New Border Measures (27) to review on restrictions on new entry of foreign nationals (From March 1st, 2022)
2022/2/28
Based on “New Border Measures (27)” from March 1, 2022, foreign nationals who apply for new entry into Japan to meet both of the following (1) and (2) in below 1, are regarded as those with “special exceptional circumstances” and are allowed for new entry into Japan in principle, if the receiving organizations located in Japan completes prescribed application in the Entrants, Returnees Follow-up System (hereinafter referred to as “ERFS system”).
1 Foreign nationals eligible to this measure.
（1）Foreign nationals newly entering Japan for a short-term stay (less than three months) for purposes including business or employment and foreign nationals newly entering Japan for a long term stay.
（2）Foreign nationals fall under the above mentioned (1) and those who have receiving organizations located in Japan.
2 Required Visa Application Documents.
（1） Foreign nationals newly entering Japan for a short-term stay, (less than three months), for business or employment purposes, or newly entering Japan for long-term stay. （※ Multiple entry visas will not be issued）
1.1 “Certificate for Completion of Registration to the ERFS system” which receiving organization located in Japan applied for online.
（Note） Receiving organizations means such companies or organizations which employ or invite the entrants for their business or entertainment purposes. Please refer to the website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and Q&A of the same website for detailed information.
1.2 Other Visa Application Documents:
（1） Visa Application Form to enter Japan, （with one, passport-sized, colour photograph）
（2） Passport, （original and copy）
（3） Hong Kong or Macau Identity Card, （original and copy）
（4） Valid Hong Kong or Macau residency visa, （original and copy）
（5） Certificate of employment of the applicant, （original）
（※ In the case of cultural exchange students, the certificate of enrolment must be submitted.）
（※ If the applicant or the spouse of the applicant is the proprietor or a partner of a company, please also submit the valid “Business Registration Certificate” and “Certified extract of Information on the Business Register”, （original and copy）.）
（6） Invitation letter, （original） Written Pledge (attached separately) ※The inviting companies or organizations are necessary to agree to comply with the pledge.
（7） Letter of guarantee, （original）
（2） Foreign nationals newly entering Japan for long-term stay.
2.1 “Certificate for Completion of Registration to the ERFS system” which receiving organization located in Japan applied for online.
（Note） Receiving organizations means such companies or organizations which employ or invite the entrants for their business or entertainment purposes. Please refer to the website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and Q&A of the same website for detailed information.
2.2 Other Visa Application Documents:
（1） Visa Application Form to enter Japan, （with one, passport-sized, colour photograph）
（2） Passport, （original and copy）
（3） Hong Kong or Macau Identity Card, （original and copy）
（4） Valid Hong Kong or Macau residency visa, （original and copy）
（5） Certificate of Eligibility, （original and copy）
(Note) New policy regarding the period of validity of the certificate of eligibility
The validity of the certificate of eligibility is 3 months, however for foreign nationals whose entry to Japan has been delayed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan has taken special measures to extend the validity of the certificate of eligibility. Condition for the certificate of eligibility to remain valid by submission of a document (Declaration) stating that the accepting organization, etc., “is able to continue accepting the foreign national with the same activity contents as were given at the time of the application for the Certificate of eligibility.” when applying for a visa at a diplomatic mission abroad.
Please see here for New policy regarding the period of validity of the certificate of eligibility.
3 Points to be noted.
（1） Please be aware that the application may not be granted if the personal particulars contained in the “Certificate for Completion of Registration to the ERFS system” (e.g. name, date of birth etc.) are different from the passport.
（2） In general, visa issuance is based on the information contained in the requested application documents. However, please note that it may be necessary for applicants to provide further documents in order for us to reach a decision.
（3） Processing time, etc.
（3.1） Under this measure, there is no standard visa processing timeframe. The Japan Visa Application Centre will contact the applicant once the visa has been issued.
In general, if a new visa is issued under this measure, any existing visa will be cancelled.
（3.2） The duration of the application process is expected to be significantly longer than usual and application tracking enquiries and early issuance requests will not be accepted.
Please also understand that the application may not be granted.
4 Related Links.
Please refer to the homepage below for information regarding the new measures, the procedures required for “Certificate for Completion of Registration to the ERFS system” application and other related information. The accepting organisation in Japan may contact the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for detailed information regarding the application, including the applicants’ eligibility.
（1） Website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare:
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000121431_00341.html (Japanese only)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000901838.pdf (Japanese only)
・ Call centre for the “New Measures for Border Enforcement(27)”, (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare):
050－1751－2158 Call from overseas：(+81)50-1751-2158
050－1741－8558
Hours of Operation:9:00～21:00 (JPT, including Saturdays and Sundays).
（2） Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan:
・ Border measures to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19):
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/ca/fna/page4_005130.html (Japanese).
https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html (English).
・ Application for Visa for foreign nationals eligible for Phased Measures toward Resuming Cross-Border Travel
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/ca/fna/page22_003381.html (Japanese).
https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page22e_000921.html (English).
（3） Website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan:
・ Regarding denial of landing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus):
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001347329.pdf (Japanese).
