Japan Extends Entry Restrictions Until End of Next Month... Entry Denied to 87 Countries

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Japanese government announced that it will extend the entry restrictions, which were implemented as measures to curb the influx of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), until the end of next month. Accordingly, it is expected to be difficult for nationals from 87 countries, including South Korea, where these measures apply, to enter Japan until the end of next month.

According to local Japanese media such as NHK, the Japanese government announced on the 27th, at a COVID-19 task force meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, that the entry restrictions, including visa suspensions, will be extended until the end of May. The list of countries subject to entry refusal has increased from 73 countries including South Korea to a total of 87 countries with the addition of 14 countries such as Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Peru. Prime Minister Abe explained the reason for the extension of the restrictions, stating, "The number of infected people worldwide has reached 3 million, and the spread of COVID-19 is not being curbed."

Foreigners who have stayed for two weeks in countries designated as entry refusal countries are fundamentally prohibited from entering Japan. In the case of South Korea, the Japanese government initially designated only certain areas such as Daegu and Cheongdo as entry refusal zones but expanded this to the entire country starting from the 3rd of this month.