The Japanese Cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill to amend the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act to introduce an electronic travel‑authorization system, requiring visa‑free visitors to complete online pre‑screening before departure, set to take effect in fiscal 2028.
Similar to the United States’ Electronic System for Travel Authorization, the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA) will target visa-exempt visitors entering Japan for short-term stays such as tourism.
Travelers will need to submit personal information online before departure, including occupation and accommodation details, and pay a processing fee. Authorization will be issued upon approval; without it, travelers will be denied boarding.
Foreign nationals who make a temporary entry into Japan during transit will also be subject to JESTA screening. The Japanese government will require airlines to refuse boarding to travelers without valid JESTA approval.
At check-in at the departure airport and similar points, airlines and other operators will share passengers’ personal information, such as names, with the Immigration Services Agency, which will notify overseas airports whether individuals have passed JESTA screening. Approved travellers will be allowed to check in, while those rejected will be unable to board flights or vessels.
The revised immigration bill will be submitted to the National Diet for review, with the government aiming to pass it during the current parliamentary session. It plans to set JESTA processing fees based on the levels charged by other countries.
The Immigration Services Agency noted that around 80 percent of short-term visitors to Japan currently enter under visa-exemption. Pre-departure screening is also intended to help streamline entry procedures.
In addition, the amendment proposes raising the maximum cap for fees to renew residence statuses. The upper limit for applications for permanent residence will be increased to 300,000 yen (about HK$15,000), while the cap for extending the visa or other similar procedures will rise to 100,000 yen (around HK$5,000).
Authorities will set the exact amounts within those limits by government ordinance and will adjust fees flexibly in line with future price levels.
Currently, the in-person handling fee for visa renewals in Japan is 6,000 yen (around HK$295). This fee is expected to be increased in the 2026 fiscal year, starting this April. Foreigners in financial difficulty may be eligible for fee waivers.
As of the end of 2025, about 4.13 million foreign residents were living in Japan with permanent resident, work, technical trainee, student and other visas — a record high. The Japanese government plans to use the additional revenue to fund the development and operation of the new entry system.
AloJapan.com