Japan will end the current border control measures on travelers from overseas on May 8 in line with its decision to categorize COVID-19 as a common disease the same day, the government said Monday.
The government will simultaneously launch a new program of genetic surveillance, under which arrivals with symptoms such as fever will be voluntarily tested, with the aim of detecting new infectious diseases.
Currently, all participants are required to provide a certificate of three doses of COVID-19 or a negative coronavirus test within 72 hours of departure.
In November 2021, Japan tightened its border controls by denying entry to non-resident foreigners and requiring returning Japanese citizens and foreign residents to quarantine in designated facilities as the country began seeing cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
Initially implemented for a month, the control measures were later extended, prompting protests from foreign exchange students and business people.
The Asian country began gradually easing its daily entry cap in March 2022 before raising it completely in October of that year.
According to government officials, it takes approximately a few weeks for genetic test applicants to get results.
Before the wholesale lifting of border control measures, Japan will ease those on all arrivals from mainland China from Wednesday and give them the option to enter the country by providing proof of being inoculated with three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Currently, visitors from mainland China must provide proof of a negative coronavirus test taken 72 hours or less before departure.
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