Japan Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening (JPETS): Who Needs a TB Clearance Certificate?
Japan Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening (JPETS): Who Needs a TB Clearance Certificate?
Certain foreign nationals from target countries who intend to stay in Japan for a medium- to long-term period may need to undergo TB screening at a designated Panel Clinic and submit a TB Clearance Certificate when applying for a Certificate of Eligibility or a visa.
日本語ページはこちら： 入国前結核スクリーニング（JPETS）とは？
- What JPETS is
- Target countries and applicants
- When a TB Clearance Certificate must be submitted
- Validity period and designated Panel Clinics
- Practical points for COE and visa applications
Video: TB screening before coming to Japan: JPETS
Watch on YouTube with English captions
Information checked: 2 November 2026. Individual circumstances require review. No approval is guaranteed.
１．What is JPETS?
JPETS stands for Japan Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening. It is a pre-entry TB screening system for certain foreign nationals who intend to enter Japan from target countries and stay in Japan for a medium- to long-term period.
Applicants subject to JPETS must undergo a medical examination and chest X-ray at a designated Panel Clinic. If the applicant is found not to have active tuberculosis, the Panel Clinic issues a TB Clearance Certificate.
If JPETS applies, the TB Clearance Certificate must be submitted when applying for a Certificate of Eligibility, or when applying for a visa without obtaining a COE.
２．Target countries and applicants
The target countries are the Philippines, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, and China. Indonesia has reached November 2, 2026, the officially announced screening start date. MHLW and the JPETS website still display scheduled dates; actual same-day reception and individual clinic operations have not been independently verified. Confirm availability with the designated Panel Clinic before making arrangements. Certificate submission is announced for January 4, 2027, and no change to that date was found. Myanmar and China remain unscheduled.
| Target country | Start of TB screening | Start of certificate submission requirement |
|---|---|---|
| The Philippines | March 24, 2025 | June 23, 2025 |
| Nepal | March 24, 2025 | June 23, 2025 |
| Viet Nam | May 26, 2025 | September 1, 2025 |
| Indonesia | November 2, 2026 (announced start date; confirm clinic reception) | January 4, 2027 (scheduled) |
| Myanmar | To be announced | To be announced |
| China | To be announced | To be announced |
Who may be subject to JPETS?
JPETS mainly applies to nationals of the target countries who intend to enter and stay in Japan as mid- to long-term residents. Re-entry permit holders are excluded.
The system also applies to certain applicants under Designated Activities, including Digital Nomad and the spouse or child of a Digital Nomad.
Even if the applicant is a national of a target country, the actual requirement may depend on the current country of residence, visa category, application route, and whether the person is entering Japan for the first time or re-entering with a re-entry permit.
３．Where should applicants undergo TB screening?
Applicants must undergo TB screening at a designated Panel Clinic located in the target country. A certificate issued by a non-designated medical facility may not be accepted as an official TB Clearance Certificate.
The official JPETS website states that, to apply for a COE or a visa, applicants must undergo TB screening at a designated Panel Clinic and submit the official TB Clearance Certificate issued by that clinic.
４．Screening and application flow
- Check whether JPETS applies to the applicant
- Find a designated Panel Clinic in the target country
- Make an appointment with the Panel Clinic
- Present a valid passport for identity verification
- Undergo a medical examination and chest X-ray
- Undergo a sputum test if required by the doctor
- Receive a TB Clearance Certificate if cleared of active TB
- Submit the certificate when applying for a COE or visa
５．Validity period of the TB Clearance Certificate
In principle, the TB Clearance Certificate is valid for 180 days from the date of the chest X-ray. However, the validity period may be reduced to 90 days in certain cases, such as recent close contact with a person diagnosed with infectious pulmonary TB.
If the certificate is obtained too early, it may expire before submission. If it is obtained too late, the COE or visa application schedule may be delayed. The timing should be carefully managed based on the intended application date and entry schedule.
