Japan Reopening – EXO Journey Weblog

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Newest Information:

Beginning 11 October, Japan will formally drop its ban on unbiased travellersresume visa-free entry, and take away the cap on day by day guests.

Travellers from most international locations together with UK, USA, Canada, Australia and EU states will be capable of go to Japan with out making use of for a visa prematurely. As soon as they arrive, they’ll be capable of journey, discover and take pleasure in Japan as regular.

Extra Particulars: ​

  • Testing: Pre-departure PCR checks will not be required for friends who’ve not less than 3 vaccinations. These with fewer than 3 photographs will nonetheless want a PCR take a look at inside 72h of arrival in Japan. 
  • Insurance coverage: is not necessary, although nonetheless advisable because of the excessive price of healthcare in Japan.
  • Masks: are nonetheless extensively worn throughout Japan and necessary in transportation, accommodations and crowded areas. 

Present Pointers (set to alter 11 October based mostly on above):

Totally-vaccinated (3 doses) guests from blue international locations (see beneath) should not required to have a COVID take a look at previous to arrival. There’s a cap of fifty,000 guests day by day.

All flights and accommodations should be booked prematurely by a registered journey company or tour operator. Lodges could be booked by the native vacation spot administration firm (DMC) comparable to EXO.

For the complete tips, please go right here. For a abstract of key factors, learn beneath.

Who can enter Japan:

Japan is at present permitting guests who’ve spent not less than 14 days in certainly one of 128 ‘blue’ international locations previous to visiting Japan to enter with no testing and no quarantine. All travellers are requested to have travellers insurance coverage protecting infectious illness remedy, Extra particulars are as follows:

  • Blue listing: No quarantine. Company want solely a pre-departure PCR take a look at inside 72 hours of the departure flight to Japan. Company should not required to be absolutely vaccinated. Guests who’ve spent not less than 14 days consecutively in a blue nation previous to visiting Japan may even be included -it just isn’t solely based mostly on citizenship.
    • Nations:
      Asia and Oceania Indonesia, Australia, Republic of Korea, Cambodia, Cook dinner Islands*, Samoa*, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, China, Tuvalu*, Nauru*, Niue*, New Zealand, Nepal, Vanuatu*, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Bangladesh, East Timor, Philippines, Brunei*, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Laos
      North America Canada, United States of America
      Latin America Argentine, Antigua and Barbuda*, Uruguay*, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Grenada*, Costa Rica, Colombia, Jamaica, Suriname*, Saint Cristopher and Nevis*, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines*, Chile, Dominican Republic, Panama, Paraguay, Brazil, Peru, Honduras*, Bolivia, Mexico
      Europe Iceland, Eire, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Italy, United Kingdom, Estonia, Austria, Netherlands, Greece, Kyrgyz Republic, Croatia, San Marino*, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Hungary, Finland, France, Bulgaria, Belgium, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Luxembourg, Russia
      Center East and Africa Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Angola*, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Uganda, Eswatini*, Ethiopia, Eritrea*, Cabo Verde*, Ghana, Qatar, Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau*, Kenya, Comoros*, Côte d’Ivoire, Sao Tome and Principe*, Zambia, Djibouti, Somalia*, Tanzania, Chad*, Nigeria, Western Sahara, Bahrain, Benin, Botswana*, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, South Sudan, Mozambique, Mauritius*, Morocco, Jordan, Rwanda
  • Yellow listing: No quarantine. Company are required to be absolutely vaccinated (3 doses together with booster) and to have a PCR take a look at inside 72 hours of the departure flight to Japan.
    • COUNTRIES 
    • Asia and Oceania India, North Korea, Kiribati, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Niue, Pakistan, Fiji, Bhutan, Viet Nam, Marshall Islands, Macao, Micronesia, Maldives
      Latin America Guyana, Cuba, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, Nicaragua, Haiti, Bahamas, Barbados, Venezuela, Belize
      Europe Albania*, Andorra, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, North Macedonia, Cyprus, Kosovo, Georgia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Vatican , Belarus, Portugal, Malta, Liechtenstein
      Center East and Africa Yemen, Egypt, Oman, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Kuwait, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone*, Syria, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Seychelles, Equatorial Guinea, Senegal, Central African Republic, Tunisia, Togo, Turkey, Namibia, Niger, Palestine, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Mali, Mauritania, Libya, Liberia, Lesotho, Lebanon
  • Crimson listing: There are at present no international locations on the purple listing,

