Ending a ban in principle on entry by overseas-based foreign business people introduced in January, Japan’s government started accepting applications for sharply reduced Covid-19 quarantine periods for vaccinated business travellers.

The new rules, introduced following progress in inoculations around the world and requests from Japan’s business community, allow business travellers to undergo quarantine for three days, compared with the 10 that formerly applied to vaccinated Japanese nationals and foreigners with residency in Japan when returning from business trips. Overseas business people must be on visits of up to three months to qualify for the measure.

Travellers must have been fully inoculated with one of the three vaccines approved by the Japanese government — those developed by Pfizer Inc, Moderna Inc or AstraZeneca Plc.

Firms will need to submit documentation for business travellers, including written pledges by the business people and companies to follow anti-virus measures as well as the planned activities by the travellers upon arrival in Japan. It may take a week or two before the first travellers who have been granted shorter Covid quarantine periods arrive in the country, a Health Ministry official said.  People who enter under the new programme must be tested for Covid several times, including before departing for Japan and three days after arriving in the country.

The government also resumed accepting applications this week from those who seek to stay in the country over the long term, including students and technical trainees, amid a sharp decline in coronavirus infections in Japan. Their quarantine period will be 14 days in principle but shortened to 10 days for those who receive one of the three vaccines approved in Japan.