The system would apply to travellers from countries and regions that currently enjoy visa-free short-term entry to Japan. Applicants would be asked to declare details such as the purpose of their stay, with the information used as a basis for screening decisions before entry is approved.
Kyodo News reported that the programme, tentatively named “JESTA”, is still under development, with the government studying fee levels and how the revenue would be used. Japan is expected to record more than 40 million inbound visitors this year for the first time, and officials believe the system could generate a stable source of administrative income once in place.
The primary aim of the new mechanism is to prevent individuals from entering Japan under the guise of tourism to engage in terrorism or illegal employment, the report said. To provide a legal foundation for the programme, the government plans to submit a bill to amend the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act during the next ordinary session of the Diet.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, Japan has drawn reference from similar pre-travel authorisation systems already in place in countries such as the United States and Canada, where travellers are typically charged fees ranging from around ¥1,000 to ¥6,000 (about US$7–US$40). Within the Japanese government, one proposal suggests that proceeds from the screening fees could be used to fund emergency support for foreign visitors in the event of natural disasters.
