Japan Looks to Restart Issuing Business Visas, Nikkei Says

(Bloomberg) -- Japan is looking at restarting issuance of long-term business visas as part of a broader easing of Covid-era border controls, the Nikkei reported without citing how it obtained the information.

Meanwhile, the Yomiuri reported Wednesday that the government was looking at ways they could experiment with letting in tour groups, without citing sources.

The reports followed news late Monday that the country is looking to relax entry restrictions for visitors on short business trips, foreign students and technical trainee workers.

The island nation enacted one of the strictest border policies among developed nations during the pandemic, effectively banning most foreigners from entering unless they already held a visa. But as cases have fallen and Japan’s ruling party secured a majority in Sunday’s election, reports of a relaxing of border controls began appearing this week. 

The easing of restrictions could be announced this week and go into effect as early as Nov. 8, according to domestic media. 

The changes for short-term business travelers would shorten quarantine restrictions from 10 days to three days. Those that qualify for a shorter quarantine will have to have received a vaccine that is approved in Japan -- those made by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE, Moderna Inc. and AstraZeneca Plc, according to the Nikkei.

Tourists, a key driver of growth in Japan before the pandemic, are still not allowed in the country. 

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