Foreign tourists enjoy cherry blossoms in full bloom in this file photo. (Mainichi/Kenjiro Sato)
TOKYO — The Japanese Cabinet approved a bill on March 10 to amend the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, introducing an electronic travel authorization system.
The Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or JESTA, will require foreign tourists exempt from visa requirements to input entry related information before traveling to Japan. The aim is to tighten immigration controls by pre-screening for potential illegal stays through online information input. The government plans to implement this new system in fiscal 2028.
Foreigners entering Japan for tourism or similar purposes from 74 countries and regions, including South Korea and the United States, are exempt from obtaining short-term stay visas. However, there have been cases where tourists did not return home and continued to stay illegally, prompting the government to consider countermeasures.
Currently, the Immigration Services Agency receives entry information from airlines after foreign nationals have traveled. Under JESTA, foreigners will input their passport information, purpose of stay, accommodation details and other information online before traveling. The agency will verify if there are any false declarations or a history of illegal stays, and will grant authorization if no issues are found. Those without authorization will not be allowed entry into Japan.
Authorized travelers will be exempt from having their passports stamped at the time of entry. A processing fee will be charged for the authorization procedure. While an increase in foreign tourists has led to crowded entry inspections, the government expects the system to streamline the process.
Additionally, airlines and transport operators will be required to report foreigners’ reservation information to the Immigration Services Agency. If entry is not approved, boarding will be prohibited. Companies that violate this requirement will face fines.
According to the agency, the number of new foreign entrants in 2025 saw a record high of approximately 39.18 million, with about 38.46 million, or 98%, permitted for short-term stays. Of these, 80% were visa-exempt.
The amendment also proposes raising fees for procedures such as renewing residency status for foreigners living in Japan. The additional revenue will be used on support policies for foreigners.
Currently, the fee for changing residency status or renewing the period of stay at a counter is 6,000 yen (about $38), and the fee for applying for permanent residence is 10,000 yen (around $63), as the immigration control law sets the maximum fee at 10,000 yen. The amendment raises the fee cap for the former to 100,000 yen (approx. $630), and for the latter to 300,000 yen (roughly $1,900). The actual fees to be collected will be considered within these limits.
(Japanese original by Kenji Tatsumi, Tokyo City News Department)
AloJapan.com