What Travelers to Japan Need to Know About the New Visa Requirement
System modeled on the ESTA will require visa-exempt guests to submit their details before traveling to Japan
Photo: Tokyo, Japan. Courtesy of Muhammad Irfan / Unsplash
By 2030, tourists visiting Japan will encounter a new requirement: an e-visa system similar to the U.S. ESTA. This system, known tentatively as the Japan Electronic Travel Authorization (JESTA), aims to address issues related to tourists overstaying their visas.
The new scheme will be mandatory for visitors from 71 visa-exempt countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union. Currently, travelers from these countries can enter Japan for tourist purposes without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
Japan’s Response to Visa Overstays
While the new system won’t require them to apply for full visas, they will face more scrutiny as Japan tightens its border security and cracks down on unauthorized stays.
Japan’s Immigration Services Agency said an estimated 79,000 people overstay their authorization in Japan, around 20,000 more than a decade ago.
Previous figures have shown that people from visa-exempt countries make up many of these overstayers. In 2014, of around 50,000 short-term guests staying illegally in Japan, 56% came from visa-exempt countries.
Yanasen Yanaka Ginza / Photo: Courtesy of Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau
With an e-visa system, Japan hopes to identify and block travelers at risk of overstaying their welcome.
Much like the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), the JESTA will require travelers to electronically provide information about themselves and their travel plans, including their purpose of travel and intended destination, before departing for Japan.
Japan’s Immigration Services Agency will screen these online applications and flag travelers. These individuals will be directed to apply for formal tourist visas through their local Japanese embassy.
Impact on Visitors from Visa-Exempt Countries
Japan hasn’t revealed how much guests will pay to apply for the JESTA or how long it’ll be valid. The ESTA on which it’s modeled currently costs $21 and is valid for trips within two years or until the expiration of the individual’s passport.
Photo: Tokyo Haneda International Airport
Japan’s system is expected to be operational by 2030. During a trial period that will begin this year, airlines will be required to submit details about all passengers flying to Japan to the Immigration Services Agency during boarding. Those details will then be cross-checked against a blacklist of travelers, and airlines will be asked to refuse boarding to identified passengers.
Scrutiny and Screening Process
Japan isn’t the only country increasing scrutiny of visa-exempt guests. The E.U.’s European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which has been in the works since 2018, will finally come into effect next May for travelers from more than 60 countries. It will cost €7 ($7.72) and be valid for three years.
The U.K.’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) has been rolled out to travelers from seven visa-exempt countries and will be extended to dozens more. It costs £10 ($13) and is valid for two years.
Similar systems are already operational in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Korea.
