Application for Visa for foreign nationals eligible for Phased Measures toward Resuming Cross-Border Travel( For Residence Track, Business Track, Entry into Japan from all countries and regions based on the decision of the GOJ on September 25, 2020, and Entry of foreign nationals with other special exceptional circumstances)

2020/12/28
 
Japanese
 

On December 26, 2020, the Government of Japan announced the suspension of the Phased Measure for Resuming Cross-Border Travel based on the decision on September 25, 2020, which enabled entry into Japan from all countries and regions from October 1, 2020. This suspension will be implemented from December 28, 2020 till the end of January 2021. However, the entry into Japan of the holders of the visas already issued under this Measure will be basically permitted (except for (1) those who have stayed in the United Kingdom or South Africa within 14 days before arriving in Japan, and (2) those who intend to enter Japan after 0:00 am (Japan Standard Time) on January 4, 2021, having stayed in countries and regions categorized as level 3 (Avoid All Travel) of MOFA’s Travel Advice and Warning on Infectious Diseases within 14 days before arriving in Japan) until the end of January 2021.
 

Currently, foreign nationals/people who are willing to enter Japan need a visa newly issued by Embassies or Consulates or Consular Office of Japan (for Taiwan, Taipei Kaohsiung offices of Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association) (hereinafter referred to as “Japan’s overseas establishments”) in the country/region depending on the purpose of their entry.
 

Please see this page for information about re-entry of holders of the Status of Residence in Japan who departed from Japan with re-entry permit (including special re-entry permit, and to be the same afterwards). Those who have the Status of Residence and have left or will leave Japan with a valid re-entry permit, when re-entering Japan from countries/regions not designated as an area subject to denial of permission to enter Japan, do not need to obtain Certificate of negative COVID-19 test result.
 

Visa
 

To apply for a visa, please submit the required documents to Japan’s overseas establishments in your country / region (Please see the following articles for further information. There are some cases where Japan’s overseas establishments request additional documents).
After the application has been successfully accepted, the visa would be issued at the consular affairs section of the Japan’s overseas establishment. The visa should be received by the applicant or his / her representative and is needed upon applying for landing permission.
 

Certificate of negative COVID-19 test result (only for travelers from countries and regions designated as an area subject to denial of permission for entry)
 

Travelers arriving at Japan from the countries and regions designated as an area subject to denial of permission for entry are required to submit a negative COVID-19 test result (original or copy) conducted within 72 hours (from the sampling time to departure time of the flight) to an immigration officer. Please see this page for further information about the format of the negative COVID-19 test result.
 

When travelers are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result by airline staff at the port of departure, please follow the instruction.

1. “Residence Track” and “Business Track”

Please see this page for more details about these measures
 

  • Only single entry visas will be issued through these measures. The visa fee payment may be required depending on the nationality/region.
  • Upon implementation of these trial measures, the validity of already issued visa which is currently suspended will not be reinstated. If a new visa is issued under this measure, the already issued visa will expire.
  • Those who wish to newly enter Japan using these measures or based on the decision on September 25, 2020, need to apply for a visa even if the Visa Exemption Arrangements are in effect between their country of nationality and Japan (Except the case that Diplomatic and Official visas are exempted by the visa exemption measures for those visiting for diplomatic and official mission).

(1) Countries / Regions

  • Thailand (Residence Track (from July 29))
  • Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Taiwan (Residence Track (from September 8))
  • Singapore (Business Track (from 18 September), Residence Track (from September 30))
  • Brunei (Residence Track (from 8 October))
  • Republic of Korea (Business Track and Residence Track (from October 8))
  • Viet Nam (Business Track (from November 1), Residence Track (from July 29))
  • China(not including Hong Kong and Macau)(Business Track and Residence Track (from November 30))

(2) Required documents for the visa application

New entry into Japan under the framework of “Residence Track” from countries/regions with which bilateral agreement on the track is effective

 

(Note) Please refer to the links below to check on some additional documents and procedures required.
 

