Fijians travelling to and from Japan from Tuesday to no longer require mandatory on arrival COVID-19 tests

Fijians travelling to and from Japan from Tuesday will no longer be required to complete the mandatory on arrival COVID-19 tests as previously applied to all returnees and entrants.

A Fijian Government statement says this timely ease in border control is possible through a partnership between the Fijian Government and the Government of Japan.

It says under the mitigated border measures announced by Japan, all returnees and entrants will be only required to provide either a valid vaccination certificate of COVID-19 (three times) or a certificate of negative test result of pre-departure COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to departure.

It adds the new border control measures will not only save time but money for Fijians travelling to and from Japan.

Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Yogesh Karan has thanked the Government of Japan and says this initiative supports efforts to promote the tourism industry, trade and investment opportunities for economic development.

Karan says Japan is an important development partner for Fiji and has greatly supported the country in times of great need.

Japanese Ambassador to Fiji, Kawakami Fumihiro says the resumption of direct Fiji-Narita flights in June this year had enabled reciprocal visits for travellers, particularly for the purpose of business or tourism, even visiting families back home.

He says he is pleased to announce these new border measures, which reflects on the shared commitment of the two nations to rebuild back better and stronger from common global challenges.

He further says recently, they have successfully concluded high-level engagement between Japan and Fiji including Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi’s visit to Suva in May and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meeting with Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama in August in New York.

Fumihiro says the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the Japan-Fiji partnership and these new border measures will also apply to Japanese nationals who have visited Fiji and are returning to Japan.

He hopes the new measures will increase the flow of people between Fiji and Japan in the future and further strengthen the economic and business relations between the two countries.