Were you planning to go to Japan to discover this magnificent country? Be careful, the requirements for setting foot there are going to change. While your passport was sufficient until now, there will be changes sooner than expected for nationals of 71 countries, including France.
Japan facing record tourist numbers in 2024
Japan is truly a land of legends that attracts millions of visitors every year. In 2024, the country welcomed 36.8 million foreign tourists. Inevitably, with such a large influx, particularly due to the weakening of the yen, the country's culture, and the Osaka World Expo, the Japanese population must face and endure the incivility of certain tourists. In addition, the Japanese government wants to further strengthen the fight against illegal immigration. Thus, the country has found the solution: JESTA.
Japan is inspired by the American ESTA with JESTA
This is the abbreviation for Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization or in French: Japanese electronic travel authorization system. This pre-clearance system will apply to all travelers who do not require a visa. It is, in a way, the Japanese equivalent of the American system, ESTA, implemented in 2009 for visiting the United States, or the British ETA.
As a result, all nationals of countries that benefit from a visa exemption, which includes France, will be required to apply for this electronic authorization before their trip. Travelers to Japan will need to provide information about their passport and the nature of their stay. The Japanese authorities will examine their situation before granting them this document. In total, 71 countries and territories will be affected by this new procedure. Until now, only presenting your passport to immigration officials was necessary.
JESTA will arrive sooner than expected
While the deployment of JESTA was initially planned for 2030, the Japanese government has decided to implement this procedure sooner than expected. As announced by Japanese Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki, JESTA is expected to be launched by the end of 2028. The government is "determined to take all necessary measures to ensure the introduction of JESTA by the end of fiscal year 2028." For the minister: "with the increase in the number of visitors to Japan, speeding up immigration controls is an urgent task."
For now, we do not know the cost or validity period of the JESTA. For information, to go to the USA, the ESTA costs $21 and is valid for 2 years. Japan should take a leaf out of these conditions.
While we wait to learn more, we invite you to discover what frustrates tourists the most when they go to Japan according to the Japanese government.
0 Comments