By Hoang Vu  May 31, 2025 | 06:00 pm PT
People walk and take photos under cherry trees at Ueno Park in Tokyo, Japan, March 21, 2023. Photo by Reuters
Japan will begin pre-arrival screenings for visa-exempt travelers in 2028 as part of its plan to boost annual tourist numbers to 60 million, double the current figure.
The new system, modeled after the United States’ Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), aims to streamline the immigration process, the Justice Ministry said, as reported by Kyodo News.
In 2024, Japan welcomed a record 36.87 million foreign visitors, a 47% increase from the previous year.
Under the proposed system, travelers from countries granted short-term visa exemptions will be required to submit travel and personal information such as their names, travel purposes, and accommodation details several days before arrival, according to The Mainichi newspaper.
The Immigration Services Agency of Japan will review the data in advance. Travelers with a criminal record or a history of overstaying in Japan may be denied permission to board flights to the country, the ministry said.
According to the Foreign Ministry, citizens of 71 countries and regions, including the U.S. and South Korea, are currently eligible for short-term visa exemptions.
AloJapan.com