Japan Arrival New Procedure.

The Government of Japan has announced that visitors must allow official to scan fingerprints and to take a facial photograph at the arrival in Japan. This will be applicable to foreign nationals at arrival in Japan with effect from Nov. 20, 2007, and not at the visa application stage.

Exempt from the new measure will be given to "special permanent residents" of Korean and Taiwanese descent, diplomats, and children under age 16 and those visiting at the invitation of the government. Foreign nationals with permanent residency status will also be obliged to submit to fingerprinting every time when they enter the country.

If the foreign nationals arriving to Japan refuse to submit their fingerprints or photographs, they will be denied entry into Japan and ordered to leave.

Under the procedure, visitors whose biometric data match those on confidential terrorist watch lists will be denied entry to Japan.