Traveling to Japan as a tourist has been a breeze for visitors from 71 visa-exempt countries and regions, as there’s no requirement to obtain a short-stay visa at a local embassy prior to travel. However, that’s all set to change in the future, as the Japanese government has announced plans to introduce a new travel authorization system which will require visitors to declare personal information online in order to enter the country.
The new system is said to run in a similar way to ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) in the U.S., which was introduced as an anti-terrorism measure. Just as ESTA determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, the Japanese version, which the government has tentatively named JESTA, will also screen visitors prior to entry, using a similar online system.
The government says the aim of the new system is to reduce the number of illegal immigrants who come to Japan from visa-exempt countries and regions and remain beyond the valid period of stay, which currently ranges from 14-90 days depending on the passport. Under the current system, international airlines provide the government with passenger information for screening shortly after takeoff, which means travelers who don’t pass the screening still arrive in Japan, and although they are officially ordered to leave the country, many fail to do so.
According to the government, the number of people who abuse the system and stay illegally in the country is considerable — of the 49,801 illegal short-term visitors recorded in January 2016, more than 28,000 came from visa-exempt countries and regions.
JESTA will require visa-exempt foreign nationals to declare their purpose of entry and place of stay online for screening by the Immigration Services Agency before they travel. If the application is flagged as an illegal-stay risk, the travel authorization required to leave the country will not be granted, and the traveller will be encouraged to obtain a formal visa through their local embassy instead.
Travelers from the following 71 visa-exempt countries and regions will be required to declare their details using JESTA when it’s launched.
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lesotho
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Panama
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Republic of Korea
- Romania
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Türkiye
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
The government aims to allocate research costs for JESTA in next year’s budget, with plans for it to be in place by 2030. In addition, another system will be launched on a trial basis during this fiscal year whereby passenger information will be sent to the Immigration Services Agency after boarding procedures have been completed.
These details will be checked against a “blacklist” of travelers, including foreign nationals of interest and those with criminal records, which will then notify the airline so they can refuse boarding and prevent these individuals from traveling to Japan.
While JESTA is designed to keep Japan and its visitors safe, it will no doubt cause a headache for travellers who are used to the ease of entry afforded them under the visa exemption agreement. More details about how the site will work, including timelines for applying and personal information requirements, will be provided closer to the launch date.
Source: Sankei via Yahoo! Japan, Jin
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22 Comments
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divinda
For the final name, here's few potential ideas probably being passed around:
MyVisa.
Premium Entry.
Global Authorization Into Japan for Inter Nationals.
Eastmann
divinda
LOL
...
Mr Kipling
A bit more red tape but if it keeps out some undesirables then it is a good idea. However, I doubt this will be the case.
Moonraker
Really? You mean there are illegal immigrants from places like Finland, Singapore, Switzerland, Monaco, Luxembourg, Australia and Denmark abusing the current system? Jesta, indeed. I am calling BS on this. Which countries on the list provide the most illegals? Why not change the system just for them and not make everyone a suspect? I smell another bureaucratic budget and information grab. On the other hand, why not make it like Singapore, where you fill in details online, submit it before travel, and then just put your passport in a gate and entry takes seconds; no faffing around with fingerprint machines and cameras that half the time don't work properly and somebody asking stupid questions in broken English and putting stamps in passports.
divinda
@Moonraker, its not solely about the security, its also about the money.
Its not mentioned here, but the US ESTA costs $21, or nearly 3000 yen. By 2030 when they start this in Japan, they'll probably be charging more like 4,000 yen.
With the expected 40+ million foreign tourists by then, that's a lot of yen!
divinda
@Moonraker, its not solely about the security, its also about the money.
Its not mentioned here, but the US ESTA costs $21, or nearly 3000 yen. By 2030 when they start this in Japan, they'll probably be charging more like 4,000 yen.
With the expected 40+ million foreign tourists by then, that's a lot of yen!
Moonraker
Yes, I am sure you are right, divinda. I alluded to that with "I smell another bureaucratic budget" but I maybe overlooked how much it would be a juicy tax on tourists. The big sign at KIX telling us about the current stringent security measures against terrorism excuses a whole load of BS, including queues of people getting pointless bag checks in an age where machines can pick out a milligram of hash in a sock, and keeps the locals in a state of unease, as is the purpose. So Oona's gushing "has been a breeze for visitors" seems to come once more from her dream.
Yumster100
from the article
my goodness. But anything Japan does is suspicioooooooooous
Moonraker
But, Yumster, my point is that we will not have the ease of entry in exchange for this online info. Try to keep up.
Hannes vd Merwe
As far as I can tell, there's some misinformation spread by this announcement and well-meaning YouTubers.
1) only available if you have an IC passport
2) possibly you do need a physical stamp in your passport to retain tax free refunds
For either of these scenarios, you need to still fill out the paper declaration and follow the correct line.
Yumster100
This online info is what makes it easy. There needs to be some measure of gatekeeping. Nothing is perfect but your example of changing the system for only specific countries is just plain stupid. That would be an unnecessary, costly and bureaucratic nightmare. Might be hard for you but try critical thinking.
Brian Nicholls
Hmm. I wonder if anyone in the Immigration Department has realised yet the comedy potential in calling the system JESTA. One can only assume that some joker in the Department came up with that idea..
ushosh123
Standard Money grab with government front. Sounds like the same standard info being passed around. Based on what would they even deny you of that wouldn't be done now.
More tourist than they want to handle ATM, so all par for the course.
tora
This!!! You wait.
OssanAmerica
This is no big deal. At least for most travelers. You can do it online.
The US has had ESTA since January 2009 for all Visa Waiver entries into the U.S.
GBR48
If the system goes down, or your e-mail address matches one linked to negative comments online about the LDP, you won't be flying.
The Ripper!
No China?
N. Knight
Europe now has it. USA has it. Why not Japan?