Japan Expands Mandatory Tuberculosis Screening to Indonesian Nationals From November 2
Updated: 57 minutes ago
TOKYO, October 21, 2026 — Japan will extend its pre-entry tuberculosis screening programme to Indonesian nationals from November 2, 2026, expanding a health requirement that already covers applicants from the Philippines, Nepal and Vietnam.
The change, confirmed by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the Immigration Services Agency (ISA), means Indonesian nationals applying for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) on or after January 4, 2027 must submit a Tuberculosis Clearance Certificate issued by a Japanese-government-designated clinic.
The Two Dates That Matter
Milestone | Date |
Designated clinics in Indonesia begin accepting TB screening | November 2, 2026 |
TB certificate becomes mandatory for Indonesian COE applications | January 4, 2027 |
The gap between the two dates is deliberate: applicants can begin the medical process in November, but the documentation requirement only bites for applications filed from January 4 onward.
Who Is Covered
The screening applies to nationals of six countries identified by Japan’s Tuberculosis Committee as accounting for the majority of foreign-born TB cases: Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar and China.
The requirement targets mid- to long-term residents — those seeking to stay in Japan for more than three months — and also extends to Digital Nomad visa applicants and their spouses or children under the designated activities framework.
Applicants who are already outside their home country, and can prove residence elsewhere with a residence permit, are generally outside scope.
What the Process Involves
Applicants attend a designated Panel Clinic in their country of nationality for a medical examination and chest X-ray. Where the examination confirms no active TB, the clinic issues a Tuberculosis Clearance Certificate.
The certificate is valid for 180 days from the date of the chest X-ray. It must be submitted with the COE application, or — where no COE is obtained — with the visa application at the local Japanese consulate.
Where TB is diagnosed, treatment must be completed before a repeat screening and certification.
For applicants in Vietnam, for example, IOM’s Migration Health Assessment Centres in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City administer the process, including chest X-rays and, where indicated, IGRA blood testing.
Exemptions
A substantial list of categories is exempt from the screening. These include:
JET Programme participants
JICA trainees (long- and short-term)
JICA JDS scholarship students
Japan Foundation mid- to long-term invitation programme participants
Government-funded students recommended by embassies
EPA-based nurses and care workers
Specified Skilled Worker visa holders
Designated Activities Notification No. 55 (transport sector preparation)
Foreign domestic support workers under the special zone framework
Holders of a valid re-entry permit are also outside the requirement.
The Specified Skilled Worker exemption is notable: that route already involves separate health checks, so the policy avoids duplicating screening.
The Timeline So Far
Japan has rolled the programme out country by country.
Country | Screening Begins | Certificate Mandatory for COE |
Philippines | March 24, 2025 | June 23, 2025 |
Nepal | March 24, 2025 | June 23, 2025 |
Vietnam | May 26, 2025 | September 1, 2025 |
Indonesia | November 2, 2026 | January 4, 2027 |
Myanmar | Not yet announced | Not yet announced |
China | Not yet announced | Not yet announced |
MHLW has confirmed that implementation for Myanmar and China remains under discussion.
Why Japan Is Doing This
Government data show that of 9,899 newly registered TB patients in Japan in 2025, 2,352 were foreign-born. Among younger cohorts — the groups most likely to have broad social contact — foreign-born patients account for the majority of new registrations.
The screening programme is designed to detect TB before arrival, enabling early treatment and reducing domestic transmission. Japan’s TB incidence remains among the lowest in the world, but the concentration of cases among foreign-born residents has made pre-entry screening a policy priority.
What It Means for Employers and Applicants
For employers sponsoring Indonesian staff: the COE application cannot proceed without the certificate from January 4, 2027. Onboarding timelines for Indonesian nationals should be built around the 180-day certificate validity and the time required to book and attend a designated clinic.
For applicants: the certificate must come from a Japanese-designated clinic, not an arbitrary local hospital. MHLW maintains a list of approved facilities on its JPETS portal. Applicants should confirm their nearest designated clinic before booking.
For Digital Nomads: the requirement explicitly captures designated activities under Notifications No. 53 and 54, meaning remote workers and their family members from the six target countries are within scope.
For exempt categories: JET, JICA, government scholarship and Specified Skilled Worker applicants should confirm their exemption status with their sponsoring organisation, as documentation may still be requested at the visa stage.
Read Also
Quick Reference Summary
Item | Detail |
Expansion Date | November 2, 2026 (Indonesia) |
COE Mandate | January 4, 2027 (Indonesia) |
Target Countries | Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, China |
Affected Applicants | Mid- to long-term residents; Digital Nomads and family |
Certificate | Tuberculosis Clearance Certificate from designated Panel Clinic |
Validity | 180 days from chest X-ray |
Exemptions | JET, JICA, government scholars, EPA nurses/care workers, Specified Skilled Workers, re-entry permit holders |
Myanmar and China | Implementation dates not yet announced |
Official Portal |
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