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As of July 1, Japan’s entry ban on 129 countries and regions has yet to be lifted. But as the Japanese government moves to ease travel restrictions to New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, and Vietnam, more and more countries are now on the priority list of countries allowed to travel to Japan.
Most recently, it has been reported that Tokyo will start negotiating with 10 more countries in East and Southeast Asia to gradually lift travel restrictions. These countries include Malaysia, Mongolia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, China, and South Korea.
We previously reported that Japan will also begin talks with Brunei, Singapore, and Taiwan this month.
Based on this new Japan entry ban update, the countries on the priority list have done so well at managing the COVID-19 cases. Brunei has done an excellent job of containing the virus, reporting zero active cases since May 10. Meanwhile, Singapore and Taiwan are among the very few countries in the world that are very close to beating COVID-19.
Like the conditions given to the citizens of the first four countries allowed to travel to Japan, business travelers and international talents Japan needs are at the top of the list, followed by foreign students, and then tourists. Inbound travelers under the agreements will be required to submit a negative test for COVID-19 and an itinerary for their stay in Japan.
Back in late June, around 440 business travelers from Japan already flew to Vietnam three months after the travel ban started.
Japan to Ease Entry Ban in Stages
If you ask, “When will Japan ease travel restrictions to my country or country of origin?”
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi has the answer for you. During his regular news conference in Tokyo on July 10, he said the government will ease travel restrictions in stages.
“We are planning to relaunch travel in stages, starting from countries that have suppressed the spread and transmissions of the virus,” said Motegi.
Japan Travel Ban Update
In March, Japan imposed an entry ban on foreign nationals from over 100 countries, suspending visas and exemptions. China, the origin of the novel coronavirus, was first targeted by the said entry ban.
As Japan begins relaxing travel restrictions, the government aims to increase the number of tests conducted daily at airports. The government is also planning to set up new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing labs outside Haneda Airport, Narita International Airport both in Tokyo, and Kansai International Airport in Osaka. The new testing centers will increase Japan’s daily capacity to over 4,000.
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