New Visa Application Procedures for Foreign Nationals Eligible for Phased Measures Towards Resuming Cross-Border Travel (From November 8th, 2021)
2021/11/8
On November 5th 2021, a review of entry restrictions in relation to foreign nationals, based on the “New Measures for Border Enforcement (19)”, (Japanese only), was announced.
Starting from November 8th 2021, 10:00 JPT, the accepting organisation in Japan, (e.g. company, university, etc.), can apply for a “Screening Certificate” from the appropriate Ministry/Agency in Japan.
1 Eligibility for Application.
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.
※In order to secure the individual’s entry into Japan, the accepting organisation is required to pass a screening process and obtain a screening certificate, in advance, by the Ministry/Agency having jurisdiction over the business in question. The accepting organisation is also responsible for the applicant’s conduct while they are 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. （※ Multiple entry visas will not be issued）.
1.1 A copy of the screening certificate from the appropriate Ministry/Agency:
※An application for a “Screening Certificate” must be submitted to the appropriate Ministry/Agency in Japan. It cannot be obtained from the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong.
1.2 Other Visa Application Documents:
（1） Visa Application Form to enter Japan, （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）
（7） Letter of guarantee, （original）
（2） Foreign nationals newly entering Japan for long-term stay.
2.1 A copy of the screening certificate from the appropriate Ministry/Agency:
※An application for a “Screening Certificate” must be submitted to the appropriate Ministry/Agency in Japan. It cannot be obtained from the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong.
2.2 Other Visa Application Documents:
（1） Visa Application Form to enter Japan, （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）
※ If the Certificate of Eligibility was issued more than 3 months previously, in order to be deemed valid, a document must be submitted, along with the visa application, stating that: “The accepting organisation is able to accept the foreign national with the same activity contents as were given at the time of the application for the certificate of eligibility”, at the diplomatic mission abroad.
3 Points to be noted.
(1) Additional conditions for issuance of residence status in relation to “Student” and “Technical Intern Training” visas:
※For Student and Technical Intern Training visas, the period of acceptance of the “Screening Certificate” will depend on the date of issue of the Certificate of Eligibility. For details, please refer to the link below:
The handling of period of validity for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) with status of “Student” and “Technical Intern Training” (PDF) (Japanese only)
(2) Please be aware that the application may not be granted if the personal particulars contained in the “Screening Certificate” (e.g. name, date of birth etc.) are different from the passport.
(3) 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.
(4) Processing time, etc.
（4.1） 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.
（4.2） 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 “Screening Certificate” application and other related information. The accepting organisation in Japan may contact the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and/or the appropriate Ministry/Agency in Japan for detailed information regarding the application, including the applicants’ eligibility.
(1) Website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare:
Regarding the “New Measures for Border Enforcement (19)”. (Including application forms, document samples etc.).
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000121431_00318.html (Japanese only).
・Call centre for the “New Measures for Border Enforcement(19)”, (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare):
Domestic call in Japan：0120-220-027
0120-248-668
International call：(+81)50-1751-2158
Hours of Operation:9:00～21:00 (JPT) (including Saturdays and Sundays).
(2) Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan:
・Phased measures for resuming cross-border travel:
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/ca/cp/page22_003380.html (Japanese).
https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/cp/page22e_000925.html (English).
・Visa applications for foreign nationals eligible for phased measures towards 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/001347330.pdf （Japanese only）.
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) A “Certificate of Negative PCR Test Result”, conducted within a maximum of 72 hours before flight departure time from sampling time, is required for all nationals arriving from all regions.
(2) Please also install and set-up the mandatory designated applications, (COCOA, MySOS and Google Maps), onto your smartphone before your arrival.