６．Practical points for COE and visa applications
Applicant
Check the applicant’s nationality, current country of residence, intended entry date, visa category, appointment availability, and expected certificate issuance date.
Employer or host institution
Confirm whether the planned start date, school admission date, or hosting schedule is consistent with the expected screening and application timeline.
Documents
Confirm that the certificate was issued by a designated Panel Clinic and that it remains valid at the time of application.
Immigration review
The applicant’s target-country status, application timing, authenticity of the certificate, and consistency with the application route may be reviewed.
Falsification or fraudulent use of a certificate may seriously affect the COE or visa application. Applicants should always follow the official procedure through a designated Panel Clinic.
７．Common misunderstandings
Misunderstanding １｜All nationals of target countries always need JPETS
Not always. Short-term stay, re-entry with a valid re-entry permit, current country of residence, and other factors may affect whether JPETS applies.
Misunderstanding ２｜Any hospital certificate is acceptable
In principle, the official TB Clearance Certificate must be issued by a designated Panel Clinic.
Misunderstanding ３｜The certificate can be obtained at any time before the COE application
The certificate has a validity period. The timing of screening must be managed together with the application schedule.
Misunderstanding ４｜Indonesia, Myanmar, and China are already fully covered
As of November 2, 2026, Indonesia has reached its announced screening start date. The certificate submission requirement is announced for January 4, 2027. Screening reception and mandatory certificate submission are separate stages. Myanmar and China remain unscheduled.
８．Official information
Indonesia screening and submission dates reviewed on November 2, 2026
MHLW, the Immigration Services Agency and the Consulate-General of Japan in Denpasar announce November 2, 2026 as the screening reception start date and January 4, 2027 as the certificate submission requirement date. On this review date, the JPETS website still labels the dates as scheduled, and actual same-day reception has not been verified. Confirm appointments and reception with the individual designated clinic before making arrangements. The published Indonesia Panel Clinic list is dated October 9, 2026.
Does nationality alone determine the requirement?
No. JPETS covers nationals of the six target countries entering as mid- to long-term residents, and applicants under Designated Activities Notifications 53 and 54. Re-entry permit holders are excluded. Applicants whose current residence outside the target countries or regions is established by a residence permit or other government-issued documentation are exempt.
Are Specified Skilled Workers covered?
Specified Skilled Workers are currently exempt, subject to the latest official rules. Temporary exemptions also cover JET participants, JICA trainees, JDS students, specified Japan Foundation invitees, embassy-recommended MEXT scholarship students, commissioned education and training students, EPA nurses and care workers, Notification 55 applicants and specified National Strategic Special Zone housekeeping personnel. Check the official categories for each applicant.
What happens to applications filed before January 4, 2027?
The filing date is the basis. The requirement applies to COE applications filed from January 4, 2027, or visa applications filed without a COE from that date. An application filed earlier does not require an additional certificate merely because processing continues beyond the start date. If the COE application was filed before the start date and a COE was issued without a certificate, the subsequent visa application does not require the certificate even after the start date. The official FAQ recommends examination if symptoms suggest TB.
Must I submit another certificate for my visa after obtaining a COE?
Normally, a valid certificate submitted with the COE application does not need to be resubmitted for the subsequent visa or landing application; those applications need not fall within that certificate’s validity. An exceptional COE issued without the certificate must be checked for its specific instructions.
Validity, appointments and fees
The normal validity is 180 days from the chest X-ray date, reduced to 90 days for specified recent contact with infectious pulmonary TB. Check the actual certificate and filing date. Copies, including scanned data, are accepted. Confirm appointment availability, fees and issuance time with the Panel Clinic.
We can support your COE or visa application, including JPETS document checks
Tommy’s Legal Service supports applications for Certificates of Eligibility, work visas, Dependent visas, Student visas, Business Manager visas, and other immigration procedures. We can also help check whether JPETS applies to your case.
