Japan Gov’t Set to Waive Tourist Visa Req’t in a Bid to Relax Borders

Japan’s government mulls the waiving of tourist visa requirements for a number of countries to relax its strict border controls after the COVID-19 pandemic started.

Japan’s strict border controls were implemented to curb the spread of the virus in the country.

According to a report from Fuji News Network (FNN), Prime Minister Fumio Kishida may decide on the fate of the easing of requirements as early as this week.

Should the easing of border controls be approved, individual travelers will now be able to visit Japan without a booking from a travel agency, FNN added.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 64 countries were not required to have tourist visas to enter Japan.

Moreover, a report from the Nikkei Newspaper on Sunday said that Japan may also lift its currently implemented cap on arrivals in the country as early as November.

This comes after Japan recently raised the cap of arrivals of travelers to the county from 20,000 to 50,000.

The government also scrapped its pre-departure COVID-19 tests. (GFB)