- \n
- Pre-departure planning: residency status, visas, testing, & flights<\/a><\/li>\n
- Preparing for check-in at the airport: obtaining a negative Covid test<\/a><\/li>\n
- Preparing for check-in at the airport: the 3 required smartphone apps & health questionnaire<\/a><\/li>\n
- Additional paperwork<\/a><\/li>\n
- Arrival in Japan!<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u25cfPre-departure planning: residency status, visas, testing, & flights<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/JAL-wing-flight.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAs you may know, most non-Japanese are currently banned from entering the country and have experienced a number of restrictions on their movement into Japan. Without going into details, let\u2019s just acknowledge that tourism visas are not even on the horizon. A number of visas have already been suspended and barring \u201cspecial exceptional circumstances\u201d even residents of Japan with passports from Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Maldives are currently prohibited from entering the country from abroad. If you believe you qualify to enter the country, please verify that you meet the requirements outlined in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)<\/a> in Japan\u2019s Border Enforcement Measures to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/covid-kit-e1630929141394.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPlanning is probably the most important step in executing a successful border entry into Japan. In addition to the usual requirements, holding a valid passport, visa status, etc, you will need to satisfy additional measures to get through the strict airport quarantine. Here are the steps I took:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Locate a Covid-testing center or hospital in the country you are staying that can fulfill the MOFA requirements and\/or a doctor who is able to fill out the immigration form<\/a>. \u00a0<\/span>A few notes about the test:\n
- \n
- TIMEFRAME: The test sample needs to have been taken within 72 hours of your departing flight (read: if your itinerary starts with domestic flights, the 72-hour timeframe is calculated from your first international flight\u2019s scheduled departure time). The results from this test will need to be ready before you check-in with your airline.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- TEST TYPE: Depending on your overseas location it may be difficult to find a test that satisfies the MOFA requirements. Note that some international travelers have been deported for submitting results from a nasal swab test instead of the nasopharyngeal test. If you are planning to get an antigen test, keep in mind that while quantitative antigen tests are accepted, the qualitative antigen tests (which are readily available in the US) are not. Confirm the testing center\/lab schedules because results may not be available 7 days a week. Plan your flight accordingly or find an alternative testing option. Many airports do have testing locations in the airport. However, in my experience, some may not be able to satisfy the MOFA\u00a0 <\/span>requirements and many do not test on small children.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- FAQs: According to the FAQs, it is not absolutely necessary that children under 6 provide a test certificate, but I erred on the side of caution. Please see the FAQs<\/a> for more information about the test and certificate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Book a flight that allowed me to both get the necessary test results in time taking into account test availability and reach my home in Japan without using public transportation. I then arranged private transportation from the airport to my home to begin my 14-day isolation period. Luckily, the state that I had visited in the US was not on the list of regions which require a hotel stay and additional testing. With some trouble I was able to book an itinerary that put me on a flight from Los Angeles that flew directly to KIX. If you live in Kanto this is obviously not an issue, but if you are a resident of Western Japan or really anywhere that is far from Tokyo be careful when booking your flight. Current restrictions require you to have private transportation to your isolation facility from your first point of entry into Japan. If you cannot travel to your destination without using public transport, including domestic flights, you will be required to isolate in a hotel at your own expense.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Because there are so many documents for entry into Japan I recommend preparing a folder for all of your papers. You will be asked to present them multiple times in your departure, transfer, and arrival airports. You will also receive new documents along the way, both onboard and after arrival in Japan. In my case, I went with a bright green accordion folder.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/LAX.jpg\")
(Side note: LAX actually had a walk-up Covid-19 vaccine station in the international terminal)![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/LAX-covid-vaccine.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u25cfPreparing for check-in at the airport: obtaining a negative test result<\/h2>\n
The most important step: acquiring a negative Covid-19 test result certificate. I used a saliva test kit available from Costco pharmacies with video observation and had a primary care physician fill out my immigration form after verifying the results. To be honest, it was a little stressful because we did not receive one of the test kits on the scheduled delivery date, but it worked out because we had ordered them early. My children were very happy to do a saliva test, instead of the\u00a0 <\/span>deep nasal collection method. It was also good practice for the Japanese airport test. (More on that later. It\u2019s surprisingly difficult to produce 5 ml of saliva on command.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/UPS-mail-kit.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\u25cfPreparing for check-in at the airport: the 3 required smartphone apps & health questionnaire<\/h2>\n
Download the 3 apps required for entry into Japan. Anyone 12 years or older will be required to use a smartphone to track their location for 14-days after arrival. If you do not have a smartphone you will be required to rent one either before arrival or at the airport<\/a>. It seems some people have waited until arriving in Japan to download these apps, however in my experience the airline staff insisted that I show her the apps on my phone before giving me my boarding passes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
The apps are:<\/p>\n
- \n
- \n
- \n
- \n
- \n
- Contact Confirmation Application (COCOA)<\/a>\u2014This app is designed to use your phone\u2019s bluetooth to tell if you have been in close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19<\/li>\n
- My SOS<\/a>\u2014 This app is used for reporting your health condition and monitoring your location during the 14-day quarantine.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Google Maps This app is required for providing your location to health authorities and to track possible Covid-19 exposures.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
All 3 apps can be downloaded on your device directly through your app store or using the QR codes provided here<\/a>.\u00a0Note that the required operating systems are iPhone 13.5 or Android 6.0 or later.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/covid-app-1.jpg\")
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/my-sos-e1630926687370.jpg\")
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/google-maps.jpg\")
<\/p>\n - My SOS<\/a>\u2014 This app is used for reporting your health condition and monitoring your location during the 14-day quarantine.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Contact Confirmation Application (COCOA)<\/a>\u2014This app is designed to use your phone\u2019s bluetooth to tell if you have been in close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19<\/li>\n
- \n
- TEST TYPE: Depending on your overseas location it may be difficult to find a test that satisfies the MOFA requirements. Note that some international travelers have been deported for submitting results from a nasal swab test instead of the nasopharyngeal test. If you are planning to get an antigen test, keep in mind that while quantitative antigen tests are accepted, the qualitative antigen tests (which are readily available in the US) are not. Confirm the testing center\/lab schedules because results may not be available 7 days a week. Plan your flight accordingly or find an alternative testing option. Many airports do have testing locations in the airport. However, in my experience, some may not be able to satisfy the MOFA\u00a0 <\/span>requirements and many do not test on small children.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- TIMEFRAME: The test sample needs to have been taken within 72 hours of your departing flight (read: if your itinerary starts with domestic flights, the 72-hour timeframe is calculated from your first international flight\u2019s scheduled departure time). The results from this test will need to be ready before you check-in with your airline.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Preparing for check-in at the airport: obtaining a negative Covid test<\/a><\/li>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/12763-e1630926637405.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/JAL-airplane-food.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/onboard-paperwork.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/deplane.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/KIX-arrival-quarantine01.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/KIX-maze.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sample-collection-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/KIX-nursing-room.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/KIX-hotel-sign.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/KIX-Nikko01.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Nikko-meal-e1630928434416.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/My-sos-last-day-of-quarantine-e1630928555899.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/My-SOS-final-e1630928659119.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"kix-covid-report\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/07\/kix-covid-report-main.jpg\")