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Travellers from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and more will be required to declare their details using JESTA when it is launched.
Japan is tightening its borders with a new travel authorisation system, designed to screen visitors before they even board a plane. ModelLed after the US Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), this online check aims to curb illegal immigration and ensure only those with clear intentions enter the country.
According to an article by Japan Today, airlines currently provide passenger information after takeoff, leading to situations where travellers who fail screening still arrive in Japan. With JESTA — Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, foreign nationals from 71 visa-exempt countries will need to declare their entry purpose and place of stay online.
If flagged as a potential risk, the individual will be denied entry into Japan and will be advised to obtain a visa via their local embassy.
As cited by Japan Today, the government has shared that of the 49,801 illegal short-term visitors recorded in January 2016, more than 28,000 came from visa-exempt countries and regions.
JESTA is expected to be fully implemented by 2030, with initial trials starting in the current fiscal year. Per the coverage, a separate system will also be introduced to check passenger information against a "blacklist" of individuals before boarding, preventing those flagged from traveling to Japan.
Below is the list of visa-exempt countries and regions that will be required to declare their details using JESTA when it is launched:
- 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
Further details on the application process and requirements will be released closer to the launch.
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