Key Takeaways

• According to the official website of the US Embassy and Consulates in Japan, "all non-immigrant, non-US citizen air travelers" to the US must be fully vaccinated, and they have to provide proof of their vaccination status before boarding an airplane to the US. The proof of vaccination is in the form of "a paper or digital record issued by an official source and should include the traveler’s name and date of birth, as well as the vaccine product and date(s) of administration for all doses the traveler received." While there are exceptions to this requirement, these exceptions are extremely limited and are available for children under 18, travelers who cannot medically receive the vaccine, and emergency travelers who cannot access the vaccine on time.
• Children ages 2 through 17 are excepted from providing proof of full vaccination before boarding an airplane into the US, but they (with the help of their parents or authorized persons) have to attest that they will be tested with a COVID-19 viral test within 3-5 days of arriving in the US unless they have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days. They will also attest to self-isolate full 5 full days and "properly wear a well-fitting mask during isolation and for additional 5 days after ending isolation" if they test positive upon arrival or develop COVID-19 symptoms. 
• According to the official website of the US Embassy and Consulates in Japan, all international travelers two years or older, regardless of their nationality and vaccination status, must present a negative COVID-19 test they took no more than one day before traveling to the US.

Introduction

COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Entry

• According to the official website of the US Embassy and Consulates in Japan, all international travelers, regardless of their nationality and vaccination status, must present a negative COVID-19 test they took no more than 1 day before traveling to the US.
• The US Embassy in Japan also adds that all international air travelers two years or older must show a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than one day before travel or present documentation showing that they have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days. This documentation is in the form of a positive COVID-19 viral test on a sample taken no more than 90 days before traveling and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or public health official clearing the passenger for travel.
• Valid COVID-19 tests for travel to the US include NAAT, antigen, and antibody tests. 
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• Below are some frequently asked questions on the COVID-19 testing requirements for entry into the US from Japan:
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COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Entry

• According to the official website of the US Embassy and Consulates in Japan, "all non-immigrant, non-US citizen air travelers" to the US must be fully vaccinated, and they have to provide proof of their vaccination status before boarding an airplane to the US. The proof of vaccination is in the form of "a paper or digital record issued by an official source and should include the traveler’s name and date of birth, as well as the vaccine product and date(s) of administration for all doses the traveler received."
• While there are exceptions to this requirement, these exceptions are extremely limited and are available for children under 18, travelers who cannot medically receive the vaccine, and emergency travelers who cannot access the vaccine on time.

Vaccination Exceptions

• Below are the categories of people that meet the criteria of being excepted from being fully vaccinated before traveling to the US:
• People on diplomatic or official foreign government travel
• Children under the age of 18.
• People who cannot medically receive the vaccine.
• People participating in some COVID-19 vaccine trials.
• People with emergency or humanitarian exemptions.
• People with valid visas, except for B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visas, coming from countries where COVID-19 vaccines are limited.
• "Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age)."
• "Sea crew members traveling with to a C-1 and D nonimmigrant visa."
• "Persons whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, Secretary of Transportation, or Secretary of Homeland Security (or their designees)."

Vaccination Exception Attestations

• For international air travelers into the US who are under the exceptions listed above, they must attest that they are exempted from the full vaccination requirement. Depending on the category of exception, they may be further be required to attest that:
• They will undergo a COVID-19 viral test 3-5 days after arriving in the US unless they have documentation of recovery in the past 90 days.
• They will self-quarantine for a full 5 days, even if the post-arrival test result is negative unless they have recovery documentation in the past 90 days.
• They will self-isolate if they test positive post-arrival or they develop COVID-19 symptoms.
• Based on the exception category, and if they want to spend over 60 days in the US, they will be required to attest that they agree to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or they have arranged to become fully vaccinated within 60 days of arrival or soon thereafter when it is medically appropriate.
• Parents and authorized persons are required to attest on behalf of passengers under the age of 18. The attestation requirement does not apply to children under the age of 2.
• Airlines and aircraft operators have to provide and collect the passenger attestation on behalf of the United States government.
• This passenger attestation form for noncitizens and nonimmigrants has the details on what the exception categories, including children ages 2 through 17, have to attest to before boarding a plane to the US.

What is Considered Full Vaccination

• According to the CDC, an international traveler to the US is considered to be fully vaccinated:
•  14 days after their dose of an accepted single-dose vaccine.
•  14 days after their second dose of an accepted 2-dose series.
• "2 weeks (14 days) after receiving the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a clinical trial."
• "2 weeks (14 days) after receiving 2 doses of any "mix-and-match" combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart." 

• The types of accepted vaccines are those approved or authorized by the FDA and those listed by the World Health Organization for emergency use (EUL.) These vaccines include Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and AstraZeneca.
• Below are some frequently asked questions on vaccination requirements for entry into the US from Japan:
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