It's official: Japan eases entry restrictions for foreign students, business travelers and other nontourists

PM Fumio Kishida said Thursday that Japan will allow new entries of foreign nationals who are entering the nation for reasons other than tourism, such as foreign students and business travelers, starting March as part of an exit strategy of the sixth wave. “We are gradually walking toward the exit of the sixth wave,” Kishida said in a news conference. “We need to start preparing for the next phase, in stages.” The decision comes following growing calls from universities, business leaders and even members of the ruling party to ease entry restrictions, and concern over the economic and reputational costs of banning entry. Kishida also said he will shorten the quarantine period for all arrivals who have received booster shots to three days. People arriving from some countries where the outbreak is under control may be exempted from quarantine entirely. The daily cap on the number of people allowed to enter Japan will be raised from 3,500 to 5,000 — which will still be the toughest entry restrictions in place among the Group of Seven developed countries. “It is just the first step. I will continue considering how much we can ease measures” on border restrictions, said Kishida.<br/>