Japan’s cabinet will next month table a bill to create an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system for citizens of 74 nations that currently enter visa-free, including Brazil. First reported by Nikkei and confirmed by Brazilian outlet Poder360 on 22 February 2026, the scheme would go live in the 2028 fiscal year and mirrors the US ESTA and forthcoming UK ETA models.
Brazilian tourists—who have enjoyed visa-free stays of up to 90 days since 2023—would need to register passport, occupation, itinerary and accommodation details online before boarding a Japan-bound flight. Airlines would be legally obliged to deny boarding to passengers without approval. An immigration-service fee (amount not yet fixed) would be payable at application.
Travelers who prefer hands-on guidance can streamline the new application through VisaHQ, which already facilitates electronic authorisations worldwide and will offer dedicated support for Japan’s ETA once regulations are finalised. Brazilian applicants will be able to complete the form, upload documents and track status in Portuguese via https://www.visahq.com/brazil/ making the transition to the new rules far less daunting.
![Japan Plans ESTA-Style Travel Authorisation Covering Brazil and 73 Other Visa-Waiver Countries]()
Tokyo’s justice ministry says the objective is to “prevent illegal overstay and strengthen background screening” while still facilitating tourism. The proposal comes amid mounting domestic pressure for tougher border controls, even as Japan courts foreign workers to offset an ageing workforce. Once implemented, arrivals will provide fingerprints and facial images at automated kiosks, a process that authorities say will reduce queue times after landing.
For Brazilian corporates operating in Japan’s automotive and food-processing sectors, the ETA will add a new compliance layer for short-term technical visits. Mobility advisers recommend integrating Japan’s forthcoming online portal into travel-booking workflows well before 2028 to avoid last-minute trip cancellations.
Although a four-year runway gives stakeholders time to adapt, Brazil’s travel trade is lobbying for a fee waiver to preserve the competitive edge of the existing visa-waiver deal. Negotiations are expected during the next Brazil-Japan Joint Committee meeting later this year.
Brazilian tourists—who have enjoyed visa-free stays of up to 90 days since 2023—would need to register passport, occupation, itinerary and accommodation details online before boarding a Japan-bound flight. Airlines would be legally obliged to deny boarding to passengers without approval. An immigration-service fee (amount not yet fixed) would be payable at application.
Travelers who prefer hands-on guidance can streamline the new application through VisaHQ, which already facilitates electronic authorisations worldwide and will offer dedicated support for Japan’s ETA once regulations are finalised. Brazilian applicants will be able to complete the form, upload documents and track status in Portuguese via https://www.visahq.com/brazil/ making the transition to the new rules far less daunting.
Tokyo’s justice ministry says the objective is to “prevent illegal overstay and strengthen background screening” while still facilitating tourism. The proposal comes amid mounting domestic pressure for tougher border controls, even as Japan courts foreign workers to offset an ageing workforce. Once implemented, arrivals will provide fingerprints and facial images at automated kiosks, a process that authorities say will reduce queue times after landing.
For Brazilian corporates operating in Japan’s automotive and food-processing sectors, the ETA will add a new compliance layer for short-term technical visits. Mobility advisers recommend integrating Japan’s forthcoming online portal into travel-booking workflows well before 2028 to avoid last-minute trip cancellations.
Although a four-year runway gives stakeholders time to adapt, Brazil’s travel trade is lobbying for a fee waiver to preserve the competitive edge of the existing visa-waiver deal. Negotiations are expected during the next Brazil-Japan Joint Committee meeting later this year.
