New Immigration Procedures for Entry to Japan

Updated November 14, 2007

In accordance with Japanese Immigration Bureau procedures, beginning November 20, 2007 all foreign nationals who apply for entry into Japan, including overnight transit passengers and airline crew members, are required to have their fingerprints and facial photograph digitally recorded and then be interviewed by immigration inspectors.

The entire immigration process is expected to take an average of 20 minutes per passenger.

Exemptions

Passengers transiting the airport on the same day are not considered visitors, and so are exempt from all immigration formalities.

Additionally, the following foreign nationals are also exempt from this procedure:

Special Permanent Residents.
Persons under 16 years of age.
Diplomats and persons on Official Business.
Persons invited by the head of any national administrative organization.
Persons prescribed by a Ministry of Justice ordinance as being equivalent to either (3) or (4).

Any non-exempt visitor who fails to comply with the new procedure will be denied entry to Japan.

For more information, please visit the Japanese Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice at the following links:

http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/keiziban/happyou/Outline_070925.pdf

http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/keiziban/happyou/video.html