Khaldon Azhari

TOKYO: Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi discussed on Tuesday Japan’s general plan to start issuing new visas for foreign nationals hoping to enter the country, saying that the process will happen in phases.

“We need to ensure that it will be in balance with the prevention of infection,” said Motegi replying to a question from Arab News Japan at a press conference.

“We will be looking at countries or regions in which the spread of the virus is subsiding or has subsided.”

The issuing of new visas was largely cut earlier in the year as a preventative measure against the spread of COVID-19, and Japan’s international borders remain tightly controlled.

Motegi said that the government has started opening up the process to people coming to Japan for business or as residents but added that the scope of countries that apply is being considered.

He said that the next phase will be allowing visas for international students and that eventually permission to enter Japan will be extended to the general public, including tourists.