Japan to roll out electronic entry for 71 visa-free countries, including UAE
New system aims to pre-screen millions of short-term foreign travellers
DUBAI: Japan is transforming how visitors from visa-free countries, including the UAE, travel into the country.
A new system called the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA) will soon be mandatory for short-term visitors from 71 nations.
Originally planned for a 2030 rollout, the system is now set to be operational by fiscal year 2028 (April 2028 to March 2029), according to an announcement by Japanese Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki on April 23. The change is intended to strengthen border security, streamline entry procedures, and support Japan’s broader tourism ambitions.
The directive for accelerated implementation came from Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who stressed the need for improved travel management amid Japan’s efforts to attract 60 million foreign visitors annually by 2030. With increasing travel demand from countries like the UAE, Canada, Brazil, France, Austria, and New Zealand, Japanese officials aim to introduce a faster, more secure process for visitor entry.
Faster entry ahead
JESTA will function similarly to systems already in use in the United States (ESTA) and the United Kingdom (ETA). It will require visa-exempt travellers to fill out an online application providing personal details, travel purpose, and accommodation plans before departure. Once approved, the electronic authorisation will allow passengers to board their flights and enter Japan without the need for a visa.
The system will only apply to short-term stays, typically 90 days or less, for tourism or business purposes. Individuals from the included 71 countries who fail to obtain authorisation will not be permitted to board their flight to Japan.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Justice, this pre-screening mechanism is aimed at managing inbound travel more efficiently and identifying potential risks in advance. It will help prevent overstays and support responsible tourism by ensuring only authorised visitors enter the country.
Global rollout
The JESTA system will apply to nationals from the following visa-exempt countries: 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, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saint Marin, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.
Once the system is operational, millions of visitors from these countries will need to complete the electronic application before making their journey.
The goal to welcome 60 million tourists annually by 2030 represents a significant leap from pre-pandemic figures, which peaked at around 31.9 million visitors in 2019. In 2023 alone, Japan recorded over 25 million international arrivals, marking a strong recovery and indicating continued growth. To keep up with this surge, JESTA is expected to reduce processing time at airports, decrease congestion, and allow for more reliable background screening.
Travellers using JESTA will benefit from faster, more automated screening at Japanese entry points. The system is also expected to offer multilingual support and mobile-friendly access, ensuring it is user-friendly for a wide range of tourists.
The digital move aligns with Japan’s ongoing efforts to digitise government services and improve the international travel experience.