Trip to Japan in 2022! End of COVID-19 Restrictions?

After the COVID-2019 Pandemic, Japan closed its borders for more than two years, and now in 2022 many questions are being asked. Will it be possible to travel to Japan this year?

Who can travel to Japan now?

Most travelers from Brazil, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or not, will not be allowed to enter Japan at this time.

According to the latest updates after the arrival of the Omicron variant, the Tourist visa remains suspended, and most available visas require certificate of eligibility.

According to the embassy’s website, the latest update from January states:

• Temporary suspension of business visas;
• Temporary suspension of new entries into Japan from all countries and regions;

The entry restriction does not apply to Japanese citizens, permanent residents, spouses or children of Japanese nationals, or anyone with a special entry permit.

Japan did reopen its borders for work and study at the end of 2021, but due to the Omicron variant, this was somewhat prolonged or uncertain. It is always good to check with the embassy for information on this matter, especially since entry is possible with a certificate of eligibility.

Visa Categories for Japan Allowed during the pandemic

During the pandemic without a complete border closure, Japan allows the issuance of the following visas:

• Spouse or child of a Japanese citizen;
• People with a Certificate of Eligibility (not all cases);
• Approval from the relevant Ministry;

To learn more, we recommend reading our article on visa categories for Japan.

When will the tourist visa be released in Japan?

Many would like to know the answer to this question, but it is very uncertain. When Japan began to ease the entry of foreigners, the new variant came. We hope this does not happen again.

I personally hope that the tourist visa will be released still in 2022, at least by the end of the year, but some believe that it will only be released in 2023.

Vaccination in Japan is almost complete, with over 80% of the Japanese population vaccinated as of the writing of this article. We believe that things may improve soon.

Unfortunately, this pandemic has significantly delayed the evolution of the visa; many countries like Brazil still do not allow the issuance of a Digital Visa, something that Japan started to implement in 2020. We are hopeful about this possibility when Japan opens tourism.

Requirements to Enter Japan in 2022

Due to the Pandemic, the visa for Japan is becoming increasingly complicated. See below some of the requirements to enter Japan in 2022:

Written Oath Signature

Since January 2021, the Japanese government requires travelers of any nationality (including Japanese) to sign a “written oath” upon entering the country.

In the document, the traveler commits to following the quarantine and prevention rules, among which:

• Having taken a PCR test within 72 hours before the flight to Japan;
• Not using public transport for 14 days;
• Installing the LINE app on a mobile device, through which they must keep the health center with jurisdiction over their residence or accommodation informed about their physical condition;
• Installing a Japanese government contact tracing app for people contaminated with coronavirus;

The new rules emphasize that failure to comply with the “oath” may result in the publication of personal information, detention (under the Quarantine Law), or, in the case of foreigners, deportation under the Immigration Control Law.

Those who do not sign the “oath” will be required to remain for 14 days in a quarantine location designated by Japanese authorities.

Presentation of COVID-19 Test Certificate

A COVID-19 test certificate must be issued directly on the website of the Ministry of Justice of Japan or must contain the following information in English:

• Personal Data – Name, passport, nationality, date of birth, and gender;
• Test Content – Type of test, result, and dates of the sample, result, and issuance;
• Medical Institution Data – Name, doctor, address, stamp, and signature of the doctor;

Travelers from Brazil must present a negative RT-PCR (NAAT) test taken up to 72 hours before departing for Japan. The test is presented in the country of origin, and another test will be conducted in the destination country.

Possible other accepted tests include RT-PCR, LAMP, TMA, TRC, Smart Amp, NEAR, or CLEIA.

Proof of Vaccination against COVID-19

As of the writing of this article, Japan does not prohibit unvaccinated travelers from entering Japan, but requires a 14-day quarantine upon arrival in the country.

Fully vaccinated visitors with approved vaccination certificates do not need to quarantine. So, stop being silly and get vaccinated… Being afraid of vaccination is the same as saying you’re afraid of flying, but driving a car is much more dangerous.

How is Japan functioning in 2022?

Mandatory mask use in almost all places, most bars and restaurants close earlier around 8 PM, some places still remain unavailable despite the low number of cases in the country.

It is recommended to use face masks in all public spaces and public transport. Private companies and workplaces may set their own policies or guidelines.

It is amazing to see how strict Japan is with the pandemic, having a very low number of deaths and cases. The country recorded a total of 1.77 million cases and 18,399 deaths from COVID-19 as of January 2022.