Temporary Suspension of the Phased Measures toward Resuming Cross-Border Travel（28 December,2020）

On December 26, the Japanese Government decided on a new set of measures for border enforcement. The details are as follows.
           (Japanese)            https://corona.go.jp/news/pdf/mizugiwataisaku_20201226.pdf
            (English)              Please refer to here.
 

1. Temporary suspension of the Phased Measures for Resuming Cross-Border Travel

Regarding the “Phased Measures toward Resuming Cross-Border Travel (‘Short-term stay for business’ and ‘Holders of Certificate of Eligibility’)” (visa applications accompanied by a written pledge), which are launched from 1 October and cover all countries/regions, the acceptance of application and issuance of visas will be temporarily suspended from 28 December 2020 until the end of January 2021.
(Note 1) The suspension will commence from midnight (Japan time) on 28 December.
(Note 2) As a general rule, those who have applied for a visa with the submission of a written pledge and are already in possession of a visa that has already been issued, will be admitted to Japan.
However, this excludes those who have stayed in the United Kingdom or the Republic of South Africa within 14 days prior to the date of application for landing in Japan, and those who are to enter Japan after midnight (Japan time) on 4 January 2021 and have stayed in a country/region subject to denial of entry within 14 days prior to the date of application for landing in Japan.
 

2. Visa application without a written pledge

Visa applications without a written pledge for those whose status is “Diplomat”, “Official”, “Spouse or Child of Japanese National”, and “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident”) etc., will be accepted in the same way as before.
　In addition, those who have been issued such visas will be allowed to enter Japan after 28 December.
(Points to note)

• The validity of visas issued by the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong before 8 March 2020 is now being suspended.
• Visa exemptions for Hong Kong and Macau are still suspended.