Border measures for the new coronavirus will be relaxed from the 1st, and new entry of foreigners except tourism will be resumed.
However, since the framework for limiting the number of immigrants per day remains, it is expected that it will take some time before all applicants can enter the country.
As a measure against Omicron stocks, the government will ease the border measures that had been strengthened since November last year from the 1st, and new entry of foreigners excluding tourism will be resumed for the first time in about 3 months.
▽ In addition to short-term residents of 3 months or less for business purposes, etc. ▽ For long-term residents such as international students and technical intern trainees, the host company or university can apply online in advance and complete the visa examination. You can enter the country.
However, from the perspective of maintaining strict quarantine measures, the framework for limiting the number of immigrants per day remains, and it is expected that the number will be gradually increased while strengthening the number of quarantine personnel.
For the time being, the maximum number of immigrants per day will be raised from 3,500 to 5,000, but foreigners who have not been able to come to Japan for the past two years despite being pre-certified for status of residence. Is expected to have a maximum of 400,000 people, and it is expected that it will take some time before all applicants can enter the country.
In addition, with the relaxation of border measures this time, ▽ in principle, waiting at accommodation facilities or homes for 7 days after entering Japan will be unnecessary if a negative test is confirmed on the 3rd day, and ▽ 3rd time. Immigrants from areas where the Omicron strain has not spread after vaccination with Omicron will be exempt from any waiting measures.
In the future, if there are signs of deterioration in the infection situation, the government will carefully promote the recovery of socio-economic activities while leaving room for further strengthening of countermeasures.
Pre-screening with the Airport Procedures App
As the number of passengers arriving at the airport is expected to increase due to the relaxation of border measures, the national government is also working to make it possible to carry out procedures at the quarantine station in advance.
When entering Japan from overseas, we used to check the written pledge required at the time of entry and the inspection certificate within 72 hours before departure at the airport, but you can proceed using the app. You will be able to do it.
Specifically, if you install an application called "MySOS" and register the necessary information 16 hours before arriving in Japan, the content will be reviewed by the Japanese side.
If there is no problem with the registration details, the screen of the app will turn green, and after arriving at the airport, you can skip the document confirmation procedure by showing the green screen to the quarantine station staff.
This initiative will be available from the 1st at
▽ Haneda Airport (Tokyo),
▽ Chubu Airport (Aichi Prefecture),
▽ Kansai Airport (Osaka Prefecture),
▽ Fukuoka Airport (Fukuoka Prefecture), and the Ministry of Health, Labor and
Welfare is at Narita Airport .
I would like to make preparations so that it can be used soon.
Technical intern trainee waiting to visit Japan in Vietnam "I want to work in Japan soon"
Since January last year, the government has suspended new entry of foreigners in principle except for some periods, and foreigners who have decided to work in Japan as technical intern trainees have responded to this easing. While there were voices of joy, there were also concerns that entry would be prohibited again depending on the infection situation.
A 20-year-old Vietnamese man who is planning to work at a metalworking company as a technical intern trainee said, "I learned experience, knowledge, technology, culture and customs from Japanese people, and returned to Vietnam to work in Japanese. I would like to get a job or get a job at a Japanese company. I have been waiting for the day when I can enter Japan for a year and a half. Of course, I'm happy with the deregulation. "
On the other hand, he mentioned that new entry was suspended in less than a month, although border measures were temporarily relaxed in November last year. I was disappointed. I really hope that this will never happen again. "
In addition, an 18-year-old Vietnamese woman who is planning to work at a pickle factory in Saitama Prefecture said, "I want to know about Japan, which has a high level of science and technology and is developing, and want to study and work in Japan. I've been waiting for 9 months, but my parents are weak and can only work in the field, so I'm having a hard time. Now I'm helping with the field work at my parents' house, but I can afford it economically. No, "he said.
On top of that, "I understand that Japan is not accepting foreigners because of infection control. However, if this is prolonged, technical intern trainees like me will be able to live and work in the future. I am very pleased to hear that immigration restrictions will be relaxed. I want to work in Japan as soon as possible. "
While welcoming Vietnam, there are also calls for further easing
Vietnam has sent many technical intern trainees to Japan in recent years, and as of the end of June last year, Vietnamese accounted for more than half of the technical intern trainees in Japan.
