Japan Prepares to Introduce Electronic Travel Authorization System

Japan is preparing to join the growing list of countries requiring Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for immigration purposes, even for travelers who are currently exempt from visas under various waiver agreements. The new system, provisionally named ‘JESTA,’ is in development and is expected to be implemented several years from now. Once deployed, it will require pre-clearance for travelers from 71 different countries.

The move aligns Japan with other nations that have implemented similar systems, driven by reasons such as reciprocity and managing the steady flow of air travelers who might be deemed ineligible for entry due to various concerns. As one of Asia’s most popular destinations, Japan faces certain security risks associated with high entry frequencies by foreign nationals. Moreover, many of the countries that will be affected by JESTA already impose similar requirements on Japanese citizens.

Currently, the countries that have implemented or are planning to implement an ETA system include:

• • • Australia
    • Canada
    • New Zealand
    • South Korea
    • USA
    • United Kingdom (planned)
    • European Union (planned)

These systems generally involve a small processing fee, with validity periods ranging from 1 to 5 years or for the remaining validity of the passport, depending on the country.

According to The Sankei Shimbun, Japan’s proposed system, JESTA, is modeled after the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which was introduced for counter-terrorism purposes. The Japanese government plans to allocate research funding for JESTA in the 2025 budget, with the goal of implementing the system by 2030.

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