Japan Reopening for Business… but T&Cs apply

You may have seen reports that Japan has recently announced new border and quarantine measures for short-term business travel.

While these measures do open the door for business travel in a way that has not been possible at all during the pandemic, and that is very welcome, they come with some very strict requirements, so please plan accordingly. The following advice is provided based on information received from the Australian Embassy in Tokyo. (Please note that advice provided by either the AJBCC or the Australian Embassy on Japanese government rules and restrictions for entry is not definitive and we cannot be held responsible for any issues that you may encounter due to inaccuracies in this advice or changes that may subsequently occur.)

You will need a sponsoring company or organisation in Japan in order to travel. They will apply to the relevant Ministry or Agency for permission. Once you have received an approved screening certificate from the appropriate ministry or agency, you will have to apply for a visa. If approved, you will only be able to leave your hotel for pre-approved activities (from the fourth day after your entry into Japan until the end of your quarantine period, which is 10 days for Australians). Please be aware that your movements will be strictly limited (no unplanned hospitality or excursions).

As part of your application, you will need to submit, and get prior approval for, the activities you plan to undertake. We’ve heard that the application and approval process is quite complicated and time consuming. You should also be aware that there is a tight limit on the number of people who can enter Japan each day under all categories of traveller (currently capped at 3,500), and that you will have to take PCR tests on the third and tenth day of your stay.

In short – for those considering business travel to Japan, we would highly recommend you think about what these restrictions might mean for you.

As noted above, our advice is intended only to alert you that may be devils in the detail lying behind media reporting in this area. You will need to thoroughly conduct your own due diligence on these new requirements using official Japanese Government sources of information before making any arrangements or booking any travel. A good place to start is the MFA website:

Application for Visa for foreign nationals eligible for Phased Measures toward Resuming Cross-Border Travel | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (mofa.go.jp)

We will continue to liaise with the Embassy and provide further advice as the situation develops.