New Entry Restrictions over the Omicron Variant from December 14th, Japan

As you probably all know by now, since last November 29th the Japanese government, led by its new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, has returned to the policy of closing borders and banning foreigners due to the newly reported variant of the coronavirus named Omicron (B.1.1.529).

This means that tourists, new students or business travelers are not allowed to enter the country. New visas for workers are also not being issued. The only exception to the entry ban are Japanese and foreign residents returning to Japan, but they are required to be placed in isolation for 14 days. Depending on the country you are coming from, you will be required to spend from 3 to 10 days in one of the government-designated facility (a hotel). The number of days also varies from day to day depending on the omicron situation in each country.

IMPORTANT: From December 1st foreigners, resident or non-resident, coming from any of the following countries would not be allowed to enter Japan:

• South Africa
• Botswana
• Eswatini
• Lesotho
• Namibia
• Zimbabwe
• Mozambique
• Malawi
• Zambia
• Angola

ADDED AT THE LIST!: 

• Democratic Republic of the Congo

On December 13, changes to the list were announced. Cyprus, Finland and the states of Texas and Washington D.C. have been added to the list of countries or states that need to quarantine the first 3 days in hotels provided by the Japanese government. Then Norway goes from 3 days to 6 days. And Pakistan has moved from the list of 3 days that could skip the hotel, to the list of 3 days that require a hotel (due to the appearance of omicron).

A few days ago it was also announced that Denmark was added to the list of 6-day hotel countries.

On the other hand, since December 10 and December 11 United Arab Emirate and Saudi Arabia have been removed from the list and now people returning from those countries do not need to spend 3 days in any hotel, only 14 days at home.

Thus, the new list is as follows:

– 10 days in a place designated by these authorities (ONLY Japanese and previously authorized persons), if the person has spent the last 14 days before arriving in Japan in South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

– 6 days in a place designated by these authorities, if the person has spent the last 14 days before arriving to Japan in Israel, Italy, United Kingdom, Australia (New South Wales, Northern Territory), Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Norway and Portugal for the status of the new Omicron variant. *People from this countries CAN’T do the 14 days of quarantine at home even if they are vaccinated. 

Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela and Peru are also on this list because of the Covid-19 situation in those countries or areas. *People coming from these countries will be able to do the 14 days of quarantine at home if they have a vaccination certificate.

– 3 days in a place designated by these authorities, if the person has been in the last 14 days before arriving to Japan in Iceland, Ireland, India (Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajastan), Australia (Special Capital Region), Austria, Ghana, Canada (Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia), Cyprus, Greece, Croatia, Switzerland, Spain, Czech Republic, Chile, Nigeria, Pakistan, Finland, Brazil (San Paulo), France, French Reunion Island, United States (California, Connecticut, Colorado, Texas, New York, Nebraska, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Missouri, Minnesota, Maryland, Louisiana, Washington, Washington DC), Belgium, Hong Kong, Romania for the status of the new Omicron variant. *People from this countries CAN’T do the 14 days of quarantine at home even if they are vaccinated. 

Argentina, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Ecuador, Kenya, Costa Rica, Colombia, Suriname, Republic of Dominica, Turkey, Nepal, Haitian,  Philippines, Morocco, Mongolia, Russia (Primorsky Krai, Moscow City) are also on this list but because of the Covid-19 situation in those countries or areas. *People coming from these countries will be able to do the 14 days of quarantine at home if they have a vaccination certificate.

If you are wondering how are the designated facilities by the Japanese authorities and how is the process, here is my first-hand experience this summer returning to Japan from Spain and spending 3 days in a quarantined hotel.

We are delivering the latest information about entry restrictions on this news letter below.