Applicants with the purpose of entry listed on (a) or (b) are entitled to join the Track:

 

(a) Short-term stay for business
 

(b) Mid to Long term stay
 

  • Based on the decision on September 25, 2020, all types of the status of residence, provided the applicant has the Certificate of Eligibility, are applicable for the new entry to Japan (Those who are entering Japan for “Diplomatic” or “Official” purpose do not need to follow the procedures for “Residence Track”) [Note 2]
  • (i) Visa application form (with photo attached)
  • (ii) Passport
  • (iii) Certificate of Eligibility [Note 3]
  • (iv) “ Written Pledge (Residence track) (PDF)Open a New Window” (updated on November 9) 2 copies [Note 1]

New entry into Japan under the framework of “Business Track” (only Singapore, Republic of Korea, Viet Nam and China)


Singapore (Please see this page for the details)

Residents in Singapore, Singapore citizens, Permanent Residents and Long-Term Pass holders in Singapore, who intend to visit Japan for short-term business or official purposes are subject to apply for the Track. The maximum duration of stay will be 30 days.


Republic of Korea (Please see this page for the details)

Residents in Republic of Korea, Korean citizens, Permanent Residents and Long-term Pass holders in Republic of Korea, who intend to visit Japan for short-term business purposes, or, mid to long stay purposes (“Business Manager”, “Intra-company Transferee”, “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”, ”Nursing Care”, “Technical Intern Training”, “Specified Skilled Worker”, “Highly Skilled Professional”, “Designated Activities (for Start-up)”) or for diplomatic/official purposes, are subject to apply for the Track.


Viet Nam (Please see this page for the details)

Residents in Viet Nam, Viet Nam citizens, Permanent Residents and Long-term Pass holders in Viet Nam, who intend to visit Japan for short-term business purposes, or, mid to long stay purposes (“Business Manager”, “Intra-company Transferee”, “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”, “Nursing Care”, “Technical Intern Training”, “Specified Skilled Worker”, “Highly Skilled Professional”, “Designated Activities (for “Start-up”, “EPA nurse/ care worker”, “EPA nurse candidates/ care worker candidates”)”) or for diplomatic/official purposes, are subject to apply for the Track.


China (Please see this page for the details)

Residents in China, Chinese citizens, Permanent Residents and Long-term Pass holders in China, who intend to visit Japan for short-term business purposes, or, mid to long stay purposes (“Business Manager”, “Intra-company Transferee”, “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”, “Nursing Care”, “Highly Skilled Professional”, ”Specified Skilled Worker”, “Technical Intern Training”, “ Designated Activities”, “Professor”, “Artist”, “Religious Activities”, “Journalist”, “Legal/Accounting Services”, “Medical Services”, “Researcher”, “Instructor”, “Entertainer”, “Skilled Labor”, “Training”) are subject to apply for the Track.
 

(a) Short-term stay for business

(b) Mid to Long term stay

  • (i) Visa application form (with photo attached)
  • (ii) Passport
  • (iii) Certificate of Eligibility
  • (iv) “Written Pledge (Business Track) (PDF) Open a New Window” (updated on November 10) 2 copies [Note 1]
  • (v) “Schedule of Activities in Japan (PDF) Open a New Window” (updated on October 30) 2 copies [Note 1]
  • (vi) Front and back photocopies of identity card issued by Government of the country/region where the applicant stays (only for the holders of nationality of a third country/region).

(c) Diplomatic and Official purposes (Singapore, Republic of Korea and Vietnam)

