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Updated 14 October 2022

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Table of Contents

What is the current situation like in Japan?

With a decreasing rate of Covid-19 and the Omicron variant in the country, Japan has now finally opened its borders to international tourism after almost two (2) years, with a few restrictions. Furthermore, Japan’s economy is recovering from the pandemic, and for the first time in more than two years, Covid-19 is not included in its domestic assessment.

Effective 11 October 2022, Japan has now eased its entry measures and visa exemption arrangements, as well as suspension of visa validity under the border measures, has also been lifted. Furthermore, Japan has also removed the three-tiered country classification system (red, yellow, blue) along with the last of its quarantine requirements upon reopening.

While Japan is slowly taking its step toward normalcy, there are still some travel restrictions in place to prevent the further spread of the virus. More on this below.

Am I allowed to visit Japan now?

Yes, effective 11 October 2022, Japan has now fully opened its borders to international tourists.

Moreover, for all travellers and returnees to Japan from countries or regions where the Omicron variant becomes dominant (all countries/regions except for those where COVID-19 variants other than the Omicron variant become dominant), requirements like on-arrival testing at the quarantine facility, self-quarantine in places such as their own residence or accommodations, and refraining from the use of public transportation have been lifted.

Furthermore, Japan has now resumed its visa-free services on 11 October 2022, allowing travellers from 68 eligible nationalities to visit Japan without the need for a visa.

The suspension of visa validity under the border measures was also lifted resuming the validity of single-entry visas and multiple-entry visas which were issued by Embassies, Consulate-Generals and Consulates of Japan in all countries/regions and whose validity was temporarily suspended.

Japan travel requirements

Although the majority of the entry restrictions to Japan have been lifted, travellers are still required to go through some additional travel requirements to be eligible for entry into the country.

Vaccination requirements

To be eligible for entry into Japan, travellers are required to provide either a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a certificate of the negative result of a pre-departure COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours prior to departing from the original country/region.

Japan-approved vaccines are as follows:

Pfizer/BioNTech
AstraZeneca/Vaxzevria
Moderna
Janssen
Covaxin
Nuvaxovid
Covishield
Sinopharm
Sinovac
CanSino

Please note that:

For the vaccine certificate to be considered valid, applicants must take 3 doses of vaccines on the Emergency Use List of the World Health Organization (WHO), as mentioned above
For the Janssen and CanSino Biologics vaccine, only in the case of the primary series, one dose is considered equivalent to two doses.
Mix-and-match vaccines are also considered valid.

Testing requirements

Although the majority of the entry restrictions to Japan have been lifted, travellers are still required to provide either a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a certificate of the negative result of a pre-departure COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours prior to departing from the original country/region.

The following type of pre-departure COVID-19 tests will be allowed:

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)
LAMP (Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification)
TMA (Transcription Mediated Amplification)
TRC (Transcription Reverse-transcription Concerted reaction)
Smart Amp (Smart Amplification process)
NEAR (Nicking Enzyme Amplification Reaction)
Next Generation Sequence

Please note that without a valid vaccination certificate or the Covid-19 pre-departure test certificate, travellers will NOT be allowed to enter Japan.

Quarantine requirements

Japan has now scrapped its quarantine requirements.

For all travellers and returnees to Japan from countries or regions where the Omicron variant becomes dominant (all countries/regions except for those where COVID-19 variants other than the Omicron variant become dominant), requirements like on-arrival testing at the quarantine facility, self-quarantine in places such as their own residence or accommodations are no longer required.