The Japanese government is considering adjusting the daily cap on entry permits. There is discussion about both increasing and temporarily relaxing the current limit, which stands at ten thousand people per day. This potential change appears to be linked to the evolving infection trends and the broader public health situation. Observers note that any final decision will depend on whether recent holidays in late April and early May had an impact on the spread of illness and the overall risk assessment for travelers entering Japan.
Earlier in the year, Japan did raise the entry cap from seven thousand to ten thousand travelers, with the new limit taking effect in early April. This step represented a moderate expansion aimed at balancing border control with the needs of travelers, students, and workers who rely on international mobility for study and employment opportunities in Japan.
There has also been ongoing discussion about the possibility of allowing foreign students to enter Japan in larger numbers as soon as the summer. Earlier reports indicated that a sizeable group of foreign students who hold Japanese work visas—approximately one hundred fifty-two thousand individuals—were unable to enter due to ongoing restrictions connected to the coronavirus situation.
Since December twenty-eighth, twenty twenty, there has been a de facto pause on issuing new visas in Japan. The government imposed an entry ban on the previous year’s end amid rising concerns about a highly contagious micron pathogen. This backdrop has shaped both policy planning and the practical challenges faced by prospective travelers, students, and workers seeking to begin their activities in Japan. The policy environment continues to evolve as authorities monitor health indicators and international travel dynamics, with decisions aimed at safeguarding public health while facilitating legitimate travel, study, and work opportunities for those with valid purposes in Japan.