Re-entry of U.S. citizens resident in Japan
Location: Japan
On August 28, the Government of Japan announced policies that will permit U.S. citizens with resident status in Japan to enter/re-enter the country. These policies are briefly summarized below. For complete information, please consult the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Justice.
Beginning September 1, any U.S. citizens with the status of resident in Japan who is already outside of the country, and who has a valid re-entry permit, will need to work with the Japanese embassy or consulate nearest to them in order to obtain the necessary permissions to return to Japan. A “re-entry confirmation letter” from the Japanese embassy or consulate and a certificate of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of flight departure will be required in order to return to Japan. Please see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for more information.
Any U.S. citizen resident currently in Japan who will leave the country after September 1 must consult with local immigration authorities prior to booking travel or departing Japan for instructions and receive similar written documentation to return. When coming back to Japan, such documentation and a certificate of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of flight departure will be required. Please see the Ministry of Justice website.
U.S. citizens should note that obtaining a COVID-19 test result in the United States within the required timeframe may be difficult in some locations. The U.S. Embassy cannot make referrals to medical institutions in the United States. Additionally, authorization for re-entry into Japan will be determined by Government of Japan immigration and health inspection authorities. The U.S. Embassy is unable to appeal or advocate on behalf of individual persons should they be denied entry.
In all cases, U.S. citizens will be required upon return to comply with all COVID-19 mitigation efforts instituted by the Government of Japan and local prefectural governments. This includes receiving a COVID-19 test at the airport upon arrival in the country, as well as a 14-day self-quarantine requirement. Travelers are not permitted to use public transportation, including trains, taxis, and domestic flights, until the 14-day self-quarantine period has ended, and will need to arrange private transportation to their quarantine location.
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Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy Tokyo
Telephone: 03-3224-5000, After-Hours: 03-3224-5000
Email: TokyoACS@state.gov
https://jp.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/ - U.S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe
Telephone: 06-6315-5912
Email: AOK@state.gov - U.S. Consulate Nagoya
Telephone: 052-581-4501
Email: AOK@state.gov - U.S. Consulate Fukuoka
Telephone: 092-751-9331
Email: FukuokaACS@state.gov - U.S. Consulate General Sapporo
Telephone: 011-641-1115
Email: SapporoACS@state.gov - U.S. Consulate General Naha
Telephone: 098-876-4211
Email: NahaACS@state.gov - State Department – Consular Affairs 888-407-4747