Japan Passed an Immigration Amendment: Fee Changes by 2027, ESTA-Style Screening by 2029

Japan has passed a major immigration-law amendment, but the practical start dates are not the same: fee-related changes must start by March 31, 2027, while the new JESTA electronic travel authorisation system must start by March 31, 2029. The exact effective dates will be set later by Cabinet Order.

Who's affected

Two groups should watch this closely.

First, people already in Japan — or planning a medium- to long-term stay — who will deal with residence procedures such as status changes or related applications. The official law page flags amendments concerning fees for permission to change status of residence and other procedures.

Second, short-term visitors who may eventually be covered by Japan's new JESTA system, an electronic travel authorisation framework. The official page confirms the system is being created, but it does not yet say who must use it, how to apply, how much it will cost, or when applications will open.

What changes

The amendment covers two headline areas:

• changes to fee rules for immigration residence procedures, including permission to change status of residence; and
• creation of JESTA — 電子渡航認証制度, Japan's electronic travel authorisation system.

This is not just a policy idea anymore. The bill was enacted and promulgated as law. The missing piece is implementation: Japan still needs Cabinet Orders setting the actual enforcement dates.

The catch

Do not treat June 5, 2026 as the date JESTA starts. That was the promulgation date — the date the law was officially published.

The operating dates are later:

• fee-related amendments: sometime on or before March 31, 2027;
• JESTA amendments: sometime on or before March 31, 2029.

Also, the official page does not provide the application opening date for JESTA. It only gives the legal deadline for the provisions to come into force.

What you should do now

If you are planning a status-change or other residence procedure in Japan, budget with some flexibility. The fee rules are scheduled to change by a Cabinet-order date no later than March 31, 2027, but the official page does not list the new fee amounts.

If you are a visa-exempt or short-term traveller, do not assume your entry process is unchanged forever — but also do not panic. JESTA is legally on the way, yet the official page does not announce who must apply, the application method, or the filing start date.

The practical move is simple: before any Japan trip or immigration filing, check the latest Immigration Services Agency notice for the Cabinet-order enforcement date and operational guidance.

Sources: Immigration Services Agency — Bills submitted to the 221st Diet Special Session

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