Japan Begins Issuing 'Vaccine Passports'... Quarantine Exemptions Possible for Foreign Travel

Quarantine Exemption When Visiting Italy, Austria, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Poland

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] In Japan, applications for the issuance of "vaccine passports" that prove COVID-19 vaccination history began on the 26th at local governments nationwide.

According to local media such as Kyodo News and NHK, applications for vaccine passport issuance started from this day.

With a vaccine passport, travelers are exempt from self-quarantine and COVID-19 testing when visiting five countries: Italy, Austria, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Poland. Upon entering these countries, applicants must present the application form, vaccination certificate, and passport.

Although the vaccine passport is not applied upon entry to Korea, the entry procedures will be simplified. When submitting the vaccine passport upon entering Korea, it is recognized as one of the documents required for quarantine exemption application, thereby streamlining the quarantine process.

The Japanese government is in discussions with various countries to expand the list of countries eligible for quarantine exemption.

Kyodo News reported that the government plans to limit the vaccine passport use to foreign travel for the time being.

However, after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and depending on the COVID-19 infection situation, measures to allow its use upon entry to Japan are expected to be considered.

The vaccine passport will be issued in paper certificate form for the time being. The government also plans to promote digitalization so that it can be issued as an electronic certificate using a smartphone app in the future.