Japan eases entry restrictions for medium, long-term staying foreigners

TOKYO: Japan eased entry restrictions into the country yesterday for foreigners around the world put in place to combat the spread of Covid-19, although entry is still being refused for tourists, reported Xinhua news agency.

Those such as foreign medical professionals, teachers and others who are qualified for medium or long-term stays for three months or longer will be allowed entry, the government said, with those travelling for business purposes for less than three months also being eligible.

Eligible travellers will have to test negative for Covid-19 before entering and upon arrival in Japan, their sponsors, such as companies or organisations which support them, will be expected to ensure their self-isolation for 14 days, during which time they will not be allowed to use public transport.

The government had said it would consider permitting 1,000 foreigners into the country per day, mainly to accommodate those who intend to stay for three months or longer, while looking to increase the cap in the months ahead.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told a recent meeting of the government’s task force on the Covid-19 response that “to revitalise the economy, it is indispensable to resume international travel.”

“We will start relaxing entry restrictions by looking at the situation of infections in each country and also considering the degree of need for travel,” economic revitalisation minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is also in charge of the response to the coronavirus, said recently.

Currently, people from 159 countries and territories are denied entry to the country, but Japan has steadily been easing its entry restrictions.