Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel restrictions
Last updated: January 18, 2022
Table of Contents
Measures by the Government of Japan
1. Areas subjected to entry ban
4. Suspension of visa validity
5. Suspension of visa exemption measures
6. Restrictions on airports/ports for arrival
7. Entry of foreign nationals with special exceptional circumstances
All coronavirus-related information on this website is gathered from the government ministries and authorities responsible for handling COVID-19 restrictions and measures. Due to the regularly changing situation and the constant updating of information, it is essential that you always check for updates and follow the latest guidance from the relevant ministries and official bodies.
Measures by the Government of Japan
1. Areas subjected to entry ban
For the time being, foreign nationals who have stayed in any of the areas listed in the following table within 14 days prior to the application for landing are denied to enter Japan, unless special exceptional circumstances are found.
Note that foreigners from the countries/regions where the entry bans do not apply are not denied to enter Japan, even when traveling via those countries/regions listed in the table for refueling or transit purpose. Those who entered those countries/regions are, however, subject to the entry ban.
| Asia | Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste |
| Oceania | Fiji |
| North America | Canada, United States of America |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | Argentine, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela |
| Europe | Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyz, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vatican |
| Middle East | Afghanistan, Bahrain, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates |
| Africa | Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central Africa, Comoros, Cote d’lvoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
For details, please check the following page.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html#section1 
2. Denial of the re-entry from designated countries/regions in response to COVID-19 variants of special treatment on border measures
The re-entry into Japan of foreign nationals with status of residence who have stayed in designated countries/regions in response to coronavirus variants of special treatment on border measures within 14 days prior to the application for landing are denied for the time being, unless there are special exceptional circumstances.
For details, please check the following page.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html#section2
3. Quarantine measures
The current quarantine measures are strengthened and are decided to remain in place until further notice.
For more information, please check the following page.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html#section3
4. Suspension of visa validity
From 12:00 am (Midnight/JST) December 2, 2021, as an emergency precautionary measure from a preventive perspective against coronavirus variant Omicron (B.1.1.529), validity of visas already issued by December 2, 2021 is suspended except for the status of residence of “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National”, “Spouse or Child of a Permanent Resident” or “Diplomat”. This measure does not apply to foreign nationals who departed from overseas before 12:00 am (Midnight/JST) on December 2, 2021 and arrive in Japan after the time.
As for visas already issued under “Business Track” or “Residence Track” and visas issued based on “New border measures (4)” , for the time being, validity of those visas has been suspended from 12:00 am (Midnight/JST) on January 21, 2021, based on the announcement of the Government of Japan dated on January 13, 2021.
Validity of visas listed below is suspended for the time being.
(1) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 8th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies or Consulates General in China (including Hong Kong and Macau) and Republic of Korea
(2) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 20th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General in the following countries
| Europe | Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican |
| Middle East | Iran |
| Africa | Egypt |
(3) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 27th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General in the following countries
| Asia | Brunei, Indonesia (note), Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam Note: including seal of “visa wavier registration certificate” |
| Middle East | Bahrain, Israel, Qatar |
| Africa | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
(4) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by April 2nd, 2020, by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General located in or accredited to the following countries and regions
| Asia | Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste |
| Oceania | Cook, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | Antigua and Barbuda, Argentine, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela |
| Europe | Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan |
| Middle East | Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates (note), Yemen Note: including seal of “visa wavier registration certificate” |
| Africa | Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles , Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
For details, please check the following page.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html#section8
5. Suspension of visa exemption measures
As visa exemption measures with the countries/regions listed below are temporarily suspended, those who fall under the measures are required to obtain visas before visiting Japan.
The measures will be in place for the time being.
(1) Visa exemption measures agreed with Japan and the following countries and regions
| Asia | Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Viet Nam |
| Oceania | Australia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | Argentine, Bahamas, Barbados, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay |
| Europe | Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vatican |
| Middle East | Israel, Iran, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates |
| Africa | Lesotho, Tunisia |
(2) The effect of Pre-Clearances (i.e. visa exemptions) granted by the Japanese Government to APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) issued by the following countries and regions is also suspended.
| Asia | Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Viet Nam |
| Oceania | Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | Mexico, Peru |
| Europe | Russia |
For details, please check the following page.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html#section9
6. Restrictions on airports/ports for arrival
The Government of Japan announced some measures concerning arrivals at airports/ports.
These measures will be in place for the time being.
For more information, please check the following page.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html#section10
7. Entry of foreign nationals with special exceptional circumstances
Currently, all foreign nationals who wish to newly enter Japan need to apply for a visa except for those with re-entry permit.
From 12:00 am (Midnight/JST) December 2, 2021, as an emergency precautionary measure from a preventive perspective, cases for entry of foreign nationals with other special exceptional circumstances were changed.
Foreign nationals who are entitled to enter Japan as those with special exceptional circumstances are required to apply for an appropriate visa at Embassies or Consulates or Consular Office of Japan (for Taiwan, Taipei Kaohsiung offices of Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association) in your country/region.
For more information, please check the following page.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html#section11
8. State of emergency
The state of emergency was fully lifted on October 1st, 2021.
