Are there currently restrictions on travel to Kumamoto related to COVID-19?
Yes, there are currently restrictions on flights to Kumamoto along with the rest of Japan. Before you book or search for flights, consider the following restrictions: Japan has restricted the entry of travellers who have been in or transited through Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Sao Tome e Principe, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, South Korea, St. Kitts and Nevis, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, the Vatican City, or Vietnam in the past 14 days.
Residents of Japan with “Permanent Resident”, “Spouse or Child of Japanese National”, “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” or “Long Term Resident” status who departed Japan with Re-entry Permission by 2 April 2020 may still re-enter the country, even if they have been in one of the above countries.
If they received re-entry permission between 3 April and 28 April 2020 they may re-enter if they have only been in Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Cape Verde, Colombia, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, St. Kitts and Nevis, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine or Uruguay.
If re-entry permission was granted between 29 April and 15 May 2020, they may re-enter Japan if they have only been in Afghanistan, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Cape Verde, Colombia, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Maldives, Pakistan, South Africa, Sao Tome and Principe, Tajikistan or Uruguay
If re-entry permission was granted between 16 May and 26 May 2020, they may re-enter Japan if they have only been in Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Ghana, Guinea, India, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, South Africa or Tajikistan.
Nationals of China with passports issued in Hubei Province or Zhejiang Province may not enter the country unless they can prove that they haven’t been in those provinces in the past 14 days.
Travellers who were on the cruise ship ‘Westerdam’ may not enter the country unless they’re nationals of Japan.
Nationals of Japan, their spouses and children who can present proof, travellers with Special Permanent Residence Permits with re-entry permits from a regional immigration officer, and US military personnel may still enter the country.
Travellers and airline crew who have been in any of the countries listed so far in the past 14 days must submit a quarantine questionnaire and undergo a PCR test upon arrival.
Special rules apply to airline crew members entering Japan. Crew members must submit quarantine questionnaires and “Plan of Stay in Japan” declarations. Crews should adhere to the instructions provided in the quarantine document “Notice: For Crews boarding vehicles from areas subject to strengthened quarantine.” Airlines should arrange chartered vehicles (as opposed to public transportation) to transport crews between the airport and their hotel, and ensure that crews comply with the other rules during their stay in Japan.
Visa exemption for travellers with the following passports is suspended: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Macau, South Korea, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay and Vatican City.
In addition, visa exemption for nationals of the following countries with a diplomatic, official or service passport has been suspended: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Visas issued on or before 8 March 2020 by the Embassies, Consulates-General, and Consulate of Japan in China, Hong Kong, Macau, or South Korea are invalidated.
Visas issued on or before 20 March 2020 by the Embassies, Consulates-General and Consulate of Japan in the following countries are invalidated. Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the Vatican City.. If you are looking to book a trip to Kumamoto and are outside of the restricted areas, please take the proper precautions and stay informed about travelling during COVID-19.
