Starting in 2028, Japan will implement pre-arrival screenings for visitors entering without a visa as part of an initiative to increase the yearly number of tourists to 60 million, which would be twice the present amount.
The updated system, inspired by the United States’ Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), intends to simplify the immigration procedure, according to statements from the Justice Ministry cited by the report.
Kyodo News
.
In 2024, Japan saw an all-time high of 36.87 million international tourists, marking a 47% rise compared to the prior year.
In the suggested framework, individuals coming from nations eligible for brief visa waivers would need to provide travel and personal data—including their identities, reasons for visiting, and lodging specifics—at least a few days prior to arriving, as stated.
The Mainichi
newspaper.
The Immigration Services Agency of Japan will pre-review the submitted information. Passengers who have a criminal background or have previously overstayed in Japan might not be allowed to boarding flights heading to the nation, according to the ministry.
As stated by the Foreign Ministry, citizens from 71 countries and territories, such as the United States and South Korea, can currently enter without needing a visa for short stays.
