Japan Mandates JESTA for Visa-Free Travelers by 2029

Japan introduces JESTA, an electronic travel authorization system modeled after the U.S. ESTA, requiring visa-free visitors from 71 to 74 countries to submit online pre-travel details like passport info, travel dates, accommodation, and visit purpose. The Immigration Services Agency aims to launch it by March 2029, with pilot tests possibly starting in 2025, to curb illegal stays, bolster counterterrorism, and smooth entry for surging tourists. Short-term travelers, even from nations like the U.