Japan mulls abolishing face-to-face immigration checks amid tourism surgeAn airplane of Japan Airlines approaches to land at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Jan 5, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)The Japanese government is moving to abolish with the need for most foreign tourists to meet face-to-face with immigration officers to enter the country as it seeks to streamline entry procedures amid the inbound tourism surge. Doing away with in-person immigration checks to reduce airport congestion is rare by global standards, the agency said. Immigration officers would be stationed near the gates and could conduct face-to-face checks if they spot suspicious activity. The Integrated Kiosk is currently available at Narita, Haneda, Kansai and Fukuoka airports, with the agency planning to expand the system to more airports.

Source: Bangkok Post March 09, 2026 04:06 UTC