VISA APPLICATION
2020/5/18
On the 28th August 2020, the Government of Japan renewed / updated the Border enforcement measures to prevent the spread of Novel Coronavirus infections as follows.
1. Denial of permission to entry
For the time being, foreign nationals categorized below are denied permission to enter Japan as ones who fall under the Article 5, paragraph (1), item (xiv) of Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, unless exceptional circumstances are found.
(1) Foreigners who have stayed in any of the following countries/regions/cities/provinces within 14 days prior to the application for landing:
Note that foreigners (from the countries and regions where the entry bans do not apply) are not denied to enter Japan when they arrive in Japan via any of the following 159 countries or regions, which are subject to denial of permission to entry, for refueling or transit purpose. Those who entered those countries or regions will, however, be subject to the entry ban.
Asia
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, China, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Viet Nam
Oceania
Australia, New Zealand
North America
Canada, United States of America
Latin America and the Caribbean
Argentine, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
Europe
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyz, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vatican
Middle East
Afghanistan, Bahrain, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates
Africa
Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central Africa, Comoros, Cote d’lvoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
(2) Foreigners who have Chinese passports issued in Hubei Province or Zhejiang Province of China
(3) Foreigners who were on the cruise ship Westerdam, departed from Hong Kong
On 28th August 2020, the Government of Japan announced its decision that all foreign nationals with the status of residence who have left and will leave Japan before 31st August 2020 with a valid re-entry permit, are now eligible to re-enter Japan from 1st September 2020. As for the foreign nationals with the status of residence currently residing in Japan and will depart from Japan on and after 1st September, please refer to the website (Ministry of Justice) .
With a view to containing the spread of infections, some additional quarantine measures will be introduced from 1st September 2020 to the foreign nationals with any of the four categories of the status of residence, namely “Permanent Resident”，”Spouse or Child of Japanese National”, “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” and “Long Term Resident” (including the spouse of a Japanese national or Japanese child who does not have these statuses of residence; the same applies hereinafter) and those who have special exceptional circumstances.
Note: This measure is not applied to those who have already possessed and will possess diplomatic and official visas.
2. Quarantine measures
(1) All nationals arriving from the countries and regions listed in paragraph 1 above within 14 days prior to their application for landing into Japan are subject to conducting of PCR tests for the time being
(2) All nationals arriving from all regions are called upon to wait 14 days at a location designated by the quarantine station chief and to refrain from using public transportation for the time being.
For further information, please see the website (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare) .
3. Suspension of visa validity
Validity of visas listed below are suspended for the time being.
(1) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 8th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies or Consulates General in China (including Hong Kong and Macau) and Republic of Korea
(2) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 20th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General in the following countries
Europe
Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican
Middle East
Iran
Africa
Egypt
(3) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 27th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General in the following countries
Asia
Brunei, Indonesia (note), Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Note: including seal of “visa wavier registration certificate”
Middle East
Bahrain, Israel, Qatar
Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
(4) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by April 2nd, 2020, by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General located in or accredited to the following countries and regions
Asia
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste
Oceania
Cook, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Latin America and the Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentine, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
Europe
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Middle East
Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates (note), Yemen
Note: including seal of “visa wavier registration certificate”
Africa
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles , Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
4. Suspension of visa exemption measures
As visa exemption measures with the countries and regions listed below are temporarily suspended, those who fall under the measures are required to obtain visas before visiting Japan. The measures will be in place for the time being.
(1) Visa exemption measures agreed with Japan and the following countries and regions
Asia
Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Laos. Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Oceania
Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon
Latin America and the Caribbean
Argentine, Bahamas, Barbados, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay
Europe
Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vatican
Middle East
Israel, Iran, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates
Africa
Lesotho, Tunisia
(2) The effect of Pre-Clearances (i.e. visa exemptions) granted by the Japanese Government to APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) issued by the following countries and regions is also suspended.
Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
5. Restrictions on airport/ports for arrival
(1) The Government of Japan restricts arrival airports for passenger flights from China or Republic of Korea to Narita International Airport and Kansai International Airport only and requests the airlines concerned to conform this restriction.
(2) The Government of Japan suspends passenger transportation departing from China or Republic of Korea by vessels and requests related companies to conform this suspension.
(3) Requesting airlines concerned to curb the number of arrival passengers to Japan by such measures as reducing the number of passenger arrival flights in order to ensure the appropriate implementation of quarantine measures. In order to securing smooth return to Japan of Japanese citizens or overseas travelers wishing to return, a proper care, including providing information and sending advisories, will be taken.
(4) The measures will be in place for the time being.
JAPAN VISA INFORMATION HOTLINE (24 hours / 7 days a week, English only)
TEL : 1800818859
This Hotline is designated for visa applicants residing in Malaysia. If you are calling from Malaysia, you will be charged a domestic call fee for your call.
For (I) Re-entry of foreign nationals with the status of residence and (II) Phased Measure toward Resuming Cross-Border Travel, etc., please consult us.
This Hotline provides the general information only and cannot connect you to our Consulate. If you need to inquire your visa examination status, etc., please contact the Embassy / Consulate-General / Consular office with jurisdiction over the place of your residence directly and to maintain the prevention of the Novel Coronavirus infections for the visitors, Consulate-General of Japan in Penang accepts the visa application for the above (II) during AM 8:30 to 12:00 only. We would appreciate your understanding.