Visa course of:

As soon as a tour is booked, we’ll generate an ERFS certificates used to use for a visa. At the moment, e-visas and visas on arrival should not doable. As an alternative journey brokers or friends should apply both in individual at an area Japanese consulate or embassy, or by mail. From the time a tour is booked to the time a visa is issued, please permit not less than one month for processing. Additionally, make sure you contact the native embassy to make clear this course of forward of time, as procedures might change relying on nation.

Visa Necessities:

  1. Visa utility
  2. Passport(s)
  3. Images
  4. EFRS Certificates(s)
  5. Company issued itinerary with friends names, itinerary, and so on. want to incorporate EXO’s native emergency contact data
  6. Doc certifying residency

Methods to enter Japan:

Beneath is an in depth step-by-step breakdown of Blue entry procedures (click on to view expanded model)

Upon entry, friends are required to signal this pledge, acknowledging the necessity to observe an infection prevention measures in Japan.

Questions Answered: 

Listed here are some together with solutions! Be aware that particulars are topic to alter, so please test again repeatedly.

In what instances are vacationers permitted to enter Japan?

Guests eligible to enter Japan for tourism are those that make journey preparations by a registered journey company. This is applicable to all international locations and areas, not solely the beforehand restricted ‘blue listing’ international locations.

Are there restrictions on the variety of vacationers coming into Japan?

There are not any caps on a per-country foundation for inbound vacationers, however there’s a day by day arrival cap which has now elevated to 50,000 individuals. This consists of Japanese nationals and overseas residents.

Who’s allowed to enter Japan as of Sep seventh, 2022?

    1. Brief-term guests for work or enterprise functions.
    2. International residents coming into for long-term keep (college students, and so on).
    3. Brief-term vacationers for sightseeing functions by the association of a journey company.

After coming into Japan, will friends want to attend for something?

Relying on whether or not or not they’ve a vaccination certificates and which nation/areas they’ve stayed in 14 days previous to their scheduled touchdown, friends could also be required to attend after the doc inspection upon arrival.

The place can excursions and not using a tour conductor be booked?

Abroad or in Japan by a legitimate journey company who sells package deal excursions.

Who can prepare short-term sightseeing excursions?

Any legitimate journey company registered underneath the Journey Company Regulation can prepare short-term sightseeing excursions. It isn’t essential to be a member of the Japan Affiliation of Journey Brokers (JATA) or the All Japan Affiliation of Journey Brokers (ANTA). 

What are the necessities for a ‘package deal tour and not using a tour conductor’?

  1. The company accepting and arranging the tour should be a professional company as talked about above.
  2. The company shall prepare round-trip airfare for the tour participant in addition to all lodging all through the keep.

Are there pax limits for excursions?

No, there are not any limits. Solo vacationers are accepted.

Are any vacation spot restrictions in place in Japan for friends?

No, all prefectures and areas are open for journey.

Can the flights and accommodations be organized by an abroad journey company? 

Roundtrip flights should be organized by the abroad journey company in the event that they can’t be organized by the DMC in Japan, and the main points should be shared with the DMC. Abroad journey companies can prepare some lodging however not all, and it’s extremely advisable that each one lodging are booked by the DMC to make sure full compliance with the ERFS coverage.

Can vacationers prepare their very own round-trip air tickets?

  • For excursions with a tour conductor
    • Sure. If the tour participant arranges their very own round-trip airline ticket, the journey company in command of receiving the tour participant shall be answerable for managing the tour participant’s home itinerary from entry to departure after understanding your entire itinerary.
  • For excursions with out a tour conductor
    • No. The company ought to prepare round-trip airfare for the tour participant and all lodging all through the tour. Tour packages which might be self-arranged by the tour participant and for which the journey company or journey service supplier solely acts because the host should not permitted.

Who’s a “tour conductor”?

Somebody who:

  1. Can perceive and implement the present an infection precautions in place in Japan.
  2. Can talk in Japanese with medical personnel and native governments within the case of an emergency, and insure cooperation of the contaminated individual.
  3. Can correctly implement the predetermined itinerary (occasions, areas, and so on).

