Japan to Impose Fees on Visa-Exempt Travelers in 2028

Fees mirror U.S. ESTA ($40) to secure funds for education, tourism

Currently, South Koreans visiting Japan for short-term stays such as tourism can enter without a visa and do not need to pay visa fees, but starting in 2028, they are expected to pay fees under an online pre-registration entry screening system.

The Japanese government plans to impose fees for the Electronic Travel Authorization System for Japan (JESTA), which it is pushing to introduce in 2028, similar to the U.S. system, the Asahi Shimbun reported on the 18th.

JESTA is a system similar to the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which is implemented for foreigners seeking to visit the U.S. for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days without a visa, and is also referred to as "Japan's version of ESTA."

Travelers from visa-exempt countries must submit their names, purpose of stay, and other information online before entry. If there are concerns such as potential illegal stays, they will not be granted permission and will be required to obtain a visa.

The fee is planned to be set with reference to the U.S. ESTA level (40 dollars). This is part of a plan to secure financial resources from incoming foreigners, as fiscal demands are increasing due to free high school tuition, but additional tax revenue is difficult to secure, the Asahi reported.

In fact, Japan is considering raising the "International Tourism Passenger Tax," currently collected as an exit tax at 1,000 yen (approximately 9,450 Korean won), to between 3,000 and 5,000 yen (approximately 28,000-47,000 Korean won) next year. It also plans to increase visa issuance fees, which have been frozen since 1978.

Multiple sources said the Japanese government is planning to secure additional financial resources of around 300 billion yen (approximately 2.8 trillion Korean won) by increasing the financial burden on foreigners.