Independent travel authorization guide
An independent guide to electronic travel authorizations — ESTA, K-ETA, UK ETA, ETIAS and more. We do not process applications: every authorization is issued only by the government concerned, and you should apply only on the official government site.
Choose your destination →Fees shown are the official government fees only. Last verified on 28 September 2026.
Select the country you are traveling to. Each card shows the official authorization, its validity, the official fee and the typical processing time, with a link to our guide or to the official government page.
United States
ESTA / Electronic System for Travel Authorization
South Korea
K-ETA / Korea Electronic Travel Authorization
Japanese nationals are temporarily exempt until 31 Dec 2026.
Read the guide
United Kingdom
UK ETA / Electronic Travel Authorisation
European Union / Schengen
ETIAS / European Travel Information and Authorisation System
Not yet in operation. Expected to start in the last quarter of 2026; the exact date will be announced by the EU.
Official site ↗
Australia
ETA / Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601)
New Zealand
NZeTA / New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority
Canada
eTA / Electronic Travel Authorization (air travel only)
Japan
Visa-free short stays for many nationalities / JESTA planned
JESTA (electronic travel authorization) was created by a law promulgated on 5 June 2026 and is to take effect by 31 March 2029.
Official site ↗All values are taken from the official government sites and were last verified on 28 September 2026. Fees and rules change — always confirm on the official site before you apply.
Side-by-side comparison of the main electronic travel authorizations. "Who needs it" uses Japanese passport holders as the primary example.
| Destination | Authorization | Who needs it | Validity | Official fee | Processing time | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | ESTA | Japanese passport holders: yes (Visa Waiver Program). Generally: nationals of the 40+ VWP countries for stays of up to 90 days. | 2 years or until passport expires | USD 40.27 | Apply at least 72 hours before travel | esta.cbp.dhs.gov ↗ |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | K-ETA | Japanese passport holders: temporarily exempt until 31 December 2026 (voluntary application possible). Generally: visa-free nationals not covered by the exemption. | 3 years or until passport expires | KRW 10,000 (+ online payment fee) | Typically within 72 hours | k-eta.go.kr ↗ |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | UK ETA | Japanese passport holders: yes (travel on or after 8 January 2025). Generally: visitors who do not need a visa, including landside transit. | 2 years or until passport expires; stays up to 6 months | GBP 20 | Usually within a day; up to 3 working days | gov.uk/eta ↗ |
| 🇪🇺 EU / Schengen | ETIAS | Japanese passport holders: yes, once ETIAS starts. Generally: visa-exempt nationals travelling to the 30 European countries using ETIAS. | 3 years or until passport expires | EUR 20 (some exemptions) | Most within minutes; otherwise within 4 days (up to 14 or 30 days if more checks). Not yet in operation — expected last quarter of 2026. | travel-europe.europa.eu ↗ |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | ETA (subclass 601) | Japanese passport holders: yes (ETA-eligible passport). Generally: holders of ETA-eligible passports for tourism or business visits. | 12 months; stays up to 3 months each | AUD 20 (app service charge) | In most cases immediately | immi.homeaffairs.gov.au ↗ |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | NZeTA | Japanese passport holders: yes (visa waiver country). Generally: visa waiver nationals, cruise passengers and transit passengers. | 2 years; stays up to 3 months each | NZD 17 (app) / NZD 23 (web) + IVL NZD 100 | Allow 72 hours | immigration.govt.nz ↗ |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | eTA | Japanese passport holders: yes, when flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport. Generally: visa-exempt nationals arriving by air. | Up to 5 years or until passport expires | CAD 7 | Most within minutes; some take several days | canada.ca/eta ↗ |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | Visa-free / JESTA (planned) | Nationals of visa-exemption countries and regions can enter for short stays without a visa. JESTA pre-authorization is planned but not yet in operation. | Stay period by nationality (see official site) | No fee (visa-free entry) | Not applicable yet — JESTA to take effect by 31 March 2029 | mofa.go.jp ↗ |
Last verified on the official government sites: 28 September 2026. Official fees only — no service fees are involved when you apply on the official site. Values may change without notice.
The details differ by country, but the process on every official government site follows the same four steps.
