Notice to all passengers departing for Japan (Updated December 2, 2021)
Thank you for flying with Japan Airlines.
In response to the spread of mutated strains of coronavirus, the Japanese Government is fortifying border controls and quarantine measures for people entering Japan.
There have been cases where passengers have been denied boarding due to incomplete or non-possession of inspection certificates.
Notice
〔Strengthening of border measures for Omicron strains〕
Due to changes made to Japan’s border restrictions due to the emergence of the new Omicron strain of COVID-19, all non-Japanese passenger arrivals to Japan will be suspended for one month from November 30. Applications for new visas, which started from November 8 as part of a relaxation of immigration restrictions on foreign nationals, and the issuance of new visas have also been suspended until December 31. *
Passengers with Japanese nationality are not subject to immigration restrictions. In addition, the shortened (10 day) quarantine measure has also been suspended, so a 14-day quarantine period is now required. For details, please check the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
*In addition to Japanese citizens, permanent residents are also permitted to enter Japan. Passengers re-entering Japan with residence status (limited to those without visa restrictions) who undertook re-entry procedures before departing the country may also enter Japan, unless they have traveled to certain restricted countries. For details, please check the website of Ministry of Justice (Japanese language only).
〔Tightened Restrictions on the Number of Arrivals Into Japan〕
In accordance with instructions from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Japan Airlines has stopped taking new reservations for all JAL-operated international flights arriving in Japan in December 2021 due to the strengthening of border control measures against the new Omicron COVID-19 variant.
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Please make sure to check the following before you depart.
- Is your test method, sampling method and timing of your test valid, following the requirements of the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare?
- Testing method: Valid only for one of the specified methods
- Sampling method:Valid only "Nasopharyngeal Swab" or "Saliva" or ”Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs”
- A COVID-19 negative test certificate issued within 72 hours prior to departure is valid.
Please also check the following:
- Do you have the necessary information to fill out the "Written Pledge" and "Questionnaire web answers", and a smartphone to install the mandatory app required by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare?
- Have you checked the latest entry requirements by yourself?
Strengthened border measures (Quarantine measures and entry restrictions)
Mandatory submission of test certificate
All passengers entering Japan from overseas are required to submit a certificate proving a negative test result for COVID-19 that was conducted within 72 hours prior to departure for Japan. This requirement applies to passengers of all nationalities arriving from any country/region.
Effective from entry on or after March 19, 2021, all persons who return to or enter Japan from abroad, regardless of the country or region in which they are staying and nationalities must provide a negative certificate of covid-19 inspection that was conducted within 72 hours prior to departure. If you are unable to submit an inspection certificate, you will not be allowed to enter Japan based on the Quarantine Law.
We introduced VeriFLY, a digital certificate application, on JAL operated flights on selected routes. For more details, please refer to”Digital Health Credential App "VeriFLY" to Assist With Your COVID-Safe Travel ”.
Valid methods of COVID-19 testing
Limited to one of the following.
Nucleic Acid Amplification Test |
Other |
|---|---|
| real time RT-PCR real time reverse transcription PCR |
Next Generation Sequence |
| LAMP Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification |
Quantitative Antigen Test* (CLEIA) *Not a qualitative antigen test. |
| TMA Transcription Mediated Amplification |
|
| TRC Transcription Reverse-transcription Concerted reaction |
|
| Smart Amp Smart Amplification process |
|
| NEAR Nicking Enzyme Amplification Reaction |
COVID-19 test sample collection method
A certificate of inspection issued within 72 hours prior to departure is valid.
The 72 hours prior to departure is calculated from the scheduled international departure time of the last point of departure for Japan.
Either of the following is valid.
| Sampling method |
|---|
| Nasopharyngeal swab/Nasopharynx swab /Rhinopharyngeal swab/Rhinopharynx swab |
| Saliva sample (Deep throat) |
Nasopharyngeal (*) and Oropharyngeal (throat) swabs/Naso and oropharyngeal/Rhino and oropharyngeal /Oro and nashopharyngeal (*) （*Nasopharyngeal/Rhinopharyngeal/Nasopharynx/Rhinopharynx） |
*Effective from July 1, Nasopharyngeal and Oropharyngeal swabs are accepted as valid sample.
Please note that the following test certificates are not valid.
- Certificates where the testing time and date are not shown. Valid certificates must include not only the date of issuance of the test certificate, but also the date and time of specimen collection, which must be within 72 hours of departure for Japan.
- Certificates where the testing method is not valid.
Qualitative antigen tests are not valid. - Certificates where the sample collection method is not valid.
Oral swabs, throat swabs, nasal/nose swabs are invalid.
If you do not have a valid inspection certificate, you will be denied boarding by the direction of the Government of Japan. Customers who are planning to enter or return to Japan are requested to ensure they have a valid test certificate in advance.
Please use the predetermined format of the MHLW as a general rule.
Valid Testing Period
A certificate of inspection issued within 72 hours prior to departure is valid.
If you are transferring to a JAL international flight from another flight, your test must be taken within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of that first connecting flight.
At the airport where you transfer flights, if you go outside the airport or stay at accommodation outside the airport, the 72-hour testing limit will be calculated from the scheduled departure time of your flight from that airport. For more details, please visit the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Coronavirus testing at entry
All persons entering Japan will be tested for the COVID-19 infection at the arrival airport.
