Japan's Kishida Cabinet: Tightening Entry Controls for Foreign Tourists, Implementing Pre-Travel Electronic Certification System
The Japanese government passed an amendment to the "Act on the Control of Immigration and Recognition of Refugees" in a cabinet meeting on March 10, introducing an electronic travel certification system called "JESTA" for foreign tourists who are eligible for visa exemptions. The system requires relevant individuals to submit entry-related information online before traveling. This measure aims to identify potential risks of illegal stay through online information submission, further tighten immigration management, and is planned to be implemented officially by the fiscal year 2028.
Currently, people from 74 countries and regions, including South Korea and the United States, can enter Japan under the short-term stay visa exemption policy. However, some individuals enter Japan as tourists but do not leave on time, leading to cases of illegal stay. The Japanese government has been researching measures to address this issue.
At present, after foreigners arrive in Japan, the Immigration Bureau obtains information about incoming passengers from airlines. After the implementation of the JESTA system, foreigners will need to fill out passport information, purpose of stay, accommodation location, and other details online before traveling. The Immigration Bureau will verify whether the information is fabricated or if there are any records of previous illegal stays. If no issues are found, they will issue an electronic certificate. Those who do not obtain the certificate will be prohibited from entering Japan.
Foreigners who obtain the certificate can be exempted from having an entry stamp on their passport upon arrival. A handling fee will be charged for the certification process. In recent years, the growing number of foreign tourists visiting Japan has led to congestion at immigration checkpoints, and the Japanese government hopes that this measure will improve customs efficiency.
Additionally, the amendment mandates that transportation companies such as airlines must report information about foreigners who have booked flights to the Immigration Bureau. If the Immigration Bureau does not approve the person's entry, the airline must prohibit them from boarding. Companies that violate these regulations will be fined.
According to data from the Immigration Bureau, the total number of foreign visitors to Japan reached approximately 39.18 million in 2025, setting a new record high; among them, about 38.46 million were approved for short-term stays, accounting for 98%, with eight out of ten of these people enjoying visa exemptions.
Significant Increase in Fees for Foreigners' Residency Procedures
The amendment to the Immigration Act also significantly increased the fees related to the renewal of residency qualifications for foreigners living in Japan, with the additional revenue used for policies supporting foreigners.
The current fee structure is as follows: 6,000 yen for processing changes in residency status and renewal of stay duration, and 10,000 yen for applying for permanent residency. Since the current law sets the upper limit of these fees at 10,000 yen, the amendment proposes to significantly increase the upper limit: the handling fee for changes in residency status and renewal of stay duration will be raised to 100,000 yen, and the upper limit for applying for permanent residency will be set at 300,000 yen. The actual amount collected will be determined within the limit later.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859263163515017/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.