Since the spread of the new coronavirus, many Vietnamese have been stranded due to immigration restrictions in Japan, so border measures will be relaxed in Japan from the 1st, and new entry of foreigners excluding tourism will be resumed in Vietnam. A welcome voice was heard.
Of these, a company in Hanoi, the capital city that sends technical intern trainees to Japan, resumed Japanese language classes for students from last week and has begun preparations for sending them out.
A male student said, "Some people haven't been able to go to Japan after waiting a couple of years, so I'm very happy to hear the news that immigration will resume."
On the other hand, due to the prolonged immigration restrictions, many people have given up going to Japan and are finding employment locally.
The background is that we have to give priority to securing income in order to support our daily lives.
In consideration of these circumstances, a company in Hanoi has introduced temporary jobs to students so that they can earn income even while Japan is suspended from entering Japan in order to realize travel to Japan.
A 33-year-old man who was introduced to the job of a deliveryman said, "I was depressed while waiting for my trip to Japan, and I thought about giving up my trip, but the job introduced by the company earned me income. I can get it and keep pursuing my dream of going to Japan. "
The representative of the company said, "Many people have already given up on Japan and changed their destination to Taiwan, etc. If Japan repeatedly suspends entry as before, the credit of students, companies, and myself to Japan I hope that the Japanese government will continue to accept foreigners, "he said, calling for further relaxation of immigration restrictions.
A company where technical intern trainees work “Show the prospect of when you can come to Japan”
Some companies where technical intern trainees work are waiting for early entry, saying that trainees are indispensable, and there are voices requesting that they show their prospects when they will be able to come to Japan.
A metal construction company in Saitama Prefecture accepts trainees through a supervising organization in Saitama City, and of the 30 employees, 13 are technical intern trainees from Vietnam.
The trainees support the company by leading other employees as field leaders and participating in meetings with major construction companies.
On the other hand, after four of the trainees returned to Vietnam temporarily due to family reasons, Japan's immigration restrictions continue to prevent them from coming to Japan.
Ryo Miura, president of Miura Kinzoku Kogyo, said, "Technical intern trainees are absolutely necessary, and we place tremendous trust in excellent employees regardless of race or country. The construction industry is aging. The reality is that it is difficult for Japanese people alone because there are no young people. "
Since redevelopment is progressing in urban areas nationwide, this company is worried about the time when the trainees will come to Japan amid the shortage of manpower because the construction work after May is increasing. Says.
President Miura said, "We are running out of manpower for the amount of work due to consultations on construction work two or three years from now. Even if we want to have new technical intern trainees come, the time when the site is demanding 9 If I don't start the interview a month ago, I won't be in time. I'm worried because I don't know when I'll be able to come even if I proceed with the procedure, and I don't know how to act. "
Organization for accepting technical intern trainees “There are many concerns”
The organization responsible for accepting technical intern trainees welcomes the relaxation of border measures, but the impact of the intern trainees being unable to enter the country for a long period of time has begun to appear, and it is unclear whether future immigration procedures will proceed smoothly. There are many concerns.
The Saitama City supervision organization accepts more than 200 trainees every year and has them work at the construction and food processing companies to which they are assigned.
However, due to immigration restrictions so far, about 250 people have been forced to wait in their own countries such as Vietnam, even though they have been hired.
Since the announcement of the relaxation of border measures, this group has been holding discussions with a Vietnamese company that sends trainees regarding preparations for entry into the country.
However, so far, more than 20 people have told them that they have given up on entering the country because they cannot maintain their lives, and there are increasing cases of going to South Korea and Germany, which are already accepting foreigners.
In addition, there are a series of inquiries from trainees and their families as to whether they will be able to enter Japan smoothly in the future.
With this relaxation, there is a limit of 5,000 immigrants per day, so the supervising organization wants to hurry to prepare for the necessary procedures and lead to early entry.
Yoko Otsuki, the representative director of the Kanto Staff Cooperative, said, "The trainees waiting in their own country are living and have a sense of crisis, so we welcome and expect deregulation of immigration. However, there is a turn of entry and there are many supervising organizations, so I am worried about how many trainees can be included in the procedure. "
He also said, "There is definitely a shortage of human resources in South Korea, Taiwan, and European countries, and I think the current situation is that we are competing for trainees. In Japan, the shortage of human resources continues due to the aging population, and the power of foreigners in all occupations I think it is a minus for domestic companies that foreigners cannot enter the country for such a long time because they have to borrow. "