Re-entry Process for Foreign Residents from the Immigration Services Agency

Dec 17

Written By Raena M

The below summary was drafted by the ACCJ using information from the GOJ website and Mr. Nobuyuki Ichimura’s presentation at the ACCJ Town Hall on Friday, November 13.

Nobuyuki Ichimura, Director of the Border Management Division, Immigration Department, Immigration Services Agency

Friday, November 13, 2020

Provided an update to re-entry for foreigners from countries/regions designated as an area subject to denial of permission to enter Japan.

A. For general non-business travel of foreign residents of Japan with a valid re-entry permit

https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001074.html (as of Nov 4):

Before departure from Country X to return to Japan

Take the PCR test within 72 hours before your departure (need to provide a negative test result) *Detailed explanation of the Valid Format of “Certificate of Negative Test Result” is available here <https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page25e_000334.html>.
“The Letter of Confirmation of Submitting Required Documentation for Re-entry into Japan” or “Receipt for Request of Re-entry” are not required when re-entering Japan from countries/regions designated as an area subject to denial of permission to enter Japan.

After arriving in Japan

Answer and submit a “Questionnaire“ (e.g. health condition, travel history) and "Health Card"
Take the antigen test at the airport
Stay at a place designated by the Chief of the Quarantine Station for 14 days (designated place includes a place of residence in Japan, relatives’ home, friend’s home, and hotels)
Refrain from using public transportation for 14 days, including at the time of arrival to the airport. Options are private vehicles, rent-a-car, and limousine services.

o List of limousine service providers (in Japanese):

Take periodic health follow-up by Public Health Centers

B. For business travels seven days and less:

https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/cp/page22e_000925.html (Section 4)

This framework enables business persons residing in Japan to conduct limited business activities upon their return/re-entry into Japan after short-term business trips during the 14-day stay at home period, on condition that travelers accept additional quarantine measures listed out below.

*Business activities must be limited to the necessary minimum, such as round-trip travel between home and the office, not using public transportation and avoiding contact with random people or crowds.

In order to seek the easing of the 14-day self-quarantine after returning from a country or region which is subjected to denial of permission to enter into Japan a business traveler must follow the below procedures:

Documents to be submitted for entry/return to Japan

“Written Pledge” (Short-term business trips by business persons residing in Japan) (updated on October 30) 1 copy
“Schedule of Activities in Japan (updated on October 30) 1 copy
Certificate of pre-entry test results issued within 72 hours* In case the destination country/region is NOT designated as areas subject to denial of permission to enter Japan
“Questionnaire” (distributed to every passenger on the plane)

Procedures to be followed for entry/return to Japan

14-day health monitoring prior to departure
14-day health follow-up after returning to Japan, using LINE
Install the COVID-19 contact tracing application
Retain location data for 14 days after returning to Japan via the map application

C. Business Track:

This framework allows cross-border travelers to enter, exceptionally, Japan or its counterpart country/region, and is intended mainly for short-term business travelers. This framework enables limited business activities* during the 14-day stay at home period on condition that travelers accept additional quarantine measures as explained in Section B above.

Business Track is available to those who live in Japan or the countries that have an agreement with Japan with a long-term stay pass (in the case of Japan, “resident status”) regardless of nationality. As of November 30, this framework is in operation with the following countries and regions: Singapore, Republic of Korea, Vietnam, and China. Please click the links below for procedures and required forms.

Singapore: https://www.mofa.go.jp/a_o/na/page22e_000928.html

Republic of Korea: https://www.mofa.go.jp/a_o/na/page22e_000929.html

Vietnam: https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/cp/page25e_000338.html

China: https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/a_o/c_m1/page24_001212.html

D. Measures to enable new entry from all countries/regions as long as host company or organization can guarantee adoption of quarantine measures:

The number of new entrants into Japan will be restricted.
All new-entrants need to follow the procedures for Residence Track.
Necessary procedures and forms differ depending on whether the country/region of departure is subject to denial of permission to enter Japan or not.

- If the country/region of your departure is subject to denial of permission to entry, please click

<https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/cp/page25e_000337.html#ct02>

- If the country/region of your departure is NOT subject to denial of permission to entry, please click

<https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/cp/page25e_000338.html#ct02>

Consolidated resources for (re-) entry into Japan can be found on the ACCJ website which include: