The current situation in Japan – CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) update

The Japanese government continues to implement strict quarantine measures as well as travel restrictions to fight the spreading of the virus. Japan banned entry to the country for many citizens of different countries and regions. Foreigners who have visited restricted areas within 14 days are not allowed to enter Japan unless they are under special circumstances.

Japan Government measures

Japanese government currently demands all foreign visitors as well as Japanese nationals who have visited restricted areas within 14 days to undergo a PCR test before their arrival in the country. Japanese authorities designated the following countries and regions listed below as subjects to the entry ban:

Asia: Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Viet Nam.

Oceania: Australia, New Zealand.

North America: Canada, United States. 

Latin America and the Caribbean: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Dominica, Ecuador, Panama. 

Europe: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, 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.

Middle East: Bahrain, Iran, Israel, Turkey, Qatar.

Africa: Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Mauritius, Morocco.

The restrictions mentioned above will be applied as of 00:00 am on the 3rd of April (Japanese standard time) and will last until further notice.

New travel restrictions

Due to novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Japanese government, as well as most of the world, has implemented major travel restrictions. 

Until the end, April travelers arriving by air from China and the Republic of Korea will be admitted to land in Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Osaka Kansai (KIX) international airports. Visitors arriving by sea from China and the Republic of Korea will be suspended until the end of April. 

The Japanese government is also suspending visas:

  • Single or multiple-entry visas issued at Japanese Embassies or Consulates General located in any country or region except the countries and regions listed below.
  • Suspending visa exemption measures for any relevant country or region except the countries and regions listed below.
  • Suspending validity of Pre-Clearance granted to APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) issued by any relevant country or region except the countries and regions listed below.

Exceptions: Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Dominica, Ecuador, Panama, Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ivory Coast, Mauritius, Morocco.

Countries and regions that were previously exempt from visa restrictions, at this time restrictions are going to be applied from 0:00 am on April 3 until the end of April or further notice.

For more information click here.

Security measures

In order to prevent further spreading of the virus, some Japanese festivals and events have been already canceled or postponed. Moreover, Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, and Universal Studios Japan, museums and galleries have been closed until further notice. The list of closed facilities in Japan can be found here

It is required by all Japanese as well as foreign visitors to take precautionary safety measures like personal hygiene (washing and disinfecting your hands often) wearing a mask, avoid visiting crowded places or going to the public for unimportant reasons. 

In order to avoid possible high medical expenses Japanese government urges all foreign visitors to get insurance after arriving in Japan. The following companies are recommended by the Japanese authorities: Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance and Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance. These insurance companies represent medical facilities and are intermediate between the customer and the doctor. You can apply and learn more on their websites.