Designed as Japan’s equivalent of the U.S. ESTA system, JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization) will be a mandatory electronic travel authorization for nationals of countries that are currently visa-exempt for short-term stays in Japan.
In practical terms, affected travelers will be required to submit an online application prior to departure and obtain advance authorization in order to board transportation bound for Japan.
Without approval, boarding an aircraft or vessel may be denied. This “pre-departure screening” system is intended to strengthen upstream vetting while also automating and streamlining entry procedures into Japan.
This policy direction has been openly endorsed at the highest levels of government, as confirmed today by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
JESTA: a firm stance on undesirable entrants, easier entry for travelers “who pose no problems”
In her General policy speech delivered today at the opening of the 221st session of the National Diet, Sanae Takaichi clearly positioned the JESTA system within her broader strategy for national security and migration management.
Referring to the need to build “a society in which foreign nationals and Japanese citizens coexist in an orderly manner,” the Prime Minister emphasized that “illegal acts and rule violations committed by certain foreign nationals have created concern and a sense of unfairness among Japanese citizens.” At the same time, she stressed the importance of avoiding “a descent into xenophobia” and of protecting the vast majority of foreign nationals who comply with the law.
She also reaffirmed her strong commitment to promoting the “zero illegal migrants” policy.
Within this framework, she announced that her government will soon “submit a bill to establish the electronic travel authorization system ‘JESTA’ for short-term stays in Japan.”
She specified that the system “will prevent the entry of undesirable foreign nationals into Japan and facilitate entry procedures for visitors who pose no problems.”
The wording highlights the government’s dual objective: strengthening pre-entry screening while streamlining entry for compliant travelers.
JESTA: rollout expected by 2028 amid rapid growth in travel flows
JESTA will apply to nationals of the 71 countries and territories currently exempt from visa requirements for short stays in Japan, including:
- Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saint Marin, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay.
The confirmation comes as Tokyo pursues an ambitious goal of welcoming 60 million foreign tourists annually by 2030, while also confronting persistent challenges such as illegal employment, visa overstays, and lengthy refugee status determination procedures.
Originally planned for implementation in 2030, JESTA has now been moved up to 2028.
The system is expected to enable more centralized and efficient management of entry and exit data, amid Japan’s accelerating digital transformation of border control procedures.
According to several Japanese government and media sources, the JESTA authorization fee could be around 3,000 yen (approximately $20), a sum intended in part to cover maintenance and operational costs, although no official fee has yet been formally set.
