ニュース
Cabinet Approves Bill to Establish JESTA, Japan's New Electronic Travel Authorization System
2026年3月16日 14:16
- announced on March 10, 2026
On March 10, the Japanese Cabinet approved a bill to amend the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, a move that includes the establishment of the "Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization," or JESTA. This new system is designed to strengthen immigration control for foreign nationals visiting Japan.
In 2025, approximately 38.46 million new short-term visitors entered Japan for purposes such as tourism. Of these visitors, 80% were from visa-exempt countries and regions, meaning they were not required to obtain a visa from a Japanese embassy or consulate before their trip.
The current immigration system faces two key challenges. First, even when strict landing examinations at the border successfully deny entry to travelers intending to overstay illegally, significant effort and expense are required for the deportation process if an individual becomes an illegal overstayer after entering the country. Second, the growing number of new arrivals has led to increasingly long waiting times for landing examinations.
JESTA is the Japanese version of electronic travel authorization systems already in place in other countries, such as the United States' ESTA. Under the new system, visa-exempt travelers visiting for tourism or other short-term purposes will no longer undergo their first screening upon arrival in Japan. Instead, they will be required to submit their information online to obtain authorization from the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) *before* departing for Japan. This pre-departure authorization will be a prerequisite for travelers to be issued tickets and to board their aircraft or vessel.
On the other hand, the system aims to expedite the post-arrival process. The use of technologies like walk-through gates will streamline immigration clearance by omitting the need for landing permission stamps in passports, thereby reducing wait times.
JESTA will be mandatory for the following groups:
* Foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries visiting for short-term stays, such as for tourism.
* Travelers arriving by cruise ship who are landing for sightseeing.
* Individuals entering Japan temporarily to transit to another ship or aircraft.
Carriers, including airlines and cruise lines, will have new obligations. When issuing tickets, they must report passenger information, such as the traveler's name, to the ISA Commissioner within a designated timeframe. If a carrier is notified that a passenger is deemed ineligible for entry, they must deny boarding to that individual. Violators will be subject to fines.
By making JESTA a condition for landing, the government aims to tighten immigration control by prohibiting the entry of foreign nationals who have neither a JESTA authorization nor a visa. A fee will be charged for processing each JESTA application.
