In 2028, Japan plans to introduce pre-arrival screenings for visitors who do not require visas with an aim to increase the number of tourists to 60 million annually, 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 system, visitors from nations eligible for brief visa waivers would need to provide travel and personal data including their identities, reasons for visiting, and lodging specifics a few days prior to arriving, as stated.
The Mainichi
newspaper.
The Japanese Immigration Services Agency will pre-review the submitted information. Passengers who have a criminal background or have previously overstay their visas in Japan might face rejection from boarding aircraft destined for the nation, according to the ministry.
As stated by the Foreign Ministry, residents from 71 countries and territories, such as the United States and South Korea, can presently enter without needing a visa for short stays.
