Nov 18. 2021
Review on immigration restrictions for foreign workers to Japan (Strictly JITCO provisional interpretation.)
1.Lift-up of immigration restriction (implemented since November 8th)
Receiving organizations of TITP worker can apply to relevant Japanese ministries for new entry. Self-quarantine for 14 days after entry into Japan is to be required, as a matter of principle.
(1)Conditions
a. A receiving organization should be either an implementing organization under supervision of Excellent supervising organization or an implementing organization in case of Individual Enterprise Type.
b. A receiving organization and a supervising organization (in case of Supervising Organization Type) should not be those who have received the Administrative and/or other sanction stipulated in the TITP Act for the past 3 years.
Whether a receiving organization under supervision of Specified supervising organizations can apply or not are currently under study, but as of now still not eligible.
(2)Procedure
A receiving organization should apply to the appropriate Ministry of the Japanese Government corresponding to the occupational category or the industrial category of foreigners’ work, together with an application form, a written pledge on health management, and other designated documents. The appropriate Ministry issue a Certificate of Inspection Clearance as evidence of approval to the application. A copy of this Certificate of Inspection Clearance should be submitted along Visa application to the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in the country where foreign worker resides. Supervising organizations can undertake certain works of health management, such as securing accommodations during quarantine period, and everyday health check of foreign workers, if commissioned by the receiving organization.
(3)Schedule
a.Depending on the date of issuance of Certificates of Eligibility, applications to the relevant Japanese Ministries are controlled, as follows.
Application only with pre-issued the Certificate of Eligibility is granted.
| Issue date of Certificate of Eligibility | Month of applications allowed to submit to the relevant Ministry |
| Jan.1, 2020 to Jun.30, 2020 | Nov. 2021 | Jan.1, 2020 to Dec.31, 2020 | Dec. 2021 | Jan.1, 2020 to Mar.31, 2021 | Jan. 2022 |
Subsequent schedule after the above is to be decided.
| Issue date of COE | Extended Period of validity of COE |
| Jan.1, 2020 to Jul.31, 2021 | By Jan.31, 2022 | Aug.1, 2021 to Jan.31, 2022 | Valid for 6 months from issue date | In case of Technical Intern Trainee, the following special extension is applied | Jan.1, 2020 to Mar. 31,2021 | by Apr.30, 2022 |
Subsequent schedule after the above is to be decided.
On Visa application of foreign workers to Japanese Embassy or Consulate, the Declaration Form (Arbitrary Form) stating that the receiving organization can still do the same activity as declared at time of application of COE should be submitted to the Japanese Immigration.
2．Mitigation measures to the quarantine period for a foreigner with a valid vaccination certificate eligible to the Japanese criteria
(1)The Measure taking effect on November 8th
There is some mitigation measure of quarantine for a foreign workers with valid vaccine certificate. This measure, however, doesn’t apply to technical intern trainees.
(2)The Measure taking effect on October 1st
Foreigners clearing the following condition are exempt from quarantine period from the 11th day or later to the 14th day of self-quarantine in the dormitory or facility of the foreigners.
A.Holding a valid vaccination certificate eligible to the Japanese criteria
B.Entering Japan from the countries which are requested by the Japanese Government to have no quarantine period in the Specified Accommodations designated by the Quarantine Station, or to have 3 days quarantine period in the Specified Accommodations designated by the Quarantine Station
C.PCR test taken on the 10th day or later shows negative result.
This measure applies to technical intern trainees.
As of Nov. 15, the following classification among major 18 sending countries in the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) is effective.
| 6 days quarantine period in the Specified Accommodations | Peru |
| 3 days quarantine period in the Specified Accommodations | Philippines, Mongolia, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Pakistan | 0 days quarantine period in the Specified Accommodations | The other major sending countries |
(3)Valid vaccination certificate eligible to the Japanese criteria as of Nov.15
A. Country specific of Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines
B. Valid vaccines are only Pfizer, Moderna and AstlaZeneca (including Covishield).
(4)Major Measures required after landing on Japan
A. A self-quarantine facility for an individual foreigner should be a compartment room with individual utilities
B. Specified APPs should be installed on the smartphone a foreigner carries in Japan.
C. A receiving organization should check health of foreign worker every day. etc.
1.Lift-up of immigration restriction (implemented since November 8th )
Receiving organizations of SSW worker can apply to relevant Japanese ministries for new entry. Self-quarantine for 14 days after entry into Japan is to be required, as a matter of principle.
Application has to be done, just like in the case of TITP, to the appropriate Ministry of the Japanese Government corresponding to the occupational category or the industrial category of foreigners’ work, together with an application form, a written pledge on health management, and other designated documents. The appropriate Ministry issue a Certificate of Inspection Clearance as evidence of approval to the application. A copy of this Certificate of Inspection Clearance should be submitted along Visa application to the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in the country where foreign worker resides.
(3) Schedule a. written in the Technical Intern Training Program Section are not applied in the Specified Skilled Worker Program, while (3) Schedule b. is applied.
2．Mitigation measures to the quarantine period for a foreigner with a valid vaccination certificate eligible to the Japanese criteria
(1)The Measure taking effect on November 8th
Foreign SSW workers clearing the following conditions are allowed to carry out the Specified Activities described in the Activity Plan under the control of the receiving organization from the 4th day or later after entry to Japan.
A.Holding a valid vaccination certificate eligible to the Japanese criteria
B.Entering Japan from the countries which are requested by the Japanese Government to have no quarantine period in the Specified Accommodations designated by the Quarantine Station, or to have 3 days quarantine period in the Specified Accommodations designated by the Quarantine Station
C.PCR test taken on the 3rd day or later shows negative result.
Specified Activities include business and training activities if predescribed and approved beforehand.
However, any business and training activities involving physical contacts with others, is prohibited during quarantine period. In fact, the Ministry of Labour and Health in charge of Nursing Care, one of 14 Fields in the SSWP, have announced non application of this measure in the Nursing Care Field.
Please follow any decision to be made by the relevant Ministries corresponding to the 14 Fields.
2. (2), (3), and (4) written in the Technical Intern Training Program Section are applied in the Specified Skilled Worker Program as well.
【Reference】
Please take a look at the attached matrix of the above quarantine arrangement applied on a country by country basis.
Note) The above explanation only covers the summary of these Measures as of Nov. 15, 2021.
