A source close to the Japanese government stated on Jan. 14 that the government is ready to loosen coronavirus-related entry restrictions on fresh arrivals of international students.
The federal government plans to lift the limitations gradually, prioritizing government-sponsored international students who cannot progress to the next year of studies or graduate in their home countries without earning credits in Japan. Self-supporting international students, who make up more than 90% of all international students in Japan, will be allowed later.
In January 2021, the Japanese government stopped new foreign student intakes, except government-funded students and a few others. Following the spread of the omicron variety, it also prohibited government-sponsored international students from entering the country at the end of November last year.
People linked with universities and people in the business community have urged the government to relax restrictions, citing Japan’s long-term immigration prohibitions as a reason for international students opting to study in other countries.
“We’ll analyze the problem based on the fact that there are students who are near to graduating or moving to the next class,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said in a Jan. 14 press conference.
Source: mainichi.jp
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