In May 2026 Japan passed the law that creates JESTA, an online travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors. Nothing changes for trips this year or next, and nobody can apply yet. Here is what the law means in practice, as of 22 October 2026.
By Mikako Yoshida ·Published 22 October 2026
What you need, by date of travel
| Travelling | Visa-exempt visitors need |
|---|---|
| In 2026 and 2027 | A valid passport, as now. JESTA is not running. |
| From fiscal year 2028 (April 2028 to March 2029) | JESTA approval before boarding, once the government sets the start date |
| After 31 March 2029 | JESTA approval: the law requires the system to start by then |
What has been decided
The law was passed on 29 May 2026 and promulgated on 5 June 2026. It covers visitors from the 74 visa-exempt countries and regions coming for a short stay, cruise passengers going ashore, and some transit passengers. Airlines will check approval before boarding and must not carry passengers the Immigration Services Agency has refused.
In August 2026 the Ministry of Justice asked for about ¥26.4 billion for fiscal year 2027 to build the system, and the Immigration Services Agency said JESTA will start within fiscal year 2028.
What is still open
- The start date
- The fee. Japanese media reported ¥2,000–3,000 being considered; nothing is official.
- How long an approval is valid
- The official website
Useful before you fly
Airport transfer when you have a lot of shopping bags
Luggage storage in Tokyo for the hours before an evening flight
Do not pay for JESTA now
There is no JESTA application yet. Any website that takes a JESTA application or payment today is not official. When the system opens, apply only on the website the Immigration Services Agency names.
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