Japan

Japan is gradually preparing for the introduction of JESTA, its future electronic travel authorization system for certain visa-exempt travelers. Expected to launch during fiscal year 2028, the program is beginning to take shape: travelers should need a new authorization for each new entry, some visitors may no longer receive an entry stamp in their passport, and Japan’s tax-free shopping procedures will need to be adapted to this shift toward digital immigration records.

Japan will sharply increase its visa issuance fees starting July 1, 2026. The single-entry visa fee will rise from 3,000 to 15,000 yen, while multiple-entry visas will now cost 30,000 yen.

Japan’s Parliament has passed a reform creating the legal basis for the future JESTA system. The electronic authorization will eventually apply to visa-exempt travelers visiting Japan for short stays.

The Japanese government has approved a bill aimed at reforming several provisions of the country’s immigration legislation, including the creation of the “JESTA” electronic travel authorization system. Presented to the House of Representatives, the text also provides for a significant increase in the legal ceiling for fees related to residence permits, marking the first revision in more than forty years.