Japan likely to ease restrictions for foreign visitors

The country will allow entry to foreign nationals who plan to stay for over three months.

Japan.- The Japanese government is considering easing restrictions for the entry of foreign nationals for long-term stays.  

Restrictions currently remain in place for people coming from 159 countries.

The new measures would allow for up to 1,000 foreigners per day to enter the country, as long as they plan to stay for three months or more.   

Media reports say that the Japanese government is considering letting medical professionals, teachers and others who qualify for medium or long-term stays to be considered for entry. It will look to increase virus testing facilities at airports to prevent the entrance of people infected with Covid-19. 

Those who enter Japan will have to take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and self-isolate for 14 days. 

If implemented, the new measures could help Japan move forward with the process to develop integrated resorts (IR), since some of the main cities participating were forced to delay progress with potential private partners due to travel restrictions.  

Chief cabinet secretary Katsunobu Kato said Japan has succeeded in partially restarting travel to and from some countries, and said that “serious consideration will be put into easing the restrictions further.”