Japan is considering charging foreign visitors a fee of around 2,000 yen to 3,000 yen for a new online pre-travel screening system, as the country prepares for record tourist arrivals. The proposed charge would apply under a planned electronic travel authorisation programme, expected to be launched in fiscal 2028, according to sources familiar with the matter, as cited by Kyodo News.
The system, known as JESTA, is intended to screen travellers from countries and regions that are currently exempt from short-term stay visas. The move comes as inbound visitor numbers are projected to cross 40 million this year, creating pressure on border management and visitor services.
The Japanese government plans to introduce the system to help prevent terrorism and illegal employment involving foreign visitors. Officials are also exploring the fee as a steady source of revenue linked to rising tourism.
The government is weighing the submission of a bill to amend the immigration control law in the next regular Diet session to establish the JESTA system. Similar pre-travel authorisation programmes are already in place in countries such as the United States and Canada, where fees range from about 1,000 yen to 6,000 yen.
According to the source, as reported by Kyodo News, Japan is considering using revenue from the screening fee to fund emergency support for foreign visitors during natural disasters and other emergencies.
AloJapan.com