JAPAN REMOVES THE (RE)-ENTRY BAN FOR FOREIGNERS. WHAT IS NEEDED TO LEAVE AND COME BACK?

September 01, 2020 JAPAN REMOVES THE (RE)-ENTRY BAN FOR FOREIGNERS. WHAT IS NEEDED TO LEAVE AND COME BACK?

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Japan has partially removed the (re-)entry ban for foreign nationals. It has previous been possible for non-Japanese nationals to return to Japan if they either left Japan before 2 April or left Japan under certain circumstances. Since 1 September, it is now possible to enter Japan without fulfilling the mentioned requirements.

It is furthermore possible for all non-Japanese residents to leave and re-enter Japan without fulfilling the above-mentioned requirements.

However, you need to have ‘registered’ or applied for your re-entry. This will be done by providing certain information to the Immigration Services Agency via email. They will later send you a reply which you need to show when leaving Japan. Make certain to either print it out and bring it to the airport or be able to show it using your smartphone, tablet, laptop or similar.

You also need to obtain a COVID-19 test certificate in the overseas country that proves that you are negative in regards to COVID-19. This certificate cannot be older than 72 hours from when you depart for Japan.

When you arrive in Japan, you will be tested for COVID-19 again.

From the airport, you cannot take public transportation or taxi, but will have to leave using private transportation.

You will have to self-isolate for 14 days and cannot, for instance, commute to work.

Please note that the above is only applicable for persons that are in Japan. People who left Japan before 1 September will have to contact the Japanese Embassy in the country where they currently are. It is furthermore not applicable to non-visa holders that are not yet residents in Japan, e.g. new expats / businesspeople.

Lastly, this process cannot be used by persons that come on a short-term visa (businesspeople or tourists).

Flow of Re-entry Procedures for Holders of Status of Residence During Their Stay in Japan [PDF]

Things to note in relation to the flowchart

  • The document is not a legal document and shall only be used as a source of information.
  • Please note that the information is subject to change, including the links.
  • The translation is not official, but done by the EBC who takes no responsibility for any mistranslations. The official Japanese version can be found here. http://www.moj.go.jp/content/001327486.pdf
  • This process can only by used by persons that are already residents in Japan.
    • It can therefore not be used by visa holders that are not yet registered as residents in Japan
  • The process cannot be used by persons that are overseas, ie have already left Japan. These persons are requested to contact the Japanese Embassy in the country where they are.
  • It is not yet known how long it will take to receive an answer from the ISA when submitting the departure information. Between the same day or up to a couple of days have been mentioned.
  • In some documentations the authorities are asking that the request for re-entry is not done more than a month before the departure.