Latest News:
Starting 11 October, Japan will formally drop its ban on unbiased travellers, resume visa-free entry, and take away the cap on every day guests.
Travellers from most international locations together with UK, USA, Canada, Australia and EU states will be capable of go to Japan with out making use of for a visa upfront. Once they arrive, they may be capable of journey, discover and get pleasure from Japan as regular.
Additional Details:
- Testing: Pre-departure PCR assessments will now not be required for friends who’ve at the least 3 vaccinations. Those with fewer than 3 photographs will nonetheless want a PCR check inside 72h of arrival in Japan.
- Insurance: is now not obligatory, although nonetheless really useful as a result of excessive price of healthcare in Japan.
- Masks: are nonetheless extensively worn throughout Japan and obligatory in transportation, accommodations and crowded areas.
Current Guidelines (set to vary 11 October primarily based on above):
Fully-vaccinated (3 doses) guests from blue international locations (see under) are usually not required to have a COVID check previous to arrival. There is a cap of fifty,000 guests every day.
All flights and accommodations have to be booked upfront by a registered journey company or tour operator. Hotels will be booked by the native vacation spot administration firm (DMC) akin to EXO.
For the total pointers, please go right here. For a abstract of key factors, learn under.
Who can enter Japan:
Japan is presently permitting guests who’ve spent at the least 14 days in certainly one of 128 ‘blue’ international locations previous to visiting Japan to enter with no testing and no quarantine. All travellers are requested to have travellers insurance coverage masking infectious illness remedy, Additional particulars are as follows:
- Blue record: No quarantine. Guests want solely a pre-departure PCR check inside 72 hours of the departure flight to Japan. Guests are usually not required to be totally vaccinated. Visitors who’ve spent at the least 14 days consecutively in a blue nation previous to visiting Japan can even be included -it isn’t solely primarily based on citizenship.
- Countries:
Asia and Oceania Indonesia, Australia, Republic of Korea, Cambodia, Cook Islands*, Samoa*, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, China, Tuvalu*, Nauru*, Niue*, New Zealand, Nepal, Vanuatu*, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Bangladesh, East Timor, Philippines, Brunei*, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Laos North America Canada, United States of America Latin America Argentine, Antigua and Barbuda*, Uruguay*, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Grenada*, Costa Rica, Colombia, Jamaica, Suriname*, Saint Cristopher and Nevis*, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines*, Chile, Dominican Republic, Panama, Paraguay, Brazil, Peru, Honduras*, Bolivia, Mexico Europe Iceland, Ireland, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Italy, United Kingdom, Estonia, Austria, Netherlands, Greece, Kyrgyz Republic, Croatia, San Marino*, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Hungary, Finland, France, Bulgaria, Belgium, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Luxembourg, Russia Middle East and Africa Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Angola*, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Uganda, Eswatini*, Ethiopia, Eritrea*, Cabo Verde*, Ghana, Qatar, Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau*, Kenya, Comoros*, Côte d’Ivoire, Sao Tome and Principe*, Zambia, Djibouti, Somalia*, Tanzania, Chad*, Nigeria, Western Sahara, Bahrain, Benin, Botswana*, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, South Sudan, Mozambique, Mauritius*, Morocco, Jordan, Rwanda
- Countries:
- Yellow record: No quarantine. Guests are required to be totally vaccinated (3 doses together with booster) and to have a PCR check inside 72 hours of the departure flight to Japan.
- COUNTRIES
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Asia and Oceania India, North Korea, Kiribati, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Niue, Pakistan, Fiji, Bhutan, Viet Nam, Marshall Islands, Macao, Micronesia, Maldives Latin America Guyana, Cuba, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, Nicaragua, Haiti, Bahamas, Barbados, Venezuela, Belize Europe Albania*, Andorra, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, North Macedonia, Cyprus, Kosovo, Georgia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Vatican , Belarus, Portugal, Malta, Liechtenstein Middle East and Africa Yemen, Egypt, Oman, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Kuwait, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone*, Syria, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Seychelles, Equatorial Guinea, Senegal, Central African Republic, Tunisia, Togo, Turkey, Namibia, Niger, Palestine, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Mali, Mauritania, Libya, Liberia, Lesotho, Lebanon
- Red record: There are presently no international locations on the purple record,
Visa course of:
Once a tour is booked, we are going to generate an ERFS certificates used to use for a visa. Currently, e-visas and visas on arrival are usually not potential. Instead journey brokers or friends should apply both in individual at an area Japanese consulate or embassy, or by mail. From the time a tour is booked to the time a visa is issued, please permit at the least one month for processing. Also, be sure you contact the native embassy to make clear this course of forward of time, as procedures could change relying on nation.
