirements).
To activate this regulation, the applications created by the host, for the ministries of commercial jurisdiction will be accepted from 10 am, on November 8th, 2021.
Reference (Japanese): https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/ca/cp/page22_003380.html