Confirm on the official site that your nationality, purpose of travel and length of stay qualify for the electronic authorization rather than a visa.
Have a valid passport (usually an e-passport), a credit or debit card for the official fee, and an email address you check regularly.
Use only the government site or its official app linked on this page. Enter your details exactly as they appear in your passport and pay the official fee.
Wait for the approval email before you travel and keep it with your reference number. Most authorizations are linked electronically to your passport.
Many websites imitate government services and charge far more than the official fee, sometimes without submitting anything. The official fees are listed above and are the only amounts the governments charge. Check that the address ends in the official government domain (for example .gov, .go.kr, .gov.uk, .europa.eu, .gov.au, .govt.nz, .canada.ca, .go.jp) before entering any personal or payment details.
Recent changes announced on the official government sites. Each item links to its source.
Japan: law creating JESTA, an electronic travel authorization, promulgated
The amended Immigration Control Act creating JESTA was passed on 29 May 2026 and promulgated on 5 June 2026. The JESTA provisions take effect on a date set by cabinet order, no later than 31 March 2029. Immigration Services Agency of Japan ↗
United States: ESTA fee is now USD 40.27
According to the official ESTA FAQ, the fee increased from USD 40.00 to USD 40.27, with the system update effective 1 January 2026. ESTA official FAQ ↗
South Korea: K-ETA temporary exemption extended to 31 December 2026
The Ministry of Justice extended the temporary exemption for the currently exempt countries and regions, including Japan, from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026 (KST). Exempt travellers may still apply voluntarily, in which case the fee is charged. K-ETA official notice ↗
European Union: ETIAS expected to start in the last quarter of 2026
Under the revised timeline endorsed by EU home affairs ministers, the Entry/Exit System is being rolled out first and ETIAS is expected to follow in the last quarter of 2026. The EU will announce the exact date several months in advance. The fee is set at EUR 20. European Commission ↗ · Official ETIAS site ↗
United Kingdom: ETA required for Japanese nationals and other non-European visitors
Nationals of Japan, the United States, Australia, Canada, South Korea and other listed countries need a UK ETA for travel to the UK on or after 8 January 2025. Immigration Rules Appendix ETA National List ↗
New Zealand: International Visitor Levy raised to NZD 100
The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), paid together with the NZeTA, increased from NZD 35 to NZD 100 from 1 October 2024. Immigration New Zealand ↗
No. Global Travel Center is an independent information guide operated by a private company in Japan. We have no connection with any government. Only the government bodies themselves issue travel authorizations and visas, and all official application sites are linked on this page.
No. We do not accept, prepare, submit or review applications, and we do not collect any fees. Apply directly on the official government site for your destination — that is the only place your application is processed, and you pay only the official fee.
A visa is a formal permission, usually issued by an embassy or consulate, often requiring documents and sometimes an interview. An electronic travel authorization (ESTA, K-ETA, UK ETA, ETIAS, NZeTA, eTA and similar) is a lighter pre-travel screening for nationals who do not need a visa for short visits: you apply online, pay a small fee and are usually approved within minutes to a few days. An ETA does not guarantee entry — the final decision is always made by the border officer on arrival.
As soon as you start planning, and before you buy non-refundable tickets. Official guidance is to apply at least 72 hours before departure for ESTA, to allow 72 hours for K-ETA and NZeTA, and to allow up to 3 working days for UK ETA. Applications that need extra checks can take longer (for example up to 30 days for ETIAS if an interview is required).
A refusal of an electronic travel authorization does not stop you from travelling — it usually means you must apply for a regular visa at the embassy or consulate of that country instead. First check whether the refusal was caused by a simple data error (a mistyped passport number can often be corrected by re-applying where the official site allows it). Official fees are generally non-refundable, and reasons for refusal are given only by the government concerned.
No, not at the moment. According to the official K-ETA notice of 23 December 2025, the temporary exemption for the currently exempt countries and regions — including Japan — has been extended from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026 (KST). Japanese nationals can enter South Korea without a K-ETA during this period. Travellers who want the benefits of an approved K-ETA (such as not filling in an arrival card) may still apply voluntarily; the fee is then charged. Check the official site for the rules after 31 December 2026.