Visa Requirements:
- Visa utility
- Passport(s)
- Photos
- EFRS Certificate(s)
- Agency issued itinerary with friends names, itinerary, and so on. want to incorporate EXO’s native emergency contact data
- Document certifying residency
How to enter Japan:
Below is an in depth step-by-step breakdown of Blue entry procedures (click on to view expanded model)
Upon entry, friends are required to signal this pledge, acknowledging the necessity to comply with an infection prevention measures in Japan.
Questions Answered:
Here are some together with solutions! Note that particulars are topic to vary, so please test again often.
In what circumstances are vacationers permitted to enter Japan?
Visitors eligible to enter Japan for tourism are those that make journey preparations by a registered journey company. This applies to all international locations and areas, not solely the beforehand restricted ‘blue list’ international locations.
Are there restrictions on the variety of vacationers getting into Japan?
There are not any caps on a per-country foundation for inbound vacationers, however there’s a every day arrival cap which has now elevated to 50,000 folks. This consists of Japanese nationals and overseas residents.
Who is allowed to enter Japan as of Sep seventh, 2022?
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- Short-term guests for work or enterprise functions.
- Foreign residents getting into for long-term keep (college students, and so on).
- Short-term vacationers for sightseeing functions by the association of a journey company.
After getting into Japan, will friends want to attend for something?
Depending on whether or not or not they’ve a vaccination certificates and which nation/areas they’ve stayed in 14 days previous to their scheduled touchdown, friends could also be required to attend after the doc inspection upon arrival.
Where can excursions and not using a tour conductor be booked?
Overseas or in Japan by a legitimate journey company who sells bundle excursions.
Who can prepare short-term sightseeing excursions?
Any legitimate journey company registered beneath the Travel Agency Law can prepare short-term sightseeing excursions. It isn’t essential to be a member of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) or the All Japan Association of Travel Agents (ANTA).
What are the necessities for a ‘package tour without a tour conductor’?
- The company accepting and arranging the tour have to be a professional company as talked about above.
- The company shall prepare round-trip airfare for the tour participant in addition to all lodging at some stage in the keep.
Are there pax limits for excursions?
No, there are not any limits. Solo vacationers are accepted.
Are any vacation spot restrictions in place in Japan for friends?
No, all prefectures and areas are open for journey.
Can the flights and accommodations be organized by an abroad journey company?
Roundtrip flights have to be organized by the abroad journey company in the event that they can’t be organized by the DMC in Japan, and the small print have to be shared with the DMC. Overseas journey businesses can prepare some lodging however not all, and it’s extremely really useful that every one lodging are booked by the DMC to make sure full compliance with the ERFS coverage.
Can vacationers prepare their very own round-trip air tickets?
- For excursions with a tour conductor
- Yes. If the tour participant arranges their very own round-trip airline ticket, the journey company accountable for receiving the tour participant shall be liable for managing the tour participant’s home itinerary from entry to departure after understanding your complete itinerary.
- For excursions with out a tour conductor
- No. The company ought to prepare round-trip airfare for the tour participant and all lodging at some stage in the tour. Tour packages which can be self-arranged by the tour participant and for which the journey company or journey service supplier solely acts because the host are usually not permitted.
Who is a “tour conductor”?
Someone who:
- Can perceive and implement the present an infection precautions in place in Japan.
- Can talk in Japanese with medical personnel and native governments within the case of an emergency, and insure cooperation of the contaminated individual.
