Students, your family could visit Japan under a new travel exception

by | Jan 15, 2024 | Students

Is it extra fantastic information for overseas pupils in Japan? In accordance to a report from The Japan Moments, the government has quietly authorized parents of international nationals in the place to visit Japan for a limited period of time of time, regardless of the current restriction in area barring tourists from coming into its borders.

Quoting an official from the international ministry, the govt has granted a “special fantastic circumstances” visa to to start with and next-diploma relatives of international people residing in the country. To start with-diploma family members are defined as mothers and fathers or youngsters of international people, although 2nd-diploma relations include things like grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings.

The instances that allow travelling incorporate: 

  • People who want to take a look at Japan to see their relations
  • Relatives customers who have to have to treatment for an ill resident of Japan a overseas resident who is having a baby or all those who involve fast guidance in their day-to-day lives
  • Spouse and children customers browsing a in the vicinity of-dying resident, or all those paying out their respects to a deceased resident
  • Spouse and children associates who need to have to accompany travelling minors or people who can’t journey by yourself because of to disease or other pertinent factors

“We’ve begun issuing visas to households of foreign people in Japan hoping to make limited-phrase visits,” a overseas ministry formal was quoted declaring. “We perform visa issuance screening on a scenario-by-circumstance foundation, so I counsel men and women make contact with their nearest embassy or consulate for extra facts.”

The formal also clarified that people who are not able to legally demonstrate their connection to a foreign resident in Japan, these kinds of as fiances or companions, will unlikely be granted a visa underneath the new group.

Can foreigners visit Japan?

Even though Japan has begun to acknowledge foreigners who have sponsors, such as organization travellers and international college students, it’s however not open to vacationers. Resource: Philip Fong/AFP

Will extra foreigners be authorized to visit Japan? 

Japan experienced lately upped its overseas visitor cap to 10,000 from April 10, 2022 this 12 months, an enhance from the prior 7,000 announced on March 14, 2022. Japan has experienced 1 of the longest and strictest international border lockdowns during the pandemic, which commenced in April 2020. Foreigners weren’t authorized to check out Japan, which integrated global college students who could not return to campus for actual physical classes. 

Considering that border constraints were eased past month, a full of 30,000 abroad students have reportedly arrived in Japan soon after struggling to continue to keep up with their courses offshore for two a long time. The govt estimates some 150,000 worldwide pupils are waiting around to enter the nation as of March, and has plans to admit them by the end of Might beneath a priority entry programme. 

On April 6, 2022, the Japanese government launched a statement saying that it would raise its non-entry ban on overseas travellers from 106 countries. The imprecise statement triggered confusion amid foreigners, who have observed it challenging to navigate Japan’s paperwork on journey limits through the pandemic.

 

That does not mean guests can start out packing their suitcases just yet. There are no concrete actions to problem new tourist visas as Japan treads cautiously in reopening its borders. The nation experienced at first planned to simplicity its travelling principles in November, but pushed it to March this calendar year next the world-wide Omicron wave late final 12 months. 

As of Jan. 4, 2022, 400,000 men and women experienced obtained acceptance for entry into Japan but are however ready to do so, in accordance to Immigration Providers Company, with some in all probability getting given up considering that then. 

For overseas citizens of Japan who remained in the place during the pandemic, the chance of looking at their household members yet again is met with hope and elation on social media. 

If you’re an worldwide college student in the nation, your family members who desire to stop by Japan can start out by visiting the nearest Japanese consulate and embassies, as the new travel exception is granted only on a case-by-situation foundation.