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001347330.pdf (Japanese).
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001361129.pdf (English).
5 Other.
For the latest information on quarantine measures after entering Japan, please refer to the homepage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, as below:
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000121431_00209.html (Japanese and English）
1 Foreign nationals eligible to this measure.
（1）Foreign nationals newly entering Japan for a short-term stay (less than three months) for purposes including business or employment and foreign nationals newly entering Japan for a long term stay.
（2）Foreign nationals fall under the above mentioned (1) and those who have receiving organizations located in Japan.
2 Required Visa Application Documents.
（1） Foreign nationals newly entering Japan for a short-term stay, (less than three months), for business or employment purposes, or newly entering Japan for long-term stay. （※ Multiple entry visas will not be issued）
1.1 “Certificate for Completion of Registration to the ERFS system” which receiving organization located in Japan applied for online.
（Note） Receiving organizations means such companies or organizations which employ or invite the entrants for their business or entertainment purposes. Please refer to the website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and Q&A of the same website for detailed information.
1.2 Other Visa Application Documents:
（1） Visa Application Form to enter Japan, （with one, passport-sized, colour photograph）
（2） Passport, （original and copy）
（3） Hong Kong or Macau Identity Card, （original and copy）
（4） Valid Hong Kong or Macau residency visa, （original and copy）
（5） Certificate of employment of the applicant, （original）
（※ In the case of cultural exchange students, the certificate of enrolment must be submitted.）
（※ If the applicant or the spouse of the applicant is the proprietor or a partner of a company, please also submit the valid “Business Registration Certificate” and “Certified extract of Information on the Business Register”, （original and copy）.）
（6） Invitation letter, （original） Written Pledge (attached separately) ※The inviting companies or organizations are necessary to agree to comply with the pledge.
（7） Letter of guarantee, （original）
（2） Foreign nationals newly entering Japan for long-term stay.
2.1 “Certificate for Completion of Registration to the ERFS system” which receiving organization located in Japan applied for online.
（Note） Receiving organizations means such companies or organizations which employ or invite the entrants for their business or entertainment purposes. Please refer to the website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and Q&A of the same website for detailed information.
2.2 Other Visa Application Documents:
（1） Visa Application Form to enter Japan, （with one, passport-sized, colour photograph）
（2） Passport, （original and copy）
（3） Hong Kong or Macau Identity Card, （original and copy）
（4） Valid Hong Kong or Macau residency visa, （original and copy）
（5） Certificate of Eligibility, （original and copy）
(Note) New policy regarding the period of validity of the certificate of eligibility
The validity of the certificate of eligibility is 3 months, however for foreign nationals whose entry to Japan has been delayed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan has taken special measures to extend the validity of the certificate of eligibility. Condition for the certificate of eligibility to remain valid by submission of a document (Declaration) stating that the accepting organization, etc., “is able to continue accepting the foreign national with the same activity contents as were given at the time of the application for the Certificate of eligibility.” when applying for a visa at a diplomatic mission abroad.
Please see here for New policy regarding the period of validity of the certificate of eligibility.
3 Points to be noted.
（1） Please be aware that the application may not be granted if the personal particulars contained in the “Certificate for Completion of Registration to the ERFS system” (e.g. name, date of birth etc.) are different from the passport.
（2） In general, visa issuance is based on the information contained in the requested application documents. However, please note that it may be necessary for applicants to provide further documents in order for us to reach a decision.
（3） Processing time, etc.
（3.1） Under this measure, there is no standard visa processing timeframe. The Japan Visa Application Centre will contact the applicant once the visa has been issued.
In general, if a new visa is issued under this measure, any existing visa will be cancelled.
（3.2） The duration of the application process is expected to be significantly longer than usual and application tracking enquiries and early issuance requests will not be accepted.
Please also understand that the application may not be granted.
4 Related Links.
Please refer to the homepage below for information regarding the new measures, the procedures required for “Certificate for Completion of Registration to the ERFS system” application and other related information. The accepting organisation in Japan may contact the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for detailed information regarding the application, including the applicants’ eligibility.
（1） Website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare:
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000121431_00341.html (Japanese only)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000901838.pdf (Japanese only)
・ Call centre for the “New Measures for Border Enforcement(27)”, (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare):
050－1751－2158 Call from overseas：(+81)50-1751-2158
050－1741－8558
Hours of Operation:9:00～21:00 (JPT, including Saturdays and Sundays).
（2） Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan:
・ Border measures to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19):
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/ca/fna/page4_005130.html (Japanese).
https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html (English).
・ Application for Visa for foreign nationals eligible for Phased Measures toward Resuming Cross-Border Travel
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/ca/fna/page22_003381.html (Japanese).
https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page22e_000921.html (English).
（3） Website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan:
・ Regarding denial of landing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus):
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001347329.pdf (Japanese).
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001347330.pdf (Japanese).
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001361129.pdf (English).
5 Other.
For the latest information on quarantine measures after entering Japan, please refer to the homepage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, as below:
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000121431_00209.html (Japanese and English）