- Can correctly implement the predetermined itinerary (occasions, areas, and so on).
This is usually a overseas individual if all three necessities are met and a short-term work visa is organized. They don’t must be staff of the journey company. This individual will be modified throughout a visit.
What particular varieties of bundle excursions might be permitted with out an accompanying tour conductor?
Package excursions and not using a tour conductor which have a system for quick contact with the journey company within the occasion of unexpected circumstances might be accepted. In this case, the tour operator or journey service supplier have to be in quick contact with the tour operator or journey service supplier.
In the case of excursions and not using a tour conductor, what does “arrangement” imply?
When a journey company liable for acceptance makes reservations for round-trip air tickets and lodging amenities on the request of tour members.
Can vacationers use public transportation in japan?
Yes, there are not any restrictions.
Can vacationers on a tour and not using a tour conductor keep at a buddy’s home or different amenities that don’t require reservations?
No, self-arranged lodging by tour members isn’t permitted. This falls exterior of the requirement that the company arranges round-trip air tickets and all lodging at some stage in tour.
What about free time and going out at evening?
Travelers are allowed to take part in free time actions and evening time actions on their very own if on a bundle tour when a tour conductor isn’t essential. For packages the place a tour conductor is critical, free time is proscribed and the tour conductor have to be reachable always.
Can the itinerary be modified throughout a tour with a tour conductor?
Yes, it may be adjusted for causes of climate or unexpected circumstances.
Some examples:
- ‘Free plan type package tours’ wherein transportation and lodging are fastened, however a lot of the itinerary is free.
- ‘Dynamic package tours’ wherein vacationers can freely choose and mix airfare, lodging, and different gadgets.
Remember, it isn’t acceptable for a journey company or a journey service supplier to tackle the accountability of a bunch solely, with the tour participant making their very own preparations.
For bundle excursions with out tour conductors, when ought to the journey company contact the tour members after their arrival in Japan?
The tour operator or journey service supplier will contact the tour participant on the date of entry, as indicated on the ticket, to remind them of the measures to be taken to stop an infection. The identical shall apply to any ready interval (quarantine) after the tour participant’s arrival in Japan.
What if the traveler has to quarantine after arriving in Japan?
The participant might want to isolate in a resort or hospital relying on their well being situation. The well being standing, location data, whereabouts of the tour participant in the course of the quarantine interval, and so on. might be confirmed and adopted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare by utilizing the MySOS app.
What does the journey company need to do if the traveler is made to quarantine after entry?
The journey company liable for receiving the traveler should affirm every day, by cellphone or electronic mail, that the traveler is at their quarantine facility and that they’re in good well being (besides within the case of ready at a facility designated by the quarantine station).
How ought to journey businesses get hold of consent from vacationers that they may comply with guidelines relating to COVID-19?
There is an English type obtainable. https://www.jata-net.or.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/administrator/2206_writtenconsenteng.pdf
What sort of measures might be taken if a tour participant or an individual accountable for acceptance violates a written oath or pledge?
If the tour participant violates the contents of the pledge (which is pledged on the time of quarantine on the time of entry) or offers false data, the related authorities such because the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will affirm the title and the unfold of an infection. Information that contributes to prevention will be made public, and they are often topic to extra procedures and detention primarily based on the provisions of the Quarantine Act.
In addition, if the company accountable for acceptance violates the content material of the pledge on the time of utility, or if the tour participant violates the oath of the pledge, the title of the corporate of the individual accountable for acceptance could also be made public. In addition, future purposes for brand new entry of foreigners from the company could also be denied.
How ought to journey businesses contact vacationers whereas in Japan?
The journey company shall set up a system to contact the tour participant always all through the tour participant’s keep in Japan. Therefore, the tour members should provide the company with their electronic mail handle and cellphone quantity to allow them to be contacted.
In the occasion that the tour operator or journey service supplier is unable to contact the tour participant, the tour operator or journey service supplier shall contact the lodging amenities organized by the tour operator or journey service supplier and inform the tour participant of the an infection prevention measures, and so on.
What about medical insurance coverage for vacationers?
