Hi I'm Meg from Tokyo in this video I'll share 10 important entry rules you should know before entering Japan there are many things to prepare for when traveling to Japan I will cover the new duty-free system starting in April 2025 how to avoid crowds when entering the country and the taxes you need to be aware of when returning home from Japan we also offer private tours in Tokyo Osaka and Kyoto if you interested please contact us through the link below additionally I have recently launched a membership program check out the link below in the same
way all right then let's go number one Japan's Esta system the Japanese government has decided to fully introduce the Japanese version of Esta also known as Jesta by 2030 I've covered this information in my previous video but I'm sharing it again because it's very important this new system requires travelers from Visa exempt country to register their personal information online before departure specifically they must declare their purpose of Entry name passport details place of stay and information about any business partners or travel agencies they will use to the immigration Bureau upon the introduction of Jesta Travelers
will be able to enter Japan smoothly without direct contact with immigration inspectors which is expected to significantly reduce waiting times at the same time Jesta aims to strengthen immigration screenings by identifying in advance individuals who may be involved in terrorism or crime thereby reducing the risk of illegal stays additionally Japanese prime minister Ishiba recently stated in the diet that Jesta will be introduced as soon as possible raising the possibility that its implementation could occur earlier than 2030 number two visit Japan web B Japan web is a service that facilities entry into Japan by allowing travelers
to pre-register online for immigration custom declaration and currant procedures although it is possible to enter Japan without using this service the Japanese government recommends pre-registration there are three main advantages first it eliminates the need to fill out the customs declaration form provided on Board second it reduces wait times by allowing travelers to skip man customs declaration counters third it simplifies airport procedures by enabling travelers to enter the necessary information before their trip the ability to skip long lines at Customs counters is a significant Advantage especially during busy travel periods and has been well received by
Travelers an official manual is available to help guide users smoothly through the procedure to provide a brief summary of the registration process first prepare a smartphone or computer and enter personal and passport information along with the flight number of the plane you will be taking during Immigration and Customs declaration officials will check personal details criminal records and whether the traveler has been denied entry in the past additionally Travelers can register their quarantine information in advance and answer questions about their health condition if someone is unable to complete the procedures themselves such as an infant up
to 10 accompanied family members can be registered furthermore travelers from countries that require visas to enter Japan can link their visa information in advance to streamline the process visit Japan web does not have a dedicated mobile application registration must be completed through the website however it is possible to save information offline after registration number three changes in tax exemption system I've introduced changes to the tax exemption system several times in my previous videos but this time I will explain them more clearly in Japan a 10% consumption tax is imposed on all Goods except food stuffs
but foreign tourists are exempt from this tax if they purchase more than a certain amount however this tax exemption system will undergo major changes starting in November 20126 one of these changes will take effect earlier in April 2025 because the current system has been misused for Customs fraud six major changes to the tax-free system one elimination of separate shipment for tax-free Goods starting from April 2025 this change may not significantly impact those who correctly use the duty-free system under the current system people who buy duty-free Goods can send them overseas later for example using a
mailing service however this option will be completely abolished in April 2025 that said if merchandise purchased at a duty-free store is shipped directly overseas by the store via a carrier it will still qualify as duty-free two introduction of a duty-free refund system starting from November 2026 this change will make tax-free shopping less convenient for tourists currently foreign tourists can purchase Goods at duty-free stores without paying the 10% consumption tax upfront however starting in November 2026 a refund system will be introduced first tourists must pay the full price including tax at the time of purchase then
the tax will be refunded later after Customs checks the goods upon departure from Japan since the refund will be issued only after Customs verification this measure aims to prevent fraudulent purchases however it is less convenient for tourists as they will need to pay more upfront and wait for their refund three removal of the maximum purchase limit for duty-free items starting from November 2026 this is a positive change for tourists currently there is a 500,000 Yen per day limit on purchasing consumable items such as Cosmetics food and medicine after November 2026 this limit will be removed
allowing tourists to buy as much as they like four elimination of special packaging starting from November 2026 currently duty-free stores in Japan seal tax-free items in special transparent packaging to prevent use in Japan from November 2026 this packaging requirement will be eliminated making it easier for retailers but requiring tourists to be careful not to open tax-free items before leaving Japan five shortening of the time limit to take duty-free goods out of Japan starting from November 20 26 currently tourists must take tax-free Goods out of Japan within 6 months of purchase after November 2026 this period
will be reduced to 90 days six mandatory registration of serial numbers for high value items starting from November 2026 this rule is unlikely to affect most tourists currently there are no specific regulations for high value items from November 2026 any item costing 1 million yen or more before tax must have its serial number and other details registered in the purchase record these changes make the tax exemption system more complicated number four faster entry system if you visit Japan more than once a year there is a program you should know about the trusted traveler program this
program allows frequent visitors who are considered low risk for immigration purposes to use automated gates for entry and exit eligibility is limited to certain individuals such as Americans enrolled in the US global entry program short-term business Travelers and tourists with a platinum rank credit card or higher along with their family members additionally applicants must never have been denied entry to Japan must not have a criminal record and must hold a passport from a Visa exempt country how does it work once registered participants know longer need face-to-face screening by immigration inspectors and can smoothly pass through
