Japan To Require ESTA for Visa-Exempt Travelers
How you travel to Japan will change in the next decade. The country says it’s creating an ESTA system for visa-exempt travelers.
In the next decade, you may need an ESTA equivalent to enter Japan. By 2030, the Immigration Services Agency will have a screening system to ensure illegal travelers and potential overstayers never set foot in the nation.
Japan’s ESTA coming by 2030
The Japanese government has finalized plans for a Japanese-style Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). It’s modeled after the United States Customs and Border Protection system to ostensibly bar illegal workers and terrorists from entering.
Foreign visitors who are visa-exempt will be subject to the plan. It’s set to go into effect by 2030 — by which time Japan is projected to reach 60 million inbound tourists.
People entering with short-term visa exemptions will have to submit an electronic application before entering Japan. In addition to the applicant’s legal name and date of birth, they must answer questions about the reason for entering Japan…
