The Japanese authorities have announced that the country has decided to suspend visa-free travel from the US.
Japan reopened its borders for travelers from the US and several other countries on June 10. However, now the country has introduced new entry conditions, including the requirement to hold a visa.
Japan had exempted travelers from the US from the requirement to obtain a visa for travel purposes before the international borders got closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nonetheless, in one of its recent updates, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan said that such an exemption has now been suspended, meaning that US travelers now need to apply for a visa VisaGuide.World reports.
The Ministry explained that the new visa rule does not apply to those who hold a re-entry permit.
“Currently, all foreign nationals who wish to newly enter Japan need to apply for a visa except for those with re-entry permits. Please note that due to the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the visa approval procedure may take longer than usual,” the statement of the Ministry reads.
Except for travelers from the US, those from the EU and several other countries also need to obtain a visa before entering Japan.
All persons interested in visiting Japan need to make an appointment at their closest embassy or consulate. Applications can also be made by email.
Since the number of persons applying for a visa has been increasing, the Japanese authorities have warned travelers that the approval procedure may take longer than usual. In addition, some consulates have informed travelers that they cannot currently provide any visa status updates due to the tremendous amount of visas that are being processed.
Apart from having to obtain a visa, travelers reaching Japan must follow several other rules too.
Earlier this month, the Japanese authorities introduced new rules for foreign travelers. In line with the new rules, foreign travelers need to obtain medical insurance that covers expenses related to the Coronavirus disease. In addition, everyone is required to wear a face mask at all times.
Japan continues to categorize countries based on their infection rates. Countries are currently categorized in the red, yellow, and blue categories. The US continues to remain part of the blue list, meaning that all travelers from the US need to present a COVID-19 test taken before arrival in order to avoid quarantine.
The testing rule applies to everyone, even to those who have been vaccinated or recovered from the virus.
Japan previously had limitations on the number of foreign arrivals. However, with the easing of the entry restrictions, the latter increased the daily entry limit from 10,000 foreign arrivals to 20,000.
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