By the year 2030, tourists visiting Japan will need to apply for an electronic visa (e-visa), a process similar to the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The new system, tentatively named the Japan Electronic Travel Authorization (JESTA), is designed to help prevent tourists from overstaying their visas.
Who Will Be Affected?
This e-visa system will be mandatory for tourists from 71 visa-exempt countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and members of the European Union. Currently, visitors from these countries can enter Japan for up to 90 days without needing a visa.
Tackling Visa Overstays
Though visitors from these countries won’t need to apply for a full visa, they will face stricter screening measures. Japan’s goal is to reduce the number of tourists who overstay their visas. The Immigration Services Agency reports that around 79,000 people overstay their authorization in Japan, which is 20,000 more than ten years ago.
Data also shows that many of these overstayers come from visa-exempt countries. In 2014, out of approximately 50,000 short-term visitors who stayed illegally, 56% were from countries that did not require visas.
How JESTA Will Work
The JESTA system aims to better track tourists and identify those who might overstay. Travelers will need to submit their personal and travel information electronically before arriving in Japan, including details such as the purpose of their visit and their intended destination.
Japan’s Immigration Services Agency will review the submitted applications. If any concerns arise, those travelers will be instructed to apply for a formal visa at their nearest Japanese embassy.
Impact on Tourists
Japan has yet to announce the cost of applying for JESTA or how long the authorization will remain valid. For comparison, the U.S. ESTA costs $21 and is valid for two years or until the traveler’s passport expires.
The JESTA system is expected to be fully operational by 2030, with a trial period beginning in the near future. During this trial, airlines will be required to provide the Immigration Services Agency with details of all passengers traveling to Japan. These details will be checked against a blacklist, and passengers flagged for concern may be denied boarding.
Increased Global Scrutiny
Japan isn’t the only country tightening visa requirements. The European Union will implement its own electronic system, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), by May next year. This system will apply to travelers from over 60 countries and will cost €7 ($7.72) for a three-year validity period.
Similarly, the United Kingdom has started rolling out its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for travelers from seven visa-exempt countries, with plans to expand it further. The ETA costs £10 ($13) and is valid for two years.
Countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Korea also have similar e-visa systems already in place.
Japan’s upcoming JESTA system will follow a global trend of increased border security and will likely be part of broader efforts to better regulate international travel while managing the influx of tourists.