automated gates at Major international airports in Japan how to apply one online application applicants must first enter the required information online and submit certified documents two initial screening after arriving in Japan they must undergo the usual immigration screening three secondary screening at a designated registration location in the airport applicants must provide fingerprints and a photo four issuance of registrant card if approved a registrant card is issued allowing the applicant to use automated gates for those who qualify this program significantly reduces waiting times and immigration checkpoint making travel to Japan smoother and more convenient to check
your eligibility visit the official website from the link below number five prohibited items if you accidentally bring these items into Japan you might have to pay a FY or to be denied entry as mentioned in my previous videos there are four main categories of items that require special attention the first is food including meat products vegetables and fruits the second is counterfeit Brand Products the third is fur and accessories made from certain animals such as crocodiles tigers and leopards the fourth is narcotics which require prior approval even if they are for medical use recently an
increasing number of homemade food items brought from abroad have been confiscated during baggage inspections while sealed canned foods are allowed other processed foods are prohibited if they contain meat vegetables fruits or eggs so extra caution is needed for example beef jerky a popular American souvenir cannot be brought into Japan if you are unsure whether certain items can be brought into the country check the official website in advance number six possible increase in departure tax the departure tax is a 1,000 yen per person tax charged when leaving Japan regardless of nationality introduced in 2019 the tax
is currently used to promote tourism to Japan and improve tourism infrastructure however with the rapid increase in foreign visitors in recent years over tourism has become a problem in many areas as a result the Japanese government is considering expanding the use of tax revenue as well as raising the tax amount currently proposals to increase the tax to 3,000 yen or 5,000 yen are being discussed in comparison Egypt and Australia have departure taxes of approximately 3,750 Yen and 7,000 yen respectively which the Japan government is using as a reference for further discussions number seven purchase suica
if you travel in Japan by train or bus suica and pasmo are indispensable both function essentially the same way with the only difference being they operating companies so it does not matter which one you choose these IC cards not only facilitate smooth travel but also offer convenience by supporting cashless payments at convenience stores and restaurants in addition they are compatible with all major transportation systems in Japan eliminating the need to purchase tickets this is especially convenient for those visiting Japan for the first time in June 2023 sales of suica and pasmo were temporarily suspended due
to a semiconductor shortage then in September 20124 sales of the registered suica which requires personal information for registration res assed while this was great news the name registered system requires additional steps and takes more time to issue finally starting in March 2025 sales of the non-registered suica will resume making it easier to purchase at airports station ticket vending machines and convenience stores the non-registered suica is especially convenient for tourists and short-term visitors as it does not require personal information further enhancing its ease of use SAA is an IC C that is particularly popular among tourists
check out another video for more details number eight possible increase in Chinese tourist the Japanese government has announced Visa relaxation measures for Chinese tourists which are expected to increase the number of visitors from China on December 25th 2024 Japan established a new 10-year tourist visa for Chinese Nationals this is expected to increase the number of repeated visitors and expand tourism options in Japan China has also reintroduced a short stay Visa exemption for Japanese passport holders extending the period of stay from 15 to 30 days this will facilitate smoother travel between China and Japan and may
increase tourism demand not only in major tourist destinations but also in Regional areas the rise in tourist from China a country with 1.4 billion people will boost Japan's tourism industry however Japan will need to improve Hospitality services and take steps to manage overcrowding number nine introduction of free clearance system Japan doesn't yet have a permanent pre-clearance system however it was tested for a short time at Taiwan's Tao Yuan International Airport in February 2025 in this system an immigration officer from Japan checks passports takes photos and collects fingerprints in the departure Airport's waiting area before boarding
this process allows part of the Japanese immigration inspection to be completed before departure thus reducing the time required for inspection upon arrival and streamlining immigration procedures the program was available to visitors traveling to Japan on specified flights to 13 airports operated by four Taiwanese Airlines it applied with regardless of nationality as long as the duration of stay was 90 days or less for short visit this initiative was initially limited to Taiwan which has a high number of visitors to Japan however discussions have recently been underway between Japan and South Korea regarding the potential introduction of
the system it remains unclear how widely the pre-clearance system will expand to other countries but further implementation is expected in the future number 10 digital Nomad Visa Japan's digital Nomad Visa was introduced on April 1st 2024 this program allows foreigners who work remotely under contract with a foreign company to stay in Japan for up to 6 months the Visa applies to positions such as it and software development digital design online secretarial work and management of foreign companies it is specifically designed for remote work and does not permit employ M with a Japanese company applicants must
be Nationals of approximately 50 countries and territories that can enter Japan without a Visa including the United States Germany and South Korea additionally they must have an annual income of at least 10 million yen and submit a tax payment certificate along with proof of income furthermore applicants are required to have private medical insurance that covers more than 10 million yen for medical treatment related related to injury or illness although working for a Japanese company is not allowed this Visa presents an excellent opportunity to experience life in Japan that's all for today don't forget to subscribe
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