The European Union has removed Japan and five other countries from its list of safe travel destinations, meaning visitors or people returning from those countries are likely to face tighter controls such as COVID-19 tests or quarantine.
Following a review, the governments of the EU's 27 member states agreed to drop Japan, along with Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brunei and Serbia, the European Council said on Thursday. Uruguay has been added to the list.
Japan was previously removed from the exemption list in January, before being added again in June as the EU eased restrictions ahead of summer vacation season.