Japan Advances JESTA Electronic Travel Authorisation System for 2028 Launch

The Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (JESTA) will become mandatory for certain visa-exempt foreign nationals.

Unlike some existing systems, JESTA will require a new application for each separate entry into Japan. The government has scheduled the system to launch during the Japanese fiscal year 2028, which ends on 31 March 2029.

Immigration officers will have the option to omit physical landing permission stamps from passports for eligible JESTA holders. Instead, travellers will receive entry details via email and can access their immigration status through the JESTA portal. This change necessitates revisions to Japan's tax-free shopping procedures, which currently rely on these physical passport stamps. The legal framework for JESTA was promulgated on 5 June 2026, with provisions taking effect by March 2029.