To prevent terrorism and illegal work, the Japanese government has decided to pre-screen certain foreign travellers, with the project resembling the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) introduced in the United States.
Travelers exempted from short-term visa requirements will have to submit an electronic application before entering the country, which must include their name, date of birth, reasons for entering Japan, and address of accommodation, among other things, VisaGuide.World reports.
Japan is a popular destination for tourists, and by 2030 when this measure is scheduled to be implemented, will receive 60 million tourists.
Prescreening Applicable to All Foreign Visitors Without Short-Term Visa Requirements
Those entering Japan for business purposes will have to state the name of their business partners while those seeking medical care, have to reveal the hospital where they will be treated. Tourists will have to list the travel agency if they are using one.
Japanese immigration officers will review the application, while airlines will allow boarding to only applicants with approved applications.
Starting in April, the new measures will apply to passport holders in 71 countries and regions in the world, and this system aims to filter out illegal entries before the plane lands in Japan.
Rise in Foreigners Overstaying Their Visas Is Threatening Japan’s Tourist-Friendly Reputation
The Japanese authorities have revealed that until the beginning of 2024, the country has recorded some 79,000 cases of foreigners overstaying their visas, with 62.9 percent of them being short-stay visa holders. The data from the Immigration Services Agency shows that these cases have grown by 20,000 compared to a decade earlier.
However, the Japanese government wants to maintain its tourist-friendly country reputation, which is looking to further improve by exempting more nations from short-term visa requirements.
For nationals of those countries with visa exemptions permitting stays of up to 6 months under the bilateral visa exemption arrangements, those who wish to stay in Japan for more than 90 days are required to apply for an extension of the period of stay to the Ministry of Justice (Regional Immigration Bureau) before the period of permitted stay is to expire.
The majority of countries in the European continent can stay in Japan for up to 90 days on a short-term visa. The new measures can make Japan a more attractive destination for travellers.
On the other hand, Japan enables its citizens to have visa-free access to many countries. As of April 2024, Japan’s passport is the 14th strongest in the world. According to the Passport Index, the Japanese passport allows visa-free travel for its citizens to some 143 countries.