Do I need a TB clearance certificate for Japan?

Japan Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening (JPETS, 入国前結核スクリーニング) is a TB check that some foreign nationals must pass before moving to Japan. You get a medical exam and chest X-ray at a Panel Clinic designated by the Japanese government in your country; if you do not have active TB, the clinic issues a TB Clearance Certificate, which you submit with your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application, or with your visa application if you apply without a COE. It is run by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare with the Immigration Services Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/kenkou/kekkaku-kansenshou03/english.html).

Nationals of the Philippines, Nepal, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Myanmar and China who will live in Japan as mid- to long-term residents (a period of stay over 3 months, for example students, technical intern trainees, engineers, dependents or spouses), plus Digital Nomads (Designated Activities No. 53) and their families (No. 54). Tourists, business visitors and other short stays of 3 months or less, diplomats, and people returning on a re-entry permit are not covered. Indonesia's requirement starts on January 4, 2027; Myanmar and China have no start date yet.

Panel Clinics in Indonesia are scheduled to accept screenings from Nov 2, 2026, and the TB Clearance Certificate is scheduled to become mandatory for COE and visa applications filed from Jan 4, 2027 (MHLW notice of September 25, 2026). The filing date is what counts: a COE filed on January 3, 2027 does not need it; one filed on January 4, 2027 does. Indonesia had the most foreign-born TB cases in Japan in 2025 (507).

Not for now. Specified Skilled Workers are on the government's temporary exemption list (当面の間、対象外), because that program already requires a pre-entry health check with a chest X-ray. The full list: Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能 i / ii); EPA nurse or care worker candidate; JET Programme participant; JICA trainee (long- or short-term); JICA JDS scholarship student; Japan Foundation long/mid-term invitation program; Japanese Government (MEXT) scholar, embassy recommendation; Student under commissioned education and training programs; Designated Activities No. 55 (specified motor vehicle transportation preparation); Housekeeping worker, National Strategic Special Zones. The exemption is "for the time being" and can change.

Yes. Technical Intern Training (技能実習) and Student (留学, including Japanese language schools) are not on the exemption list, so nationals of the target countries need the certificate once their country's mandatory date has passed. The same applies to Employment for Skill Development (育成就労), which is scheduled to replace technical intern training on April 1, 2027; a Panel Clinic X-ray may also cover that program's X-ray item.

180 days from the date of the chest X-ray, or 90 days if, in the 2 months before the X-ray, you lived with or spent a long time in an enclosed space with someone diagnosed with active infectious pulmonary TB. It must be valid on the day you file the COE application (or the visa application without a COE). This checker counts the X-ray day as day 1, so a January 1 X-ray is treated as valid through June 29.

No, if you submitted it with your COE application. According to the JPETS Q&A (Q17), the later visa application and landing do not have to fall within the 180 days, and you do not submit it again. Keep your own copy, because you may be asked to show it after entering Japan.

No. If the COE application was filed before your country's mandatory date and the COE was issued without a certificate, you do not need one when you apply for the visa, even after that date (Q&A 21), provided you have no TB symptoms such as a cough lasting more than two weeks.

Yes, if a residence permit or similar document shows you currently live outside the six target countries. With the COE application, submit a copy of that document with ISA's explanation form (説明書). If you live in another target country (for example a Nepali national in Viet Nam), the exemption does not apply. People already in Japan who change status or extend their stay are not asked for a certificate.

Only at designated Panel Clinics. MHLW's list (Indonesia as of October 9, 2026) has 42 clinics: the Philippines 6, Nepal 9, Viet Nam 17 and Indonesia 10 (Jakarta, Tangerang, Bandung, Semarang, Kuta, Surabaya, Makassar). Indonesia's list is growing. Certificates from other hospitals are not accepted, even if their check-up says TB negative.

The applicant pays, and the price depends on the Panel Clinic. MHLW does not publish one price; check with the clinic before you book. If you are found to have active TB, you get treated first and can be screened again with a Tuberculosis Treatment Report.

Yes, both are covered. Children under 5 usually get a tuberculin skin test or IGRA instead of an X-ray unless the exam suggests TB. Pregnant applicants can postpone the X-ray (and the application) until after delivery, or have it with double-layer lead shielding.

Yes. Free, no key, CORS open: GET https://japan-tb-screening.vercel.app/api/check?nationality=indonesia&status=student&applicationDate=2027-01-15 returns the verdict, reasons, X-ray window, documents and the Panel Clinic list. All rules at https://japan-tb-screening.vercel.app/api/rules, OpenAPI at https://japan-tb-screening.vercel.app/openapi.json, and the japan_tb_screening_check tool on https://free-agent-tools.vercel.app/mcp.

フィリピン・ネパール・ベトナム・インドネシア・ミャンマー・中国の国籍を持ち、中長期在留者（再入国許可者を除く）または特定活動告示53号・54号（デジタルノマドとその家族）として入国する人です。在留資格認定証明書（COE）交付申請時（COEなしで査証申請する場合は査証申請時）に、指定健診医療機関が発行した「結核非発病証明書」を提出します。特定技能、EPA看護師・介護福祉士、JET、JICA研修員などは当面の間対象外です。技能実習と留学は対象です。

指定健診医療機関での健診受付は2026年11月2日から、結核非発病証明書の提出義務付けは2027年1月4日以降に申請されたCOE・査証申請から（いずれも予定）です。1月4日より前にCOEを申請し、証明書なしでCOEが交付された場合は、査証申請時の提出は不要です。証明書の有効期間は胸部レントゲン撮影日から原則180日です。

Warga negara Indonesia yang akan tinggal di Jepang lebih dari 3 bulan (misalnya pelajar, pemagang teknis/ginou jisshu, pekerja, keluarga) wajib melampirkan TB Clearance Certificate dari Klinik Panel yang ditunjuk saat mengajukan Certificate of Eligibility (COE) atau visa yang diajukan mulai 4 Januari 2027 (rencana). Pemeriksaan di Klinik Panel dibuka mulai 2 November 2026. Pekerja Berketerampilan Spesifik (Tokutei Ginou) untuk sementara dikecualikan. Sertifikat berlaku 180 hari sejak tanggal rontgen dada.