JP Tax Refund

Haneda Airport Terminal 3 · Photo: MaedaAkihiko (CC BY-SA 4.0)

JESTA: Japan’s coming travel authorisation

JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization) will require visa-exempt visitors to get approval online before travelling to Japan, much like the US ESTA. The law has passed; the system has not started.

On this page
  1. There is nothing to apply for yet
  2. Key facts
  3. How it is expected to work
  4. Who will not need it
  5. Questions
  6. Useful before you fly
  7. Related

There is nothing to apply for yet

As of 18 October 2026, JESTA is not running and there is no official application site. Any website offering JESTA applications now is not official. Japan will announce the start date and the official site before launch.

Key facts

  • Law: an amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, passed on 29 May 2026 and promulgated on 5 June 2026.
  • Start: on a date set by cabinet order, no later than 31 March 2029. The government has aimed for fiscal year 2028, which runs from April 2028 to March 2029.
  • Who: visa-exempt foreign visitors coming for a short stay such as tourism, cruise passengers going ashore, and some passengers changing planes or ships in Japan.
  • Fee: to be set by cabinet order; the amount has not been announced.
  • Validity: not announced yet.

How it is expected to work

  1. Apply online before you travel

    You submit your details, such as your passport information and the purpose of your trip, and the Immigration Services Agency checks them in advance.

  2. The airline checks before boarding

    The airline or ship company reports booked passengers to the agency. If the agency says entry is not appropriate, the company may not carry that passenger to Japan.

  3. Faster arrival

    Approved travellers who meet the entry conditions get no landing stamp in their passport; the record is kept electronically and walk-through gates are planned.

Who will not need it

People who already need a visa for Japan keep applying for a visa as before, and Japanese nationals are not covered. The detailed rules, including which transit passengers are covered, will be set before launch.

Questions

Do I need JESTA for a trip in 2026 or 2027?
No. JESTA has not started, and visa-exempt visitors enter Japan as they do now.
How much will it cost?
The fee has not been set. In parliament, officials compared similar systems such as the US ESTA and the UK ETA, but Japan’s amount will be decided by cabinet order before launch.
Is JESTA the same as Visit Japan Web?
No. Visit Japan Web is the existing service for immigration and customs forms on arrival, and for the online customs check for the tax refund at major airports. JESTA is a separate approval to get before you travel.

Useful before you fly

Related

Departure taxThe ¥3,000 tax included in your ticket out of Japan.Accommodation taxWhat hotels add per person per night.All taxes and feesEvery charge visitors pay, at a glance.