Key Takeaways
• Japan’s JESTA prescreening begins fiscal 2028 for visa-exempt travelers from 71 countries.
• Travelers must submit personal details online and receive approval before boarding flights to Japan.
• JESTA aims to streamline border entry, improve security, and help reach 60 million annual tourists by 2030.
Japan is preparing to change how short-term visitors from visa-exempt countries enter its borders. By fiscal year 2028, the country will roll out a new prescreening system, known as JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorisation). This move comes as Japan strives to balance its growing appetite for tourism with concerns about safety and efficiency at the border.
Japan’s plan moves up its earlier schedule in response to a recent boom in international tourism. In 2024 alone, the country welcomed 36.87 million foreign tourists—a record and a huge jump of 47% from the previous year. The government has set a bold target: to welcome 60 million visitors every year by 2030.
But with this rapid growth come challenges. High numbers of international arrivals can cause bottlenecks at airports, raise questions about who is entering the country, and make border security a more complex task. That’s where the new JESTA prescreening system comes in.
What Is JESTA? How Will the New Prescreening System Work?
The prescreening system being introduced uses digital technology, aiming to make the border crossing smoother for most travelers while also strengthening security.
Here’s how it will work:
– All travelers who currently enjoy visa-free entry from 71 countries and regions—including big tourism sources like the United States 🇺🇸, South Korea 🇰🇷, Canada 🇨🇦, Australia 🇦🇺, Singapore 🇸🇬, and many countries across Europe—must use the JESTA system.
– These travelers will have to fill out an online application before they even board a plane to Japan 🇯🇵.
– They’ll be asked to provide basic personal information, such as their name, purpose of the trip, places they plan to visit, where they will stay, and other related details.
– The application must be submitted several days before travel, giving officials time to review the information.
The Immigration Services Agency of Japan 🇯🇵 will then screen the details provided. If something stands out—for example, if the applicant has a criminal record or has stayed illegally in Japan before—the system can flag this, and the traveler might be denied permission to board their flight.
Let’s break down each part of the process so it’s clear:
- Pre-Trip (Online Application): Instead of just showing up with a passport, visa-exempt travelers will complete an electronic form on JESTA. The process borrows from systems like the United States’ ESTA and the UK’s ETA. (You can see the official Japanese immigration page for current information here.)
- Screening Before Boarding: Japanese officials will review all submitted forms. If your application is approved, you can board your plane. If not, you’ll know in advance and won’t be allowed to start your journey.
- Arrival in Japan 🇯🇵: Those approved via JESTA can expect a faster border crossing, since most of the basic checks are already finished.
Why Is Japan 🇯🇵 Creating a Prescreening System Like JESTA Now?
Japan’s move mirrors steps taken by other countries. For example, after security concerns rose worldwide after 2001, countries like the United States 🇺🇸, Canada 🇨🇦, and Australia 🇦🇺 started their own pre-approval systems for visa-free visitors. Now, Japan wants to apply the same model.
Here are the main goals behind this change:
- Managing Growing Tourism: With nearly 37 million tourists in 2024 and plans for much more, Japan has to process huge numbers of guests smoothly. A digital prescreening system helps spot possible problems early and manage airport crowds better.
- Boosting Security: By knowing who wants to enter Japan before they even arrive, the country gains more control. Border staff can focus more attention on travelers flagged by the system.
- Easier Entry for Most Visitors: For travelers who apply and are cleared ahead of time, entry at the border should be less stressful and much quicker. Long lines could become a problem of the past for those who have prescreening approval.
Who Will Be Affected by JESTA?
Japan’s JESTA system covers travelers from 71 countries and regions that currently enjoy visa-free entry for short trips. These include:
- The United States 🇺🇸
- South Korea 🇰🇷
- Canada 🇨🇦
- Australia 🇦🇺
- Singapore 🇸🇬
- Most countries in Europe 🇪🇺
This means business travelers, tourists, and those visiting family or on short stays will need to plan ahead by completing the JESTA application before heading to the airport.
If you are a citizen of a country that already needs a visa for Japan 🇯🇵, your process will remain the same; this new rule does not change your steps.
What Information Must Travelers Submit?
Applicants will need to provide several pieces of information:
- Full name (as on their passport)
- Date of birth and nationality
- Passport number
- Reason for visiting Japan 🇯🇵 (tourism, business, etc.)
- Expected places they will visit (for example, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka)
- Accommodation details (name and address of hotel, or where they’ll stay)
- Other basic travel-related information
All of this should be shared on the online form a few days before travel. Japanese officials will then review the forms and either approve or reject the travel.
If you have a criminal record, past immigration offenses, or have previously overstayed in Japan 🇯🇵, your application may be rejected and you’ll be told not to fly. The aim is to stop problems before visitors even board their plane.
Pros and Cons for Travelers
Japan’s new prescreening system offers several potential benefits, but it also brings a few challenges for visitors. Here’s a simple breakdown:
Positive Effects:
– Faster entry at Japanese borders. If your trip is approved in JESTA, most of your documents are already checked before you land. So, immigration lines should move quicker.
– Early warnings. If there’s a problem with your application, you’ll know before you travel. This reduces the risk of flying to Japan only to be turned away at the airport.