It is requested that vacationers apply for personal medical insurance coverage that features enough compensation in case they contract COVID-19 whereas in Japan.
The Japanese authorities can not present particular pointers for insurance coverage contents or quantity of protection. Travelers are inspired to use for personal medical insurance coverage with enough protection in case they contract COVID-19 in Japan. Note that totally different insurance coverage firms could have totally different medical data provision techniques, and that credit score card-based abroad journey insurance coverage insurance policies could not cowl the total price of remedy, journey, and so on. The Japanese authorities requests that journey brokers present this warning to their shoppers.
Regardless of the kind of tour and if the insurance coverage is privately bought or supplied by the journey agent, the journey agent might be required to supply the mandatory assist in order that the traveler can talk easily with the medical establishment and the insurance coverage firm.
Who is liable for vacationers who contract COVID-19 in Japan?
The journey company is liable for securing technique of transportation to and from hospitals/quarantine facilities. Additionally, the journey company is required to substantiate the supply of medical interpretation companies upfront.
What occurs if a traveler doesn’t comply with the well being pointers?
Participation within the tour could also be terminated and friends could also be requested to return to their nation instantly.
Are there pointers about itinerary creation with regard to COVID-19?
General pointers issued by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare must be taken into consideration when creating itineraries. This consists of the three Cs (closed, crowded, shut). Travel businesses are requested to intention for ‘Zero C’ itineraries.
Regarding ERFS Visas
Submitting a full itinerary at utility time isn’t essential, solely the lodging title and handle at first of the tour is required.
Bulk registration is obtainable to use on a tour by tour foundation as a substitute of particular person candidates. However, if it appears probably that tour members could change, making use of on a person foundation is usually recommended.
Once an utility has been submitted on the “Pre-arrival application submission” web page or if the visa has already been permitted, the applying can’t be modified. In this case, the company might be required to withdraw the applying and reapply. A modification for one individual on a gaggle tour utility means your complete group might want to re-apply.
What paperwork are required for an ERFS visa utility for a tour and not using a tour conductor?
① Visa utility type
② Passport
③ Photos
④ Certificate of acceptance issued by ERFS
⑤ A doc ready by a journey company that features the tour define, record of members, journey itinerary, and get in touch with data of the Japanese journey company, and so on.
⑥ Letter of Guarantee(Only for Chinese nationals departing from mainland China, the letter might be despatched from the Japanese journey company to the e-mail handle registered upfront by the letter of assure issuing system)
⑦ Documents certifying that you’re legally residing within the related nation/area (just for third nation purposes: excluding Europeans and Americans)
Will the ERFS Registration for bookings by EXO Travel Japan be freed from cost?
Yes.
Is there a limitation of PAX/teams that may journey to Japan?
No, there isn’t any restrict when it comes to group dimension that may apply for a visa by way of the EFRS system.
How lengthy will it take to obtain the ERFS Certification ?
A most of 5 enterprise days.
How lengthy does it take to obtain a visa?
It can take as little as 30 days however, relying on the nation, it may take longer. Please seek the advice of your native Japanese consulate or embassy.
For a Business Visa, is the ERFS certification required?
Yes, we will additionally apply for enterprise visas for friends who want to come for inspections and FAM excursions.
What are the necessities from the federal government for Inbound tourism if you arrive in Japan?
A: This is the proper information:https://www.japan.travel/en/practical-coronavirus-information/check-list/
Does the total tour itinerary must be registered upfront?
There isn’t any must register the entire tour itinerary upfront, however all accommodations at some stage in friends’ journey have to be registered upfront.
What occurs if the information turns into symptomatic or assessments constructive for COVID?
If an attendant assessments constructive for COVID, we are going to present a brand new attendant instantly.
If friends participate in an non-compulsory tour, does the information must accompany them?
No, the information doesn’t must accompany them so long as sure necessities are met: supervised out of doors actions with social distancing and the information is reachable by cellphone and might transfer to the exercise venue at brief discover.
We will proceed updating this web page as particulars come up. Please watch this area or attain out to our crew with questions at: [email protected]