Japan Immigration News

Japan considering preimmigration screening for visitors from South Korea

Release Date: 2024-09-03
Media: KYODO NEWS
Summary: Japan is contemplating the introduction of a "preclearance" immigration system for visitors from South Korea, aimed at facilitating business and tourism exchanges by reducing wait times at airports. This initiative is in line with the upcoming 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic ties between Japan and South Korea and may be discussed in an upcoming meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Under the proposed system, Japanese immigration officers would be stationed at South Korean airports to allow travelers to complete most immigration processes before departure, thus speeding up entry procedures upon arrival in Japan. Additionally, South Korea is considering a similar preclearance system for Japanese visitors, which may involve accepting South Korean immigration officers in Japan.

The Japanese government plans to implement this preclearance system starting in January next year, following a successful trial run with Taiwan. Both countries previously employed a similar system during the co-hosted 2002 World Cup. Recent data indicates that Japan experienced a record high of 3.29 million foreign visitors in July, with 757,700 coming from South Korea, making it the second-largest group after China.
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