Please refer to the set-up manual of the mandatory designated applications as below:
https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/manual/pdf-jp/datail.pdf (Japanese）
https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/manual/pdf-en/datail.pdf (English）
6 For Enquiries.
In addition to the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong, you may also contact the following regarding visa enquiries:
・Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa information:
Tel.: (+81) 3-5363-3013
Domestic call in Japan: 0570-011000 (Navi Dial)
Hours of Operation: 9:00～17:00 (JPT)
Starting from November 8th 2021, 10:00 JPT, the accepting organisation in Japan, (e.g. company, university, etc.), can apply for a “Screening Certificate” from the appropriate Ministry/Agency in Japan.
1 Eligibility for Application.
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.
※In order to secure the individual’s entry into Japan, the accepting organisation is required to pass a screening process and obtain a screening certificate, in advance, by the Ministry/Agency having jurisdiction over the business in question. The accepting organisation is also responsible for the applicant’s conduct while they are 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. （※ Multiple entry visas will not be issued）.
1.1 A copy of the screening certificate from the appropriate Ministry/Agency:
※An application for a “Screening Certificate” must be submitted to the appropriate Ministry/Agency in Japan. It cannot be obtained from the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong.
1.2 Other Visa Application Documents:
（1） Visa Application Form to enter Japan, （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）
（7） Letter of guarantee, （original）
（2） Foreign nationals newly entering Japan for long-term stay.
2.1 A copy of the screening certificate from the appropriate Ministry/Agency:
※An application for a “Screening Certificate” must be submitted to the appropriate Ministry/Agency in Japan. It cannot be obtained from the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong.
2.2 Other Visa Application Documents:
（1） Visa Application Form to enter Japan, （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）
※ If the Certificate of Eligibility was issued more than 3 months previously, in order to be deemed valid, a document must be submitted, along with the visa application, stating that: “The accepting organisation is able to accept the foreign national with the same activity contents as were given at the time of the application for the certificate of eligibility”, at the diplomatic mission abroad.
3 Points to be noted.
(1) Additional conditions for issuance of residence status in relation to “Student” and “Technical Intern Training” visas:
※For Student and Technical Intern Training visas, the period of acceptance of the “Screening Certificate” will depend on the date of issue of the Certificate of Eligibility. For details, please refer to the link below:
The handling of period of validity for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) with status of “Student” and “Technical Intern Training” (PDF) (Japanese only)
(2) Please be aware that the application may not be granted if the personal particulars contained in the “Screening Certificate” (e.g. name, date of birth etc.) are different from the passport.
(3) 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.
(4) Processing time, etc.
（4.1） 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.
（4.2） 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 “Screening Certificate” application and other related information. The accepting organisation in Japan may contact the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and/or the appropriate Ministry/Agency in Japan for detailed information regarding the application, including the applicants’ eligibility.
(1) Website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare:
Regarding the “New Measures for Border Enforcement (19)”. (Including application forms, document samples etc.).
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000121431_00318.html (Japanese only).
・Call centre for the “New Measures for Border Enforcement(19)”, (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare):
Domestic call in Japan：0120-220-027
0120-248-668
International call：(+81)50-1751-2158
Hours of Operation:9:00～21:00 (JPT) (including Saturdays and Sundays).
(2) Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan:
・Phased measures for resuming cross-border travel:
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/ca/cp/page22_003380.html (Japanese).
https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/cp/page22e_000925.html (English).
・Visa applications for foreign nationals eligible for phased measures towards 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/001347330.pdf （Japanese only）.
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) A “Certificate of Negative PCR Test Result”, conducted within a maximum of 72 hours before flight departure time from sampling time, is required for all nationals arriving from all regions.
(2) Please also install and set-up the mandatory designated applications, (COCOA, MySOS and Google Maps), onto your smartphone before your arrival.
Please refer to the set-up manual of the mandatory designated applications as below:
https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/manual/pdf-jp/datail.pdf (Japanese）
https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/manual/pdf-en/datail.pdf (English）
6 For Enquiries.
In addition to the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong, you may also contact the following regarding visa enquiries:
・Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa information:
Tel.: (+81) 3-5363-3013
Domestic call in Japan: 0570-011000 (Navi Dial)
Hours of Operation: 9:00～17:00 (JPT)