JESTA: Japan’s coming travel authorisation
JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization) will require visa-exempt visitors to get approval online before travelling to Japan, much like the US ESTA. The law has passed, but the system has not started. Checked against the Immigration Services Agency on 22 October 2026.
There is nothing to apply for yet
As of 22 October 2026, JESTA is not running and there is no official application website. Any website taking JESTA applications or payments now is not official. This page only explains the system; it is not an application service.
What is decided and what is not
| Status on 22 October 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Law | Passed on 29 May 2026 and promulgated on 5 June 2026 as Act No. 32 of 2026 |
| Start date | Not announced. To be set by cabinet order, no later than 31 March 2029. The government aims for fiscal year 2028, from April 2028 to March 2029. |
| Who needs it | Visa-exempt visitors on a short stay. 74 countries and regions are currently visa-exempt. |
| Fee | Not announced. Japanese media reported in December 2025 that ¥2,000–3,000 was being considered. The government has not decided. |
| Validity | Not announced. |
| Official website | Not announced. |
Who will need it
- Nationals of the 74 visa-exempt countries and regions coming for a short stay, such as tourism, business meetings or visiting family
- Taiwanese passport holders, who are visa-exempt under a separate law
- Cruise passengers going ashore on a sightseeing landing permit
- Some passengers changing planes or ships in Japan; which ones will be decided before launch
Who will not need it
People who need a visa for Japan keep applying for one as before, and Japanese nationals are not covered.
How it is expected to work
Apply online before you travel
Officials told the Diet that applicants would give details such as their name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, the purpose of the trip, where they will stay and for how long. The final list has not been published.
The airline checks before boarding
Airlines and ship companies report passengers when a ticket is issued. If the Immigration Services Agency says a passenger should not enter Japan, the company must not carry them.
Arrival without a passport stamp
Approved travellers who meet the entry conditions will not get a landing stamp in their passport; the record is kept electronically, and walk-through gates are planned.
The fee
The fee will be set by cabinet order and charged when you apply. In the Diet in April 2026, officials said no amount had been decided and compared similar systems: about ¥6,000 for the US ESTA, about ¥2,000 for Australia’s ETA, about ¥1,100 for Korea’s K-ETA, and just over ¥3,000 for the UK ETA and the EU’s ETIAS.