Japan Considers Eliminating Immigration Checks
Japan is considering abolishing face-to-face immigration checks amid a tourism surge, which could significantly streamline entry for international travelers and reduce wait times at major airports. Meanwhile, China is also streamlining entry procedures as visa-free arrivals surge, making both destinations more accessible.
Japan's move to streamline immigration is a direct response to a massive tourism boom, with the country welcoming a record-breaking 36.9 million international visitors in 2024, surpassing the pre-pandemic peak. The government has set an ambitious goal of attracting 60 million visitors by 2030 and aims to reduce entry times to as little as one minute. The country has been phasing in automated systems for years. Facial recognition gates were first introduced for Japanese nationals in 2017. More recently, foreign visitors departing the country have also been able to use these gates, which compare a live photo with the image stored in the passport's IC chip. A key part of the new efficiency drive is the rollout of "joint kiosks" at major hubs like Tokyo's Haneda and Narita airports, as well as Osaka's Kansai International Airport, in April 2025. These kiosks combine immigration and customs procedures into a single stop, requiring travelers to scan their passport and a QR code from the "Visit Japan Web" platform. Even with these new systems, wait times can still be significant, with current estimates at Narita International Airport ranging from under 20 minutes to as long as 40 minutes for visitors during peak times. The Immigration Bureau of Japan has a stated goal of keeping all immigration examination waiting times under 20 minutes. Looking ahead, Japan plans to implement the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA) by fiscal year 2028. This system will require pre-arrival online screening for travelers from all 74 visa-exempt countries and regions, similar to the ESTA system used by the United States. The shift to automated border control is a global trend, with an estimated 13,409 e-gates already installed in airports worldwide. Countries in Europe and Asia have been leading the adoption of these systems to improve efficiency and security as international travel rebounds. Dubai International Airport, for example, utilizes smart gates with facial and iris recognition that can process passengers in under 10 seconds.
