As tourism Japan surged previous to (and since) the coronavirus pandemic, it’s develop into an more and more widespread expertise to attend an hour or longer to clear immigration on the nation’s predominant airports. This may be annoying should you’re staying in Tokyo or the Kansai area, however downright disruptive should you’re certain for factors farther afield.
The dangerous information? Japan to this point stays immune to the kiosks that now allowed expedited entry (for holders of sure passports) which have popped up in international locations from Australia to Singapore.
The excellent news? If you happen to can leap via the hoops of enrolling within the Japan Trusted Traveler program, getting into Japan will develop into an ideal deal much less painful.
What’s the Japan Trusted Traveler Program?
Launched quietly in 2016, the Japan Trusted Traveler program permits overseas vacationers to make use of the automated entry gates that Japanese residents and residents have all the time (nicely, no less than since stated gates had been launched) been in a position to make use of. It units out quite a lot of classes that, if a overseas vacationers falls into a number of, can qualify her or him for this system, which additionally requires the cost of a small price.
From the attitude of American vacationers, the TTP (to which it’s typically abbreviated) can appear to be World Entry, even when the know-how is a little more static. For instance, whereas World Entry kiosks within the early 2020s enable certified vacationers to enter the US solely utilizing biometric imaging—in principle, a passport isn’t even vital—Japan’s Trusted Traveler gates are to this point a bit much less subtle.
Steps for Changing into a Japan Trusted Traveler
Fill out the appliance
The step to becoming a member of Japan’s Trusted Journey Program, unsurprisingly, is making use of on-line right here. As the appliance kind specifies, it is advisable to “high quality” underneath sure standards, with the commonest being that you’re a member of World Entry, or that you simply had a “Platinum” bank card, such American Categorical Platinum. You additionally should be a frequent Japan traveler, with no less than two journeys taken previously six months.
Go main inspection
When you’ve accomplished your software for the Japan Trusted Traveler program—make certain to double- and triple-check your software, as any errors will lead to automated rejection—wait to be permitted. Relying on processing hundreds, this may take as little as a pair weeks and so long as a pair months.
Come to Japan
You’ll want to come back to Japan inside six months of the date that you simply go main inspection as a way to full the method. Observe that you simply’ll must current documentation at the moment (your World Entry card; your Platinum bank card) and likewise, cost for the price (¥2,220 as of November 2023), however not in money—extra on that in a second.
Undergo secondary inspection
As soon as in Japan, the ultimate step of the Japan Trusted Traveler program software is passing the secondary inspection, which could be performed both at arrival immigration at main airports like Haneda, Narita and Kansai, or on the immigration workplace close to check-in space A of Haneda’s departure foyer.
Learn the fantastic print
As talked about above, the Japan TTP price cost isn’t in a position to be carried out in money—you need to pay with income stamps. You may solely buy these when you’re in Japan (at any put up workplace), so if you wish to do the secondary inspection upon entry, purchase these the following time you’re in Japan, even when it’s earlier than you begin making use of.
Japan TTP vs. APEC Enterprise Journey Card
If you happen to’re a frequent traveler within the Asia-Pacific area (notably should you journey for enterprise), you might have already got the APEC Enterprise Journey Card, typically abbreviated to ABTC. This enables you expedited entry to the immigration queue in Japan, and whereas it’s not a kiosk, presents the identical pace of entry into the nation as membership in TTP does. There’s one other distinction, nevertheless, which might make TTP enrollment worthwhile.
The Japan Trusted Traveler card is authorized ID in Japan, which signifies that having one exempts you from the requirement to hold your passport with you always. (You say you didn’t know this was necessary? Properly, now you do.) Whereas this would possibly appear to be a small profit, for me it presents a variety of peace of thoughts. For instance, I clearly by no means carried my passport whereas exercising (and thus chanced being “caught”); now I now not want to fret.
Different FAQ Concerning the Japan Trusted Traveler Program
Is Japan a part of World Entry?
Japan is a part of World Entry within the sense that Japanese vacationers who meet sure standards can use World Entry kiosks when getting into the US. Since 2016, American vacationers enrolled in World Entry have been in a position to register for Japan’s Trusted Traveler program (which has similarities to World Entry, however not fairly as handy) on a reciprocal foundation.
How do I expedite entry to Japan?
For nonresident foreigners, there are two primary methods to expedite entry into Japan, as of November 2023. The primary is to enroll within the Japan Trusted Traveler program, which is actually Japan’s reply to World Entry within the US. The second is to acquire an APEC Enterprise Traveler Card, which is accessible to frequent enterprise vacationers within the Asia-Pacific area.
What’s the income stamp for Japan Trusted Traveler Program?
One of the vital tedious facets of enrolling in Japan’s Trusted Traveler Program is the requirement to pay the price (¥2,220 as of November 2023) in income stamps. Identified in Japanese as shūnyū inshi (収入印紙), these stamps could be bought in money at any Japan Submit outlet, the place no less than one member of workers ought to be capable to communicate English.
The Backside Line
It could be an exaggeration to say that the Japan Trusted Traveler program will change your life, however it should make it quite a bit simpler, no less than till Japan permits for common automated entry. Certainly, I encourage you to not let the cumbersome enrollment course of dissuade you from becoming a member of. The advantages of getting a Trusted Traveler card far outweigh any annoyance you’ll encounter signing up for it, which if I’m trustworthy is extra tedious than it’s tough. Wish to make certain your subsequent journey to Japan is ideal—I imply, after you’ve shortly cleared immigration at Haneda or Narita? Then I hope you’ll contemplate commissioning a customized Japan itinerary!