International Travel and Re-entry of Foreign Residents

International Travel and Re-entry of Residents 

On August 28th, the Government of Japan announced new measures to relax the current cross-border restrictions and to allow for the re-entry of foreign nationals with residence status in Japan.

Effective September 1st, foreign nationals with residence status, including Canadians, are permitted to depart and re-enter Japan when the following criteria are met:
a)obtain a valid re-entry permit prior to departure from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan;
b)obtain a “Letter of Confirmation of Submitting Required Documentation for Re-entry into Japan” from a Japanese diplomatic office abroad (at travel destination);
c)obtain a certificate of negative COVID-19 test result of pre-entry testing conducted within 72 hours of the departure time of the flight; and
d)follow quarantine measures upon entering Japan.

These new re-entry measures also apply to foreign nationals with residence status who left Japan before August 31, 2020.

For detailed procedures concerning the re-entry process, please consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s websites:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001074.html__;!!BJNAhEDoSA!9b7OVAr-9B-sAOniJ06POCY9xSV5jdzLhedZSXk05eortnxI0VGBOFeWAjUbBUKR7w$
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page25e_000334.html__;!!BJNAhEDoSA!9b7OVAr-9B-sAOniJ06POCY9xSV5jdzLhedZSXk05eortnxI0VGBOFeWAjVRm91H_Q$
https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.moj.go.jp/content/001327497.pdf__;!!BJNAhEDoSA!9b7OVAr-9B-sAOniJ06POCY9xSV5jdzLhedZSXk05eortnxI0VGBOFeWAjWilBbS_w$

For PCR testing in Canada, please see the links below for the appropriate province or territory. Some public health regions are not testing asymptomatic individuals, and you may have to visit a private clinic to receive a PCR test before travelling to Japan. Please consult the Consulate of Japan in your region for further information. 

British-Columbia: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/3862560c5a41418e9d78f4f81688e9d0

Alberta: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page17058.aspx

Saskatchewan: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/testing-information

Manitoba: https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/testing.html#list

Ontario: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covid-19-assessment-centres

Quebec: https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/instructions-for-travellers-covid19/

New-Brunswick: Appointment to be taken via triage when calling 811. https://en.horizonnb.ca/home/patients-and-visitors/coronavirus-(covid-19)/covid-19-community-assessment-centres-by-appointment.aspx

Nova Scotia: http://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirus-assessment

Prince-Edward Island: Appointment to be taken via triage when calling 811 https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-and-wellness/information-about-covid-19-testing-pei

Newfoundland and Labrador: Appointment to be taken via triage when calling 811

Yukon: Appointment to be taken via triage when calling 811 or local health center

Northwest Territories: Appointment to be taken via triage when calling 811 or local health center https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/hospitals-and-health-centres

Nunavut: Call 975-8601 or 1-888-975-8601 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tokyo Coronavirus Support Center for Foreign Residents (TOCOS)

For Canadians returning to Japan, please contact the TOCOS should you encounter any problems restarting life in Tokyo.(Phone number: 0120-296-004 Toll free)
Assistance is available in 14 languages: English, French, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Nepali, Indonesian, Tagalog, Thai, Portuguese, Spanish, Cambodian, Burmese, and Japanese.

Canada’s Travel Restrictions and Mandatory Isolation

Updated measures for travellers entering Canada to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in Canada, the Government of Canada has extended measures prohibiting entry into Canada of foreign nationals who have recently been in foreign countries other than United States. For more details on this measure and exceptions, please visit: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice.html__;!!BJNAhEDoSA!9b7OVAr-9B-sAOniJ06POCY9xSV5jdzLhedZSXk05eortnxI0VGBOFeWAjUw2yZisA$

Please also refer to the quarantine guidelines PDF below for all travellers (with and without symptoms) upon arrival in Canada, published by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) in English and French. Please note that symptomatic travellers would not be able to board a flight.
 

ArriveCAN Mobile Application

All travellers to Canada are required to provide specific information upon entry into Canada, including providing an appropriate quarantine plan, contact information, and updates on symptoms through self-assessment.  Downloading the ArriveCAN app (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice.html*a_arriveCAN__;Iw!!BJNAhEDoSA!9b7OVAr-9B-sAOniJ06POCY9xSV5jdzLhedZSXk05eortnxI0VGBOFeWAjXSEtmTHw$ ) and entering the required information securely within 48 hours before arriving in Canada allows you to spend less time in line and limit your physical contact with others upon arrival.  During the 14 days after you arrive in Canada, the app allows you to voluntarily validate your quarantine plan and provide updates on the possible development of COVID-19 symptoms.