Regarding refusal of landing to prevent the spread of COVID-19(novel Coronavirus)
May 16, 2020
Regarding COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) which has spread throughout theworld, based on Cabinet approval on January 31, 2020 and the announcement by
the Covid-19 Measures Headquarters, and so on for the time being, the Ministry ofJustice considers foreign nationals who fall under any of the following to be foreign
nationals who fall under Article 5, paragraph (1), item (xiv) of the Immigration
Control and Refugee Recognition Act (hereinafter referred to as the “Immigration
Control Act”) and unless there are special exceptional circumstances, the foreign
national will be subject to denial of landing (See note 1).
Even in cases where a foreign national with the status of residence of“Permanent Resident”, “Spouse or Child of Japanese National”, “Spouse or Childof Permanent Resident” or “Long-Term Resident” (including the spouse of aJapanese national or Japanese child who does not have these statuses of residence;the same applies hereinafter) departed from Japan with re-entry permission(including special re-entry permission; the same applies hereinafter), such person
will, in principle, come under denial of landing as not having special circumstances(see note 2), so please refrain from traveling to the following countries / regions
which are subject to denial of landing.
Special permanent residents are not subject to the examination under Article 5,paragraph (1) of the Immigration Control Act and therefore landing will not bedenied based on the abovementioned measures.
- Foreign nationals who stayed in the following countries / regions within 14 days before theapplication for landing・ Asia: Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Korea, Taiwan, China (including Hong Kongand Macau), Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia, Maldives・ Oceania: Australia, New Zealand・ North America: Canada, United States
・ Latin America: Antigua and Barbuda, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Saint Kitts andNevis, Chile, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Panama, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil,Peru, Bolivia, Honduras, Mexico
・ Europe: Iceland, Ireland, Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Andorra, Italy, UnitedKingdom, Ukraine, Estonia, Austria, Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Northern Macedonia,Cyprus, Greece, Croatia, Kosovo, San Marino, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Slovakia,Slovenia, Serbia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Vatican, Hungary,Finland, France, Bulgaria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland,Portugal, Malta, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein,Romania, Luxembourg, Russia
・ Middle East: United Arab Emirates, Israel, Iran, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia,Turkey, Bahrain
・ Africa: Egypt, Cabo Verde, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republicof the Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius,Morocco* The underlined countries were newly added from midnight on April 29, 2020 (Japan time)* The countries in red (13 countries) were newly added from midnight on May 16 (Japantime)- Foreign nationals holding a passport issued in Hubei or Zhejiang, China- Foreign nationals who were onboard the cruise ship Westerdam that departed from HongKong(Note 1) Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Extract)(Denial of Landing)
Article 5 (1) A foreign national who falls under any of the following items is denied
permission to land in Japan:
Paragraphs (i) to (xiii) (Omitted)(xiv) Beyond those persons listed in items (i) through (xiii), a person whom the Minister ofJustice has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to commit an act which could be
detrimental to the interests or public security of Japan.
(2) Omitted(Note 2)
In cases where a foreign national with the status of residence of “Permanent Resident”, “Spouseor Child of Japanese National”, “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” or “Long-TermResident” re-enters Japan, a decision will be made on whether or not “special exceptional
circumstances” exist as given below based on the date of departure from Japan with re-entry
permission and records of the areas where the foreign national was staying.
(i) Cases of departure through re-entry permission up until April 2.
- In principle, special exceptional circumstances are regarded to exist.
(ii) Cases of departure through re-entry permission from April 3 to April 28.
- Of the areas subject to denial of landing, in principle, even foreign nationals who have a recordof staying in the 14 countries newly added on April 29 (countries underlined in the table) or the13 countries newly added on May 16 (countries in red in the table), in principle, will be regarded
as having special exceptional circumstances.
- Foreign nationals who have a record of staying in some other area subject to denial of landing(73 countries / regions other than the underlined countries or countries in red in the table), inprinciple, will come under denial of landing, as no special exceptional circumstances exist.
(iii) Cases of departure through re-entry permission from April 29 to May 15.
- Of the areas subject to denial of landing, in principle, even foreign nationals who have a recordof staying in the 13 countries newly added on May 16 (countries in red in the table), in principle,
will be regarded as having special exceptional circumstances.
- Foreign nationals who have a record of staying in some other area which is subject to denial oflanding (87 countries / regions other than the countries in red in the table), in principle, will comeunder denial of landing, as no special exceptional circumstances exist.
(iv) Cases of departure through re-entry permission from May 16.
- In principle, such foreign nationals will come under denial of landing, as no special exceptional
circumstances exist.