Japan to reopen borders on Monday for business travellers, students

TOKYO – Japan will reopen its borders for business travellers and students on Monday as it eases border restrictions, the government said yesterday.

According to Jiji Press, foreigners making business trips, foreign students, and technical interns from abroad will be able to enter Japan on the condition host organisations – such as companies and universities – that accept them manage their movements thoroughly.

Short-term business travellers planning to stay for up to three months will see their quarantine period shortened from 10 days to three days at the shortest, on the condition that they are vaccinated against Covid-19, it added.

Since January, the government has been limiting entry by foreigners, to those with special reasons in principle.

The business community had asked the government to ease restrictions, following progress in vaccinations, and improvements in infection situations in Japan and abroad.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara told a press conference that the government will check the effectiveness of measures to manage foreigners’ activities within this year at the earliest, and consider reopening the borders for tourists as well.

But he was quick to add, “We’ll act flexibly if the situation deteriorates due to the spread of a new variant or other reasons” – indicating the possibility of tightening restrictions again, if necessary.

Vaccinated short-term business travellers will be allowed to go out if they test negative for the coronavirus on the third day from arrival, and their host organisations submit the travellers’ activity plans to the government and obtain approval.

Government officials said those meeting the requirements will be allowed to go to work, attend training seminars, and travel on public transportation using reserved seats, for example.

Longer-term business travellers, students, and technical interns will be allowed to enter Japan on the condition that they undergo 14 days of quarantine, Jiji Press added.

The period will be shortened to 10 days if they are inoculated with any of the coronavirus vaccines designated by the government – namely the products of Pfizer Inc, Moderna Inc, and AstraZeneca PLC. The designated products do not include Chinese vaccines.

The government will keep the daily limit on the number of foreigners entering Japan at around 3,500 for the time being, the report added. – Bernama, November 6, 2021