“I used to visit Japan so often, but should I stop going now?”…They say they’re introducing a pre-travel authorization system
Japan will implement a pre-arrival screening system for short-term visitors from visa-free countries and regions before March 2029.
According to local media including Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) and Asahi Shimbun on Monday (local time), the Japanese government approved an amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act at a cabinet meeting.
The amendment includes provisions for the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA), which will screen foreign visitors before entry.
JESTA is similar to the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The system targets short-term visitors from visa-exempt countries and regions, meaning Korean travelers will likely need pre-approval for future trips. Some foreigners transiting through Japan will also be subject to screening.
According to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, approximately 80% of recent short-term foreign visitors came from visa-exempt countries and regions.
The Japanese government plans to charge fees for JESTA applications. The fee is expected to be set with reference to the U.S. ESTA application cost of $40 (approximately 59,000 won).
Japan expects JESTA to streamline entry procedures and reduce airport congestion. Nikkei reported that once the pre-screening process is established, immigration processing times at airports could be shortened.
Japan also decided to significantly raise the fee ceiling for long-term residents renewing their status. The revised ceiling is 300,000 yen (approximately 2.8 million won) for permanent residency and 100,000 yen (approximately 930,000 won) for other residence statuses.
Actual fees will be determined within these limits. Current residence status renewal fees are approximately 6,000 yen (approximately 56,000 won).
The government also approved a revision to the Passport Act to lower passport application fees for Japanese citizens. The amendment reduces the fee for a 10-year adult passport from approximately 16,000 yen (approximately 150,000 won) to around 9,000 yen (approximately 84,000 won).
Japan plans to raise its departure tax—paid by all travelers leaving the country—starting in July. To offset the tax burden on Japanese citizens and increase passport ownership rates, the government decided to lower passport application fees.
AloJapan.com