Japan plans to change entry rules for visa-free travelers from 2030

Japan has announced changes to the country's migration policy and the introduction of a new electronic registration system, JESTA. The system is currently under preparation and is projected to be implemented by 2030.

JESTA will function similarly to the European ETIAS program and the U.S. ESTA system, and will replace digital arrival cards. The system will be introduced for the 71 countries whose citizens can currently visit Japan without a visa, including Germany and other European countries. The rules and time limits for staying in Japan will remain unchanged.

Moreover, the pre-registration system will make it much easier to pass through the border checkpoint upon arrival in the country. The JESTA permit will be valid for several years, eliminating the need to re-register for each visit. At this time, the government has not announced possible registration fees, as the system has only been submitted for consideration.

Japanese authorities note that the new JESTA system is focused on preventing visa violations, as well as improving the comfort and safety of the registration process for foreign nationals. Thus, if the electronic registration process reveals a violation of the visa-free period, the applicant may be denied entry or require visa processing.

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