The Japanese government has announced it’s plans to introduce a travel authorization system, tentatively called JESTA, which would require visitors to provide personal information in order to enter the country.
According to preliminary reports, the JESTA system would be similar to the United States’ ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). The Japanese JESTA would screen visitors prior to entry via the online system and require visitors to declare the purpose of their visit, and where they are staying while in the country.
Travelers from the 71-visa exempt countries will be required to use JESTA when it’s implemented: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.
The government has noted that the implementation of the JESTA system would deter visitors from visa-exempt countries and regions from staying beyond the valid visa period, between 14 and 90 days.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
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