Japan plans to change visa-free travel rules for travelers from 71 countries by introducing a new travel authorization system. Find out when they plan to approve the new system, how entry rules will change and what requirements are relevant in 2024

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Japan has announced a decision to introduce a new entry system for visa-free travelers from 71 countries. JESTA's new travel authorization system will require travelers to register online. The main goal of the move is to reduce illegal stays and improve border security by making entry into Japan more regulated and safe.

JESTA is the Japanese version of the ESTA system in the US and ETIAS in the EU

It is already planned that the JESTA system in Japan will work according to the principle of ESTA in the USA and ETIAS in the EU. Travelers from visa-free countries will need to fill out a special online form before entering Japan and receive a confirmation that will need to be shown when crossing the border.

The main goal is to reduce illegal stays in the country by screening travelers from visa-free countries before they enter Japan. Currently, stays of 14 to 90 days are allowed, but many visitors overstay. The Japanese government hopes the new system will help identify potential risks before these people even board their flights.

How will the JESTA system work?

JESTA will require visitors from visa-exempt countries to declare their purpose of entry. A person identified as a potential risk traveler will be denied permission and advised to apply for an official visa through the local embassy. This information will be verified by the Immigration Service Agency.

When is JESTA planned to be implemented?

The Japanese government plans to start implementing the JESTA system already this year. In particular, a trial system is expected to be launched under which airlines will send passenger information to the Immigration Service Agency. They, in turn, will cross-check data with a blacklist of travelers, including those with a criminal record or other security concerns, which will allow airlines to deny boarding to flagged passengers.

It is predicted that JESTA will be fully operational only by 2030.

Countries with visa-free travel to Japan

It will be necessary to register in the JESTA system for travelers who are citizens of countries that have a visa-free regime with Japan, these are representatives of the following 71 countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brunei, Brazil, 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, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Great Britain, USA and Uruguay.

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Rules for visa-free travel to Japan in 2024

If you are a citizen of one of the visa-exempt countries listed above and are traveling for a short-term purpose, you can only travel to Japan if you have:

- A passport that must be valid for at least six months after the move and have at least two blank pages for entry/exit stamps.

- Confirmed return ticket.

- Insurance policy.

However, please note that if you are traveling under the visa-free regime, you cannot work or engage in any paid activities in Japan. In addition, you cannot apply for an extension of stay or obtain another type of visa in Japan. To do this, you must apply for an appropriate long-term visa from your country before your trip.

Japan's new travel authorization system aims to tighten border controls and ensure that visa-free visitors follow entry rules. Of course, the main goal of implementing JESTA is to improve safety for both Japan and visitors. However, the system can also create some problems for travelers who are used to traveling without a visa, including longer checks at the border. It will be possible to speak more precisely about this only after the full launch of JESTA.

We will remind you! We have already told you that after numerous postponements and revisions, it is predicted that the new system of entry and exit to the European Union EES (Entry-Exit System) will become operational already in October-November 2024. It will become part of the new policy of safe entry to the countries of the region, which will be supplemented by the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) next year.