– Safer borders. The government expects to catch those who shouldn’t enter before they fly, improving safety for everyone.
Potential Challenges:
– Added steps before travel. Visitors now have to fill out an online form and get approval before leaving, which they didn’t have to do before.
– Less room for last-minute travel. If you tend to book a flight on short notice, waiting for JESTA approval might get in the way.
– Privacy questions. Sharing travel details and personal information online always brings up privacy concerns, even if the system is designed to protect data.
While some travelers might find the extra online step bothersome, many will likely appreciate the faster arrivals and early answers about their eligibility.
How Will Airports and Border Officials Be Affected?
For Japanese authorities, the benefits are clear. With much of the vetting process done online and before flight boarding, border officials can focus their time and attention on a smaller number of travelers who need closer checks.
- Staff at airports should face smaller crowds and faster-moving lines.
- Manual paperwork and face-to-face questions will go down, since most travelers’ information will already be in the system.
- Officials will have more time to handle unusual or complicated cases—those flagged by JESTA as possibly risky.
What About Privacy and Security?
Anytime a government asks for more personal details, privacy becomes part of the conversation.
Japanese authorities say the JESTA system will use secure technology to hold and protect applicants’ information. Still, as with any new system, some travelers will want extra reassurance about how their data is managed.
Japan has promised to follow best global practices, learning from other countries’ electronic travel systems. The goal is to protect visitors’ data just as carefully as they protect the country’s borders.
What’s the Timeline for JESTA to Begin?
The government intends to have the JESTA prescreening system ready during fiscal year 2028. In Japan 🇯🇵, the fiscal year runs from April to the following March, so the system could start anywhere between April 2028 and March 2029.
There is a chance that small-scale tests of JESTA will begin before the main launch. This should help the government fix any technical problems and make improvements based on user feedback.
In the future, Japan 🇯🇵 may expand use of digital tools, making the border-crossing process even more automated and possibly removing most manual checks. For now, though, prescreening via JESTA is the main next step.
How Does This Fit with Japan’s Tourism Goals?
Japan’s new prescreening system isn’t just about security. With millions of visitors arriving each year, the country needs smart ways to manage visitor flows.
By acting early—reviewing details before guests even arrive—the government hopes to reach its big target: 60 million foreign visitors every year by 2030. Faster arrivals make Japan more attractive for tourists and business, while stronger screening boosts safety for both visitors and residents.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, similar systems in other countries have helped speed up entries at airports, stopped people with criminal backgrounds from taking flights, and increased confidence among travelers who receive early approval.
JESTA Compared to Other Countries’ Systems
- The United States 🇺🇸 uses ESTA, an online form travelers must fill out before visiting visa-free.
- The UK has the ETA, a digital travel authorization for visa-waiver visitors.
- Australia 🇦🇺 runs ETA and eVisitor programs, both online checks before border arrivals.
- Canada 🇨🇦 uses ETA for most air travelers without a visa.
All these countries, like Japan 🇯🇵, invite millions of foreign guests and depend on prescreening to maintain traffic flow and border safety.
What Should Visitors Do Next?
If you plan to visit Japan after 2028 and come from a visa-exempt country, you should:
- Make sure you have a reliable internet connection to apply for JESTA a few days before traveling.
- Gather all the needed information, like hotel details and your passport.
- Wait for your JESTA approval before booking non-refundable flights or accommodations, in case your application is delayed or denied.
Keep an eye on official updates from the Japanese Immigration Services Agency as the launch gets closer.
Summary
Japan’s JESTA prescreening system marks a new chapter for visa-free travel to the country. By asking most short-term visitors to apply for travel authorization online before departure, the country aims for a safe and smooth way to welcome more tourists every year. While this means filling in an online form and waiting for approval—a shift from the old “just show up” system—the benefits include quicker arrivals, fewer surprises at the airport, and a safer experience for all. The country’s continued focus on tourism growth means more digital tools and even simpler processes could be ahead, but for now, JESTA stands as a major evolution in the way travelers will experience Japan.
With careful planning and timely application, most visitors will find Japan just as inviting as before—maybe even more so, with shorter lines and a clearer path to enjoy everything the country has to offer.
Learn Today
Prescreening System → A process that screens travelers’ information before they enter a country, enhancing security and border efficiency.
Visa-Exempt → Status allowing citizens of certain countries to enter Japan for short stays without obtaining a visa beforehand.
JESTA → Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, an online approval required for visa-free travelers before boarding flights to Japan.
Fiscal Year → A twelve-month accounting period; in Japan, it starts in April and ends the following March.
Immigration Services Agency → The Japanese government agency responsible for managing border control, visa policies, and foreign nationals’ entry.
This Article in a Nutshell
Japan introduces JESTA, a digital prescreening system for visa-exempt travelers, launching fiscal 2028. Applicants from 71 countries must apply online before travel, providing personal and trip details. JESTA increases security and efficiency, supporting Japan’s goal of 60 million visitors annually by 2030 and ensuring smoother border entry for most guests.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• Japan Eyes Visa Changes as International Ski Tourism Reaches New Heights
• Japan’s New e-Visa System to Launch Sooner Than Planned
