by As you know, after China lifted COVID-19 restrictions, the positive cases are dramatically going up and a lot of countries have been restarting to restrict entries from China. Japan has also resumed COVID test and negative certificate for travellers coming from China. If your flight to go to Japan is via China, please be careful.
1. Be careful when you book flights
You will be affected if your flight going to Japan transit via China. Some flights which stop at China are cheaper than direct flights, however, even if you transit via China only just a few hours, you may be required to take COVID test on arrival or required to submit any documents.
If you would like to enter Japan smoothly, at this stage I strongly recommend not yo book any flights which have stops at China.
Better flights to go to Japan to avoid this kind of trouble are, for example.
・Japan Airline (Direct flight from Sydney and Melbourne)
・All Nippon Airways (Direct flight from Sydney)
・Jetstar (Direct flight from Cairns)
・China Airline (via Taiwan)
・Singapore Airline (via Singapore)
・Cathey Pacific (via Hong Kong)
・Thai Airways (via Bangkok)
and so on.
2. Who will be affected?
Regarding the website from Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
From 0:00 am (JST) on December 30, 2022, all travelers and returnees who have stayed in China (except Hong Kong and Macau) within 7 days prior to the entry and all travelers and returnees coming from China (except Hong Kong and Macau) by direct flight will be required to take on-arrival test at the quarantine station. In addition, from 0:00 am (JST) on January 8, 2023, all travelers and returnees coming from China (except Hong Kong and Macau) by direct flight will be required to submit a certificate of negative result of pre-departure COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours prior to departure.(NEW)
⇒As of 09 January 2023 announcement, all travelers coming from China including Macau by direct flight will also be required to submit a a certificate of negative result of pre-departure COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours prior to departure from 12 January 2023.
Key points
・Travellers who have stayed in China within 7 days prior to the entry
・Coming from China by direct flight
3. What you need to prepare before arrival
If your flight transit via mainland of China, you must prepare for COVID-test (must be PCR test) Negative Result Certificate taken within 72 hours prior to departure at China. This is not your origin departure airport so please be careful.
For example, if you depart from Sydney on 5th January at 6:00am then arrive at China at 15:00, then depart from China at 19:00 and arrive in Japan at 22:00.
In this case, you must hold the COVID negative certificate taken at least 2nd January, 22:00 and after.
Also, you must take the PCR test at designated clinics which can issue the special certificate format.
You must submit your negative certificate with this format.
Only some clinics are available to handle this format. So if you take PCR in Australia, you can check the available clinics from this list.
**The above information is based on website of Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Consulate General of Japan. I can’t guarantee any smooth entry so before you plan to go to Japan, please contact Consulate General of Japan or Embassy of Japan.
