The Japanese government will allow all foreigners except tourists to enter the country, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a Cabinet press conference, the Japan Times reported.

From March, foreign students, business travelers and technical trainees will be allowed in. Tourists remain barred.

The prime minister did not specify the exact date when the government's decision would take effect; it will probably be known about the opening of the borders at a later date.

On 7 February, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the country would open its borders to vaccinated foreign tourists as of 21 February. He noted that it had been almost two years since the decision was taken to close state borders.