This could be a overseas individual if all three necessities are met and a short-term work visa is organized. They don’t must be staff of the journey company. This individual could be modified throughout a visit.

What particular sorts of package deal excursions can be permitted with out an accompanying tour conductor? 

Bundle excursions and not using a tour conductor which have a system for rapid contact with the journey company within the occasion of unexpected circumstances can be accepted. On this case, the tour operator or journey service supplier should be in rapid contact with the tour operator or journey service supplier. 

Within the case of excursions and not using a tour conductor, what does “association” imply?

When a journey company answerable for acceptance makes reservations for round-trip air tickets and lodging services on the request of tour individuals. 

Can vacationers use public transportation in japan?

Sure, there are not any restrictions.

Can vacationers on a tour and not using a tour conductor keep at a good friend’s home or different services that don’t require reservations?

No, self-arranged lodging by tour individuals just isn’t permitted. This falls outdoors of the requirement that the company arranges round-trip air tickets and all lodging all through tour.

What about free time and going out at night time?

Vacationers are allowed to take part in free time actions and night time time actions on their very own if on a package deal tour when a tour conductor just isn’t needed. For packages the place a tour conductor is important, free time is restricted and the tour conductor should be reachable always.

Can the itinerary be modified throughout a tour with a tour conductor?

Sure, it may be adjusted for causes of climate or unexpected circumstances.

Some examples:

  • ‘Free plan kind package deal excursions’ through which transportation and lodging are fastened, however many of the itinerary is free. 
  • ‘Dynamic package deal excursions’ through which vacationers can freely choose and mix airfare, lodging, and different objects. 

Keep in mind, it isn’t acceptable for a journey company or a journey service supplier to tackle the duty of a number solely, with the tour participant making their very own preparations.

For package deal excursions with out tour conductors, when ought to the journey company contact the tour individuals after their arrival in Japan?

The tour operator or journey service supplier will contact the tour participant on the date of entry, as indicated on the ticket, to remind them of the measures to be taken to forestall an infection. The identical shall apply to any ready interval (quarantine) after the tour participant’s arrival in Japan. 

What if the traveler has to quarantine after arriving in Japan?

The participant might want to isolate in a resort or hospital relying on their well being situation. The well being standing, location data, whereabouts of the tour participant through the quarantine interval, and so on. can be confirmed and adopted by the Ministry of Well being, Labor and Welfare through the use of the MySOS app.

What does the journey company must do if the traveler is made to quarantine after entry?

The journey company answerable for receiving the traveler should affirm day by day, by telephone or electronic mail, that the traveler is at their quarantine facility and that they’re in good well being (besides within the case of ready at a facility designated by the quarantine station).

How ought to journey companies receive consent from vacationers that they’ll observe guidelines concerning COVID-19?

There may be an English kind out there. https://www.jata-net.or.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/administrator/2206_writtenconsenteng.pdf

What sort of measures can be taken if a tour participant or an individual in command of acceptance violates a written oath or pledge?

If the tour participant violates the contents of the pledge (which is pledged on the time of quarantine on the time of entry) or offers false data, the related authorities such because the Ministry of Well being, Labor and Welfare will affirm the title and the unfold of an infection. Info that contributes to prevention could be made public, and they are often topic to extra procedures and detention based mostly on the provisions of the Quarantine Act. 

As well as, if the company in command of acceptance violates the content material of the pledge on the time of utility, or if the tour participant violates the oath of the pledge, the title of the corporate of the individual in command of acceptance could also be made public. As well as, future functions for brand new entry of foreigners from the company could also be denied.

How ought to journey companies contact vacationers whereas in Japan?

The journey company shall set up a system to contact the tour participant always all through the tour participant’s keep in Japan. Subsequently, the tour individuals should provide the company with their electronic mail deal with and telephone quantity to allow them to be contacted.

Within the occasion that the tour operator or journey service supplier is unable to contact the tour participant, the tour operator or journey service supplier shall contact the lodging services organized by the tour operator or journey service supplier and inform the tour participant of the an infection prevention measures, and so on.

