News Letter
2020/08/28
Re-entry permission for foreign nationals who possess a status of residence
In an effort to strengthen border enforcement measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), there are currently 146 countries/regions subject to refusal of landing for entry into Japan. Until now, even those who have a valid status of residence and hold a “re-entry permit” while away from Japan were also covered by the landing refusal measures in principle, but from August 5, 2020, for those who left for the applicable countries or regions until the day before being designated as subject to landing refusal, upon accomplishing the necessary procedures at the local Japanese Embassy or Consulate of Japan, it has been decided that the acceptance of such re-entrants will also start.
Up until now, there were no explicit procedures upon departure from countries/regions subject to landing refusal for those who have been permitted entry due to being recognized as having special exceptional circumstance, such as those with the status of residence of “Permanent Resident,” “Long-Term Resident,” “Spouse of a Japanese National,” etc. (Note 1), however it has become necessary to carry out the prescribed procedures at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate of Japan in the country where they are staying, from August 7 for Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines and Peru, and from September 1 for all foreign nationals seeking to re-enter Japan.
The Flow of Procedures for Re-entry
1. Acquisition of a medical examination certificate upon undergoing a test for COVID-19 within 72 hours before the departure time of the scheduled flight
As a general rule, the format specified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be used. It is required for the document to be completed by the local medical institution and signed or stamped by a doctor.
Appendix 1 (Reference) Medical Examination Certificate for COVID-19
Note: If your country of residence has a policy not to test asymptomatic persons, it is necessary to go to a country/region where the test is available and obtain the PCR test certificate within 72 hours before the departure of the scheduled flight for Japan.
2. Obtaining the Letter of Confirmation of Submitting Necessary Documentation for Re-entry into Japan (hereafter referred to as “Re-entry Confirmation Letter”) from the Japanese Embassy or Consulate of Japan in the applicant’s country of residence
- Passport with valid re-entry permit(including special re-entry permit)
- Residence card issued by the Japanese government authorities
- Application form
Appendix 2 (Reference) Application form for the Re-entry Confirmation Letter
Please bring the above documents. Kindly note that while the process is free of charge, the “Re-entry Confirmation Letter” is not issued on the same day of the application. The applicant will be contacted once the “Re-entry Confirmation Letter” is ready. The applicant or a representative of the applicant may then obtain the “Re-entry Confirmation Letter” at the relevant Japanese embassy or consulate.
(Note 1)
Foreign nationals with any of the following four categories of the status of residence, “Permanent Resident”，”Spouse or Child of Japanese National”, “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” or “Long Term Resident”, as well as those considered to have special exceptional circumstances
This includes the spouse of a Japanese national or Japanese child who does not have these statuses of residence; the same applies hereinafter.
Measures for post-entry for those traveling from overseas to Japan
Based on the Quarantine Act, Japanese nationals returning to Japan from countries/regions subject to denial of landing, and foreign nationals recognized as having ‘special exceptional circumstances’ are obliged to declare to the immigration inspector at the port-of-entry in Japan that he/she ‘has been to countries/regions subject to denial of landing in the past 14 days’ upon arrival. They will receive a sheet of paper issued by the quarantine station at the airport stating “Please show this paper to the immigration inspector,” together with a “Health Card,” which explains the upcoming procedures entitled “A Notice from the Quarantine Station for those traveling from overseas to Japan. ” At the same time, they are required to sign a “Request Form” in the name of the quarantine station chief to acknowledge that “Today, upon arrival into Japan, an explanation on the Health Card and related documents was provided accordingly by quarantine officer.”
Upon declaration, they are required to fill out a questionnaire at the quarantine station, to receive a body temperature check and examination of symptoms. After a PCR test is conducted and the absence of COVID-19 symptoms is confirmed, they are allowed to go home by a personal-owned vehicle or rental car, but the use of public transport, including taxi, is prohibited. In addition, they have to stay at home for several days.
For those who cannot arrange transportation to return home other than public transport, they have to wait at a specified space in the airport or places appointed by the quarantine station chief until the release of results. As of July 2020, the waiting period lasts around 2 days, and the ‘places appointed by the quarantine station chief’ mean accommodations provided by the government. Shuttle buses are arranged to send them to the designated place.
Activities in the accommodations are limited:leaving the accommodation facility is prohibited, meals must be taken in their own room with door knob locked, etc. These measures are carried out to ensure they are totally separate from others.
If the result of the PCR is positive, patients are either required to be hospitalized or appointed to specific accommodation facilities to recuperate. If the result of PCR is negative, they will be asked to stay at home or at accommodations arranged by himself/herself and to stand by for 14 days, starting from the date of entry into Japan. They are required to arrange for their own transport ‘to move without the use of any public transport (railways, buses, taxis, aircrafts (domestic), marinevessels)’, which means they must use other ways for transit such as beingpicked up by family members; or renting a car to drive themselves home.
During the home quarantine period, his/her health conditions will be monitored by health centers with a phone call check-up.
The results of the PCR test will be sent via email. In the case of fevers and other symptoms, you are advised to not wait for contact from the local government, but to seek consultation from the nearest “Returnees & Contact Persons Consultation Center.” The QR-code for the contact information can be found on the Health Card.
Reported by Maki Mukunoki, Gyoseishoshi Administrative Lawyer