1. Denial of permission to entry
For the time being, foreign nationals categorized below are denied permission to enter Japan as ones who fall under the Article 5, paragraph (1), item (xiv) of Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, unless exceptional circumstances are found.
(1) Foreigners who have stayed in any of the following countries/regions/cities/provinces within 14 days prior to the application for landing:
Note that foreigners (from the countries and regions where the entry bans do not apply) are not denied to enter Japan when they arrive in Japan via any of the following 159 countries or regions, which are subject to denial of permission to entry, for refueling or transit purpose. Those who entered those countries or regions will, however, be subject to the entry ban.
Asia
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, China, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Viet Nam
Oceania
Australia, New Zealand
North America
Canada, United States of America
Latin America and the Caribbean
Argentine, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
Europe
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyz, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vatican
Middle East
Afghanistan, Bahrain, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates
Africa
Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central Africa, Comoros, Cote d’lvoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
(2) Foreigners who have Chinese passports issued in Hubei Province or Zhejiang Province of China
(3) Foreigners who were on the cruise ship Westerdam, departed from Hong Kong
On 28th August 2020, the Government of Japan announced its decision that all foreign nationals with the status of residence who have left and will leave Japan before 31st August 2020 with a valid re-entry permit, are now eligible to re-enter Japan from 1st September 2020. As for the foreign nationals with the status of residence currently residing in Japan and will depart from Japan on and after 1st September, please refer to the website (Ministry of Justice) .
With a view to containing the spread of infections, some additional quarantine measures will be introduced from 1st September 2020 to the foreign nationals with any of the four categories of the status of residence, namely “Permanent Resident”，”Spouse or Child of Japanese National”, “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” and “Long Term Resident” (including the spouse of a Japanese national or Japanese child who does not have these statuses of residence; the same applies hereinafter) and those who have special exceptional circumstances.
Note: This measure is not applied to those who have already possessed and will possess diplomatic and official visas.
2. Quarantine measures
(1) All nationals arriving from the countries and regions listed in paragraph 1 above within 14 days prior to their application for landing into Japan are subject to conducting of PCR tests for the time being
(2) All nationals arriving from all regions are called upon to wait 14 days at a location designated by the quarantine station chief and to refrain from using public transportation for the time being.
For further information, please see the website (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare) .
3. Suspension of visa validity
Validity of visas listed below are suspended for the time being.
(1) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 8th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies or Consulates General in China (including Hong Kong and Macau) and Republic of Korea
(2) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 20th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General in the following countries
Europe
Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican
Middle East
Iran
Africa
Egypt
(3) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 27th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General in the following countries
Asia
Brunei, Indonesia (note), Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Note: including seal of “visa wavier registration certificate”
Middle East
Bahrain, Israel, Qatar
Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
(4) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by April 2nd, 2020, by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General located in or accredited to the following countries and regions
Asia
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste
Oceania
Cook, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Latin America and the Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentine, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
Europe
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Middle East
Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates (note), Yemen
Note: including seal of “visa wavier registration certificate”
Africa
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles , Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
4. Suspension of visa exemption measures
As visa exemption measures with the countries and regions listed below are temporarily suspended, those who fall under the measures are required to obtain visas before visiting Japan. The measures will be in place for the time being.
(1) Visa exemption measures agreed with Japan and the following countries and regions
Asia
Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Laos. Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Oceania
Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon
Latin America and the Caribbean
Argentine, Bahamas, Barbados, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay
Europe
Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vatican
Middle East
Israel, Iran, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates
Africa
Lesotho, Tunisia
(2) The effect of Pre-Clearances (i.e. visa exemptions) granted by the Japanese Government to APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) issued by the following countries and regions is also suspended.
Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
5. Restrictions on airport/ports for arrival
(1) The Government of Japan restricts arrival airports for passenger flights from China or Republic of Korea to Narita International Airport and Kansai International Airport only and requests the airlines concerned to conform this restriction.
(2) The Government of Japan suspends passenger transportation departing from China or Republic of Korea by vessels and requests related companies to conform this suspension.
(3) Requesting airlines concerned to curb the number of arrival passengers to Japan by such measures as reducing the number of passenger arrival flights in order to ensure the appropriate implementation of quarantine measures. In order to securing smooth return to Japan of Japanese citizens or overseas travelers wishing to return, a proper care, including providing information and sending advisories, will be taken.
(4) The measures will be in place for the time being.
JAPAN VISA INFORMATION HOTLINE (24 hours / 7 days a week, English only)
TEL : 1800818859
This Hotline is designated for visa applicants residing in Malaysia. If you are calling from Malaysia, you will be charged a domestic call fee for your call.
For (I) Re-entry of foreign nationals with the status of residence and (II) Phased Measure toward Resuming Cross-Border Travel, etc., please consult us.
This Hotline provides the general information only and cannot connect you to our Consulate. If you need to inquire your visa examination status, etc., please contact the Embassy / Consulate-General / Consular office with jurisdiction over the place of your residence directly and to maintain the prevention of the Novel Coronavirus infections for the visitors, Consulate-General of Japan in Penang accepts the visa application for the above (II) during AM 8:30 to 12:00 only. We would appreciate your understanding.