What about medical insurance coverage for vacationers?

It’s requested that vacationers apply for personal medical insurance coverage that features adequate compensation in case they contract COVID-19 whereas in Japan.

The Japanese authorities can’t present particular tips for insurance coverage contents or quantity of protection. Vacationers are inspired to use for personal medical insurance coverage with adequate protection in case they contract COVID-19 in Japan. Be aware that totally different insurance coverage corporations might have totally different medical data provision programs, and that credit score card-based abroad journey insurance coverage insurance policies might not cowl the complete price of remedy, journey, and so on. The Japanese authorities requests that journey brokers present this warning to their purchasers.

No matter the kind of tour and if the insurance coverage is privately bought or offered by the journey agent, the journey agent can be required to offer the mandatory assist in order that the traveler can talk easily with the medical establishment and the insurance coverage firm. 

Who’s answerable for vacationers who contract COVID-19 in Japan?

The journey company is answerable for securing technique of transportation to and from hospitals/quarantine facilities. Moreover, the journey company is required to verify the supply of medical interpretation companies prematurely.

What occurs if a traveler doesn’t observe the well being tips?

Participation within the tour could also be terminated and friends could also be requested to return to their nation instantly.

Are there tips about itinerary creation with regard to COVID-19?

Common tips issued by the Ministry of Well being, Labor, and Welfare must be taken under consideration when creating itineraries. This consists of the three Cs (closed, crowded, shut). Journey companies are requested to intention for ‘Zero C’ itineraries.

Relating to ERFS Visas

Submitting a full itinerary at utility time just isn’t needed, solely the lodging title and deal with initially of the tour is required.

Bulk registration is on the market to use on a tour by tour foundation as a substitute of particular person candidates. Nonetheless, if it appears doubtless that tour individuals might change, making use of on a person foundation is recommended.

As soon as an utility has been submitted on the “Pre-arrival utility submission” web page or if the visa has already been accredited, the applying can’t be modified. On this case, the company can be required to withdraw the applying and reapply. A modification for one individual on a gaggle tour utility means your entire group might want to re-apply.

What paperwork are required for an ERFS visa utility for a tour and not using a tour conductor?

① Visa utility kind

② Passport

③ Images

④ Certificates of acceptance issued by ERFS

⑤ A doc ready by a journey company that features the tour define, listing of individuals, journey itinerary, and get in touch with data of the Japanese journey company, and so on.

⑥ Letter of Assure(Just for Chinese language nationals departing from mainland China, the letter can be despatched from the Japanese journey company to the e-mail deal with registered prematurely by the letter of assure issuing system)

⑦ Paperwork certifying that you’re legally residing within the related nation/area (just for third nation functions: excluding Europeans and Individuals)

Will the ERFS Registration for bookings by EXO Journey Japan be freed from cost?
Sure.

Is there a limitation of PAX/teams that may journey to Japan?
No, there isn’t a restrict by way of group dimension that may apply for a visa by way of the EFRS system.

How lengthy will it take to obtain the ERFS Certification ?
A most of 5 enterprise days.

How lengthy does it take to obtain a visa?
 It will probably take as little as 30 days however, relying on the nation, it may take longer. Please seek the advice of your native Japanese consulate or embassy. 

For a Enterprise Visa, is the ERFS certification required?
Sure, we are able to additionally apply for enterprise visas for friends who want to come for inspections and FAM excursions. 

What are the necessities from the federal government for Inbound tourism once you arrive in Japan?
A: That is the right information:https://www.japan.journey/en/practical-coronavirus-information/check-list/ 

Does the complete tour itinerary must be registered prematurely?
There isn’t any must register the entire tour itinerary prematurely, however all accommodations all through friends’ journey should be registered prematurely. 

What occurs if the information turns into symptomatic or checks constructive for COVID?
If an attendant checks constructive for COVID, we’ll present a brand new attendant instantly.

If  friends participate in an non-obligatory tour, does the information must accompany them?
No, the information doesn’t must accompany them so long as sure necessities are met: supervised outside actions with social distancing and the information is reachable by telephone and might transfer to the exercise venue at brief discover.

We are going to proceed updating this web page as particulars come up. Please watch this house or attain out to our crew with questions at: [email protected]

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