You may have to wait for a lengthy period at the airport until the test results arrive.
Signing and submission of the Written Pledge
All persons arriving in Japan are required to pledge to not use public transport for 14 days, self-isolate at home or in accommodation for 14 days, save location information and provide information on your location to local health centers or other institutions when requested. All persons are required to sign and submit a written pledge to this effect when entering Japan.
Anyone refusing to sign and submit the written pledge will be requested to isolate for 14 days at a location specified by the head of the quarantine authority.
If the pledge is violated, such persons may be subject to detention under the Quarantine Act and the following measures may apply:
(1) For Japanese nationals, names and other information that contribute to preventing the spread of infection may be made public.
(2) For foreign nationals with residence status, names, nationalities, and other information that contributes to preventing the spread of infection may be made public. They may also be subject to the revocation of their residence status and deportation procedures under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law may apply.
Please retrieve the written pledge form from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs webpage.
Mobile app installation
Starting from March 18, 2021, all entrants (including Japanese citizens) are required to install an app on their smartphone for a period of 14 days after entering Japan so that their location can be monitored to be sure that they are at home or in hotel accommodation.
In order to view PDF documents, you may need to install Adobe Reader.
Please install the app in advance so that the quarantine procedure will be smoother when you arrive in Japan.
If you do not have a smartphone capable of using mobile app, you are required to rent a smartphone under the Quarantine Act.
For more information, please refer to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) page.
Strengthening of quarantine measures for all entrants from designated countries/regions of special concern for border control measures
Regarding quarantine period and inspection after entering Japan
Currently, all entrants and returnees for Japan are required to submit an inspection certificate within 72 hours prior to departure and are subject to inspection upon entry. In addition, those who enter Japan from "designated countries/regions for mutant strains of particular concern for border control measures" and "countries/regions designated as countries/regions for COVID-19 other than those mutant strains of particular concern for border control measures" are required to wait at a place designated by the quarantine station (limited to accommodation secured by the quarantine station), and are subject to re-test on the third, sixth, and tenth days (depending on the designated countries/regions) counting from the day after entry. Those who test negative on the third, sixth and tenth days (depending on the designated country/region) will be asked to leave the accommodation secured by the quarantine station and stay at home, etc for the remainder of the 14 days after entry.
The quarantine period had been shortened based on the submission of proof of vaccination and approval by by applying to the relevant ministries and agencies from the person in charge of acceptance (company, etc.), but this is suspended until December 31, 2021 due to the emergency measures to enhancement of the quarantine measure following the designation of COVID-19 variant of concern (Omicron) by the World Health Organization (WHO).
For details, please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Overseas Safety Website, or contact the Embassy or Consulate of Japan overseas.
*Link opens in new window. Sites may not meet accessibility guidelines.
Tightened Restrictions on the Number of Arrivals Into Japan
Currently there is a limit on the number of people permitted to enter Japan due to enhanced restrictions imposed by the Japanese government.
In accordance with instructions from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Japan Airlines has stopped taking new reservations for all JAL-operated international flights arriving in Japan in December 2021 due to the strengthening of border control measures against the new Omicron COVID-19 variant. However, customers who are only transiting Japan without entering the country can continue to make reservations for JAL operated international flights arriving in Japan as part of these transit itineraries. For information about the codeshare flight operated by other airlines, please contact the operating airline.We will inform you on this page as soon as the situation changes.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and appreciate your understanding. Please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website for more information on border control measures.
Temporary suspension of new entry for foreign nationals from all countries and regions
From October 1, 2020, as a general rule, new entries to Japan from all countries/regions were permitted on condition that host companies/organizations can guarantee epidemic prevention measures, but currently new entries to Japan from all countries/regions are being refused.
Those who have stayed in countries and regions categorized as level 3 under MOFA’s Travel Advice and Warning on Infectious Diseases within the 14 days before arriving in Japan will be denied entry even if they have a valid newly-issued entry visa that has already been issued. Those who have been in countries and regions categorized as level 2 under MOFA’s Travel Advice and Warning on Infectious Diseases within the 14 days before arriving in Japan will not be denied entry into Japan if they have a valid newly-issued visa that has already been issued.
People with Japanese residence status and a valid re-entry permit will not be subject to entry denial. However, re-entry by those holding resident status who are returning from countries/regions that have been identified as being of particularly high concern among the "Designated countries/regions where the mutant strain B.1.617 (delta strain,etc) is being transmitted" will be denied entry for the time being unless there are exceptional circumstances.
For the details of MOFA’s Travel Advice and Warning on Infectious Diseases, please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
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Suspension of special measures when returning or re-entering Japan from a short-term business trip to all countries and regions
The framework which allowed business persons residing in Japan to travel overseas for limited business activities and undergo a relaxed 14-day stay-at-home period upon their return/re-entry into Japan is currently suspended.
The validity of visas already issued under “Business Track” or “Residence Track”
New entry of foreigners using the business and residence track system will be prohibited from all applicable countries and regions. In addition, the government has decided not to allow Japanese nationals who have travelled overseas by business track or those who have resident status to undergo relaxed 14-day isolation periods after returning to and re-entering Japan.
December 2, 2021
Japan Airlines