According to a Japanese news site, access to Japan’s outstanding attractions may require a little more management in the future.
From the chaotic intersections and neon signs of Tokyo to the magnificent botanical gardens and temples of Kyoto, a trip to Japan is on many travelers’ bucket lists for very good reasons.
However, according to Japanese news website The Sankei Shimbun, visitors to the UK may face an additional hurdle in the coming years as government officials consider a US-style e-visa system for nationalities currently exempt from tourism only with visa.
As of now (September 4, 2024), British citizens and holders of British National (Overseas) passports do not need to obtain a visa to enter Japan as long as the visit is 90 days or less. Visitors wishing to work and study in the country must apply for the relevant visas, but for many, entering Japan for UK citizens is a hassle-free experience.
Among other guidance for UK nationals traveling to Japan, it notes that “If you are visiting Japan, your passport must be valid for the period of your stay. No additional validity period is required. You need a blank page to stamp your visa.
However, this could change by 2030. According to a Japanese news website, “the government plans to introduce a system to check foreign tourists who are exempted from short-term visas for tourism and other purposes before they travel.”*
Currently, citizens of 71 countries are exempt from the visa requirement. These include the UK, US, Canada, Australia and much of continental Europe including France, Italy, Spain and Greece .
JESTA is the temporary name of the system that the government says will prevent illegal immigrants from countries who reside in visa-exempt countries but arrive in Japan and then use the refugee system to their advantage. The news site cites statistics that “of the 49,801 short-term residents currently residing illegally as of January 2014, more than 28,000 come from visa-exempt countries.”
The system is expected to mirror the Electronic Travel Authorization (ESTA) system used by the United States. It would require “foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries to declare their purpose of entry and destination electronically before travel… If there is a risk of an illegal stay, the travel authorization required for departure will not be granted and the person will be encouraged to obtain a regular visa.”
The proposed system would follow a trial system starting this fiscal year that requires airlines to send the names and information of Japanese arrivals to the Immigration Bureau when they go through boarding procedures.
