When you’re planning to travel to a foreign country, you may or may not have some red tape to get through before you visit. Some countries are easy to get to; just buy a plane ticket and go. Others make the process more difficult, and you have to complete paperwork (or computer work) for a visa or a visa waiver, sometimes before you get there, or sometimes upon arrival at the country.
Your visa or visa waiver specifies how long you can stay in the country. But even when you go to a country that doesn’t require a visa or visa waiver, you’re still only allowed to stay for X amount of time (the X will vary, depending on what country you’re from and where you’re visiting).
Japan has been one of the easiest countries to visit, with no visa or visa waiver required for citizens of 71 countries (including the United States). Unfortunately, some people took advantage of that and stayed in Japan illegally for much longer than they were allowed.
Japan’s Immigration Services Agency has recently said that an estimated 79,000 people have overstayed their authorization in Japan, which is around 20,000 more than a decade ago. They also say that, using their 2014 statistics, 56% of those who stayed longer were those from visa-exempt countries.
So, in an effort to identify and block those travelers who attempt to overstay their welcome, Japan plans to introduce an e-visa system. It’s tentatively going to be called their JESTA system.
What is JESTA?
JESTA (short for Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization [and not to be confused with Gundam-related Jesta]) would be Japan’s version of our Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which is a visa waiver system required of the citizens of 40 countries outside the US.
Like the American version, JESTA would screen would-be travelers from visa-exempt countries before they entered Japan. The main objective of this system would be to prevent illegal immigration by identifying individuals with potential risks before they arrive in Japan.
How would it work?
JESTA would be a visa waiver program similar to others around the world. Under the JESTA system, travelers from the 71 visa-exempt countries (including the US) would have submit their travel details online, before departure to a Japanese airport. Details would include their purpose of entry and intended place of stay. Japan’s Immigration Services Agency will then screen the information the would-be traveler had submitted. If any red flags are raised, including the possibility of the risk of overstaying (how would they determine that, save for doing it in the past???), travelers could be denied the electronic travel authorization. However, if that were the case, they could be advised to apply for a formal visa through their local Japanese embassy.
Japan’s goal is for JESTA to be fully operational by 2030. However, before JESTA is fully implemented, they would introduce a trial system, date unknown, that would cross-reference passengers’ information against a file of blacklisted travelers. Airlines would then be asked to refuse boarding of these passengers (because that will go over really well, LOL).
How much would it cost?
No idea; they haven’t said. But if they’re modeling it on our ESTA, that costs $21 and is good for 2 years, or the expiration date of the traveler’s passport…whichever comes first.
What are the 71 countries whose citizens would need to get a JESTA?
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lesotho
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Panama
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Republic of Korea
- Romania
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Türkiye
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
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