  • [Note 1] Please submit two copies of the pledge and the schedule of activities in Japan (“Business Track” only) at the time of submitting application (such as the original scanned and printed electronic data in PDF format). One copy will be returned, so please submit it to the quarantine when you enter Japan. Please keep the original for 6 weeks after the host company / organization enters Japan, and submit it when requested by the relevant ministries and agencies.
  •  
  • [Note 2] “Professor”, “Artist”, “Religious Activities”, “Journalist”, “Highly-Skilled Professional”, “Business Manager”, “Legal/ Accounting Services”, “Medical Services”, “Researcher”, “Instructor”, “Engineer/ Specialist in Humanities/ International Services”, “Intra-company Transferee”, “Nursing Care”, “Entertainer”, “Skilled Labor”, “Specified Skilled Worker”, “Technical Intern Training”, “Cultural Activities”, “Student”, “Trainee”, “Dependent”, “Designated Activities”, “Long Term Resident” are applicable. Those who are considered as “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” or “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” don’t need to present the written pledge for application for visa, provided that they present their Certificate of Eligibility or full copy of the family register, etc.
  •  
  • [Note 3] Not required for applicants with some categories of “Designated Activities” such as EPA nurse candidates, etc. If you apply presenting the Certificate of Eligibility that has expired and has been issued on or after October 1, 2019, you must present a document that states that the Japanese host organization will “continue to follow the activities at the time of application for the Certificate of Eligibility”(in any format).

2. Entry into Japan from all countries and regions based on the decision of the GOJ on September 25, 2020

On September 25, 2020, the GOJ announced that, in principle, the holders of Statuses of Residence of “Student”, “Dependent” and others, in addition to cross-border business travelers of all countries and regions are permitted to enter Japan from October 1, 2020, under the condition that the person is hosted by a company / entity that can assure observation of quarantine measures. As for the cross-border travelers to be permitted to newly enter Japan based on the decision on September 25, 2020, all foreign nationals residing in the country / region of departure are entitled to apply for the entry visa.
 

(Note 1) Based on the decision on December 23, all foreign nationals who have stayed in the United Kingdom within 14 days before arriving in Japan will be denied to enter Japan with this framework from December 24 until further notice.

 

(Note 2) Based on the decision on December 25, all foreign nationals who have stayed in South Africa within 14 days before arriving in Japan will be denied to enter Japan with this framework from December 26 until further notice.
 

(Note 3) On December 26, 2020, the Government of Japan announced the suspension of the Phased Measure for Resuming Cross-Border Travel based on the decision on September 25, 2020, which enabled entry into Japan from all countries and regions from October 1, 2020. This suspension will be implemented from December 28, 2020 till the end of January 2021.
However, the entry into Japan of the holders of visas already issued under this Measure will be basically permitted (except for (1) those who have stayed in the United Kingdom or South Africa within 14 days before arriving in Japan, and (2) those who intend to enter Japan after 0:00 am (Japan Standard Time) on January 4, 2021, having stayed in countries and regions categorized as level 3 (Avoid All Travel) of MOFA’s Travel Advice and Warning on Infectious Diseases within 14 days before arriving in Japan) until the end of January 2021.

(1) Countries / Regions

 All countries and regions(Except for the UK, South Africa)

(2) Required documents for the visa application

To apply for a visa, it is required to submit the same documents as the applicants of “Residence Track” described in 1. (2) above.

3. Entry of foreign nationals with other special exceptional circumstances

  • (1) Foreign nationals who departed from Japan with a re-entry permit before August 31 and who were not permitted to re-enter Japan because the validity period of the re-entry permission expired after the country/region of stay was designated an area subject to denial of landing:
    Please obtain a new Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at the regional immigration bureau of Japan and contact Japan’s overseas establishments to explain your situation, presenting your COE.
  •  
  • (2) Spouse or child of a Japanese national/permanent resident:
    Please obtain a Certificate of Eligibility or full copy of the family register/certificate of residence/residence card and contact Japan’s overseas establishments.
  •  
  • (3) Spouse or child of a foreign national who has a Status of Residence of “Long-Term Resident” whose family is staying in Japan and who has been separated from the family:
    Please obtain a Certificate of Eligibility and contact Japan’s overseas establishments
  •  
  • (4) A foreign national who is about to acquire the Status of “Medical Services”, and who contributes to the strengthening Japanese medical systems:
    Please obtain a Certificate of Eligibility and contact Japan’s overseas establishments

Please see here (PDF) Open a New Window to be informed of the detailed cases of special exceptional circumstances.

Back to List

Back to Top