Japan to extend full ban on issuing new entry visas to foreigners

The Japanese government intends to indefinitely extend the ban, introduced in November 2021, on the issuance of new entry visas to citizens of all countries, TASS reports citing the Sankei newspaper, according to Report.

“We cannot relax prohibitive measures at the border amid the current increase in the number of the coronavirus infection,” the newspaper quoted an unnamed official as saying.

The Japanese government is considering the option of extending the corresponding ban until the end of February this year.

A complete ban on the issuance of new visas has been in effect in Japan since December 2020, and it was decided to soften it last November. However, due to the spread of the omicron strain in the world, on November 30, the government returned to its previous policy of almost complete closure of borders.