This email is to further clarify the changes that went into effect last week on 07 September with regards to Japan's border entry guidelines.
For quick reference, here is the update that I sent last week as well:
1. Triple vaccinated travellers entering Japan from 'blue' countries (including Australia and New Zealand) are no longer required to take a pre-departure PCR test.
2. The daily entry caps have been raised from the 20,000 pax per day to 50,000.
3. NON-GUIDED package tours from all countries/regions will be allowed to enter. Travellers are still required to get a visa in advance, for which an ERFS certificate issued by a receiving organisation in Japan is still required.
A very brief overview of the newest information was added to our Travel Trade page last Friday but there is more detail below.
The latest Q&A doc (*
Japanese only - an English one is being prepared but we are unsure when it will be available) was published by the Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT) on 9 September, replacing the one that was published the day prior (I sent the link to the 8 Sep update to a number of agents who emailed me directly on Friday asking questions but that one is no longer available so that link won’t work anymore). The latest Q&A doc can be found linked at the bottom of
this MLIT page.
For your convenience, here is a direct link to the
9 Sep update, but please note that if there is another update this link will cease to work so in that case please find the latest Q&A at the bottom of the MLIT page above.
Please note that the info I have provided below is a summary of the information in this Q&A document and is not necessarily comprehensive, but it contains what I have interpreted as the biggest updates and key points. For more information please ask your land operator and if they are not sure please ask them to contact MLIT (there are contact details for MLIT on the page I linked above).
Border update
GUIDED PACKAGE TOURS:
- In this case, ‘package’ means all land arrangements (accommodation, transfers etc) are pre-arranged and a licensed guide escorts the tour from start to finish, including meeting at the arrival airport. (See additional notes below about being ‘fully escorted’.)
- Pax may book flights direct with the airline, or may book through a travel agent.
- Pax must book the package tour through an overseas (i.e. Australian) travel agent who uses a DMC.
- The DMC will issue the ERFS certificate. Pax will require that ERFS certificate to apply for their visa.
NOTES ABOUT ‘FULLY ESCORTED’:
- Taking a connecting flight from international to domestic may be UN-escorted, e.g. fly SYD-HND then transfer HND-KIX. Pax must be met at KIX in this case, though. [Ref: 9 Sep Q&A doc, P.11 Q4]
- Some free time away from the guide may be permitted provided pax follow the public health guidelines (e.g. wearing a mask, social distancing, etc). A given period of free time may not span multiple days. This may include transfers between cities (e.g. Tokyo to Osaka on the bullet train). [Ref: 9 Sep Q&A doc, P.10 Q9] Ask your DMC for clarification on free time if necessary.
NON-GUIDED PACKAGE TOURS:
- Pax must book flights through a travel agent. They cannot book flights directly. [Ref: 9 Sep Q&A doc, P.8 Q1 part 3 & P.9 Q5 and Q6]
- Pax must also book all of their accommodation through a travel agent who uses a DMC. Pax may not book any accommodation directly [Ref: 9 Sep Q&A, P.9 Q6 and P.10 Q8].
- The DMC will issue the ERFS certificate. Pax will require that ERFS certificate to apply for their visa.
- Pax may use public transportation throughout their trip.
- Pax must observe public health guidelines throughout their trip (e.g. wearing a mask, social distancing, etc).
Please stay tuned as we will continue to keep you updated with the latest news.
For the latest information please visit our Travel Trade page.
