JESTA FAQ: Answers About Japan’s Travel Authorization

JESTA is the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (電子渡航認証制度). It is a planned online check that visa-exempt foreign visitors will complete before travelling to Japan. It was created by Act No. 32 of 2026 and is not required yet. Read the full explanation of what JESTA is.

No. JESTA is not required today. The provisions take effect on a date set by Cabinet Order, no later than 31 March 2029. Until then, visa-exempt visitors follow the current Japan entry requirements, with no travel authorization needed. Your passport, purpose of stay and permitted length of stay are what matter for now.

No exact date has been announced. The government aims to launch JESTA in fiscal year 2028, which runs from 1 April 2028 to 31 March 2029. This target was brought forward from an original 2030 plan. Our JESTA launch date page shows the full timeline.

No. The official English name is the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or JESTA. “Japan ESTA” and 日本版ESTA are media shorthand inspired by the US system. Officially, Japan says it will refer to several foreign systems, including those of the US, UK, EU, Canada, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, not just one.

Visa-exempt foreign nationals visiting Japan for a short stay, including Taiwan residents; cruise passengers landing for sightseeing; and some transit passengers. Japan currently has 74 visa-exempt countries and regions on MOFA’s list, including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and all EU states. See who will need JESTA for details on each group.

No. JESTA is for travellers using Japan’s visa exemption. A valid visa meets the landing conditions on its own, so visa holders are outside JESTA’s scope. Japanese nationals are not covered either. If a JESTA application is refused, the traveller can apply for a visa instead and travel with it.

No change has been announced. JESTA is a pre-travel check, not a new visa. Visa-exempt stays are usually up to 90 days (30 days for Brunei and Qatar, 15 days for Indonesia and Thailand). Paid work is not allowed on a visa-exempt stay, and that rule is not changing either.

The amount has not been announced. The law says a fee will be charged when applying and when receiving authorization, set by Cabinet Order. The ISA quoted foreign fees in the Diet only as comparisons. Any JESTA price you see online is not official.

Not announced. The ISA’s official summary says authorization is given “each time of a new entry”. It has not explained how this will work in practice, so claims that JESTA lasts two years like ESTA have no official basis. Processing time has not been announced either.

Online, before you travel. Planned data items include your name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, purpose of trip, place of stay and length of stay. The final list is not fixed. The form is planned to be multilingual. Read how JESTA will work for the full planned process.

No. There is no official JESTA application website yet, and no pre-registration exists. The government has said the official site is expected to use a go.jp address. Do not enter passport or payment details on sites offering JESTA today; they are not official.

Airlines will check your approval before boarding. In Japan, approved travellers will use a kiosk for fingerprints and a photo, then a walk-through gate, with no passport stamp. You will also need to submit your ED card through Visit Japan Web to use the gate.