Tourists entering Japan from 74 countries will be exempt from face-to-face immigration checks

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• The new system will apply to travellers from 74 countries and regions currently exempt from short‑stay visas.
  
• Arriving visitors will complete immigration and customs procedures via the Integrated Kiosk system at major airports.
  
• Japan also plans to accelerate the dual-pricing scheme that charges tourists higher fees at selected attractions and transport services.

Japan is preparing to introduce a new entry system that would allow most foreign tourists to enter the country without meeting immigration officers face-to-face, Kyodo News reported.

According to the report, the Immigration Services Agency plans to rely on traveller data submitted through a new online pre-travel screening system known as the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (JESTA).

Scheduled to launch in fiscal 2028, JESTA will require visitors to declare their travel purpose and other information online before travelling. Immigration authorities will then grant or deny entry permission in advance, with individuals suspected of potential overstaying to be denied boarding at their departure point itself.

Upon arrival, travellers will undergo fingerprint and facial photo collection through the Integrated Kiosk, a digital tablet that processes both immigration and customs checks. If no issues are detected, such as a previous record of overstaying, visitors will be permitted to proceed directly through the automated gate to enter the country.

Immigration officers will remain stationed near the gates and can conduct face-to-face inspections if any irregularities or suspicious behaviour are observed.

The Integrated Kiosk system is currently available at Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and Fukuoka airports, with plans to expand to additional airports in the future.

The new automated clearance procedure will apply to visitors from the 74 countries and regions that are currently exempt from short-stay visas, including Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. (Full list here)

Japan’s entry streamlining measures come amidst a surge in inbound tourism, which reached a record 42.7mnn foreign visitors in 2025. The government aims to attract 60mn visitors by 2030.

At the same time, inbound tourism surge rises concerns about ‘over-tourism’. Local media, citing Japanese news reports, said the Japanese government is moving to expand its dual-pricing system, or two-tier pricing, by 2031, under which foreign tourists would pay two to three times more than local residents for certain attractions and transportation services. The measure aims to offset the increasing costs of maintaining tourism related infrastructure and services.

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