The dream of traveling around Japan without the hassle of obtaining a visa may soon fade. The country, known as one of the world's top tourist destinations, is set to tighten entry requirements for foreign visitors.
The visa-free policy, which has long been a draw for tourists from 71 countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand, is reportedly about to be revised. Previously, the policy allowed travelers to explore Japan for 14 to 90 days, depending on their passport.
New Travel Authorization System
The government's plan to implement a new travel authorization system reflects Japan's efforts to tighten control over foreign arrivals. Under the system, visitors from visa-free countries will be required to submit personal information online before entering the country.
The policy aims to reduce the number of visitors who overstay their authorized stay. If a visitor is deemed at risk of overstaying, they will be required to obtain a regular visa.
The policy is expected to take effect in 2030 and will apply to all visa-free countries.
Objectives and Implementation
The Japanese government plans to implement a new temporary travel authorization system called JESTA, similar to the U.S. ESTA system, which was designed for anti-terrorism purposes. This system will require visitors from visa-exempt countries to submit personal information online before entering Japan, similar to the way ESTA verifies visitors' eligibility to enter the United States.
Beginning in 2030, JESTA will require visitors to declare their purpose of visit and place of residence online before traveling. If an application is deemed at risk of inadmissibility, the visitor will not be granted travel authorization and will be advised to obtain a regular visa through the local embassy.
Comparison with Current Systems
Currently, international airlines submit passenger information after takeoff, allowing visitors who fail the screening process to still arrive in Japan. In addition, even if they are ordered to leave the country, many do not comply.
According to government data, abuse of this system is quite high - of the 49,801 short-term illegal visitors recorded in January 2016, more than 28,000 were from visa-waiver countries.
The JESTA system is expected to address this issue by requiring visitors to submit personal information online before their trip, and by assessing the risk of illegal stay before they enter Japan.
