Japan Immigration News

Nishiyama Immigration Service
> Japan Immigration News

Japan considers obliging airlines to deny boarding without JESTA

Release Date
2026-02-25
Media
Japan Times
Summary
Japan is preparing a bill to revise the Immigration Control Law that would introduce stricter pre-entry screening through the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA) and significantly increase immigration-related fees. Under the proposal, airlines and shipping companies would be required to submit passenger information in advance and refuse boarding to foreign nationals who have not obtained JESTA authorization or whose applications have been rejected. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to ¥500,000.

JESTA is scheduled for introduction in fiscal 2028 and will apply to short-term visitors from visa-free countries, who accounted for about 80% of the 38.46 million short-term visitors to Japan in 2025. Japanese nationals and foreign residents will be exempt. The system is intended to streamline airport procedures through advance screening while strengthening immigration control and preventing overstays.

The bill also proposes substantial increases in immigration application fees to reflect rising administrative costs. Fees for renewing periods of stay or changing residency status could rise from the current maximum of about ¥10,000 to as much as ¥100,000, while permanent residence applications could cost up to ¥300,000, depending on the length of stay.
Tags
Landing Examination

News Articles including "Landing Examination"

Released on
Article Title
Tags
2026-02-26
Japan Eyes Introducing Prescreening System for Foreign Travelers, Raising Limits on Residence Status Fees(Japan News)
Landing Examination
2026-02-25
Japan considers obliging airlines to deny boarding without JESTA(Japan Times)
Landing Examination
2026-02-23
Japan to Expand Entry Screening and Raise Visa Fees(Unseen Japan)
Landing Examination
2025-06-19
Japan plans speedier pre-arrival immigration system(TTG Asia)
Landing Examination
2025-05-21
Japan, South Korea to Establish Priority Immigration Lanes(JIJI PRESS)
Landing Examination
2025-05-19
Exclusive immigration checkpoints with Japan to start in June(KOREA.net)
Landing Examination
2025-05-06
Visitors to Japan troubled by congestion and immigration procedures(NHK)
Landing Examination
2025-04-25
Visa Screening for Foreign Nationals Moved Up to 2028(JAPAN Forward)
Landing Examination
2025-04-23
Japan to introduce new authentication system to strengthen immigration checks(NHK)
Landing Examination
2025-03-25
3 Japan airports to use unified gates for immigration, customs checks(KYODO NEWS)
Landing Examination
2024-09-15
Japan eyes automated airport immigration for foreign arrivals(NIKKEI Asia)
Landing Examination
2024-09-03
Japan considering preimmigration screening for visitors from South Korea(KYODO NEWS)
Landing Examination
2024-08-09
Japan: a new preclearance system for foreign travelers in 2025(VisasNews)
Landing Examination
2024-07-19
Japan to speed up entry process as tourist wave hits new record(Japan Times)
Landing Examination
2024-04-10
Japan Immigration Eyes Prescreening Visa-Free Travelers; New System Would Resemble U.S. ESTA Program(Japan News)
Landing Examination,Temporary Visitor
2024-02-19
Japan aims to shorten entry time for foreign arrivals to one minute(NIKKEI Asia)
Landing Examination
2024-01-26
Japan to launch electronic immigration entry stands at Tokyo’s Haneda airport(Japan Today)
Landing Examination
2023-12-22
Japan to simplify immigration, customs checks at airports(NHK)
Landing Examination