Visa-free travel across North and Southeast Asia is quietly turning into "visa-free, but register first." Japan has passed a law creating JESTA, an online pre-departure authorization for visa-exempt visitors due in fiscal 2028. South Korea's temporary waiver of its K-ETA authorization for travelers from 22 places, including Hong Kong, expires on Dec. 31. Thailand has required a Digital Arrival Card from every foreign visitor since May 2025.

For executives who hop between Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul and Bangkok, the practical change is timing. Forms that used to be filled in on the plane, or not at all, now have to be done online before departure, and in Japan's case a missing approval will mean no boarding pass.

Japan's JESTA: approved, not yet running

Japan's cabinet approved a bill amending the country's immigration law in March, The Standard reported, and the Diet enacted it on May 29 at a plenary session of the House of Councillors, according to Jiji Press.

The law sets up the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization, modeled on the U.S. ESTA. Visitors from visa-exempt countries coming for short stays such as tourism will submit personal details online before leaving home, including occupation and where they plan to stay, and pay a processing fee, according to The Standard. The government has not set the fee; it plans to benchmark it against what other countries charge. Travelers changing planes in Japan are also covered.

Airlines will carry the burden at check-in. They must share passenger names and other details with the Immigration Services Agency, which will tell overseas airports whether each traveler has cleared screening, and carriers must refuse boarding to anyone without approval, The Standard reported.

The scale is large. About 80% of short-term visitors to Japan currently enter without a visa, the Immigration Services Agency says. The government says the screening aims to keep out "undesirable foreigners," Jiji reported, and lawmakers attached a resolution asking the government to run the system so it does not unreasonably restrict refugees.

The same law lifts the caps on fees for residence-status applications from a uniform 10,000 yen to 100,000 yen for changes and extensions and 300,000 yen for permanent residence, according to Jiji. The government plans to use the extra revenue to fund the new entry system, The Standard said. It is one of several changes for visitors to Japan this year, alongside the move to end tax-free checkout in favor of a refund system.

South Korea's K-ETA waiver: the Dec. 31 deadline

South Korea already runs an electronic travel authorization, the K-ETA, but has waived it for many of its biggest source markets. In January the Ministry of Justice extended that temporary exemption to Dec. 31, 2026, according to an EY tax alert.

The exemption covers nationals of 19 countries, among them Japan, Singapore, Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany and the United States, plus residents of three jurisdictions: Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, EY said. Covered travelers can enter for business with only a valid passport.

The waiver does not mean no paperwork. Korea now uses a fully electronic arrival card, which visitors without a K-ETA must complete, travel site LoyaltyLobby reported. Those with an approved K-ETA skip the arrival card. Exempt travelers can still apply voluntarily for the 10,000 won (about US$7) fee, paid by credit card, to avoid it.

As of Nov. 2, Capital Times had found no announcement on whether the waiver will be extended into 2027; the official K-ETA site (k-eta.go.kr) could not be reached for this article. The ministry announced the current extension at the turn of the year, so frequent visitors to Seoul who hold Hong Kong residency or one of the 19 passports should check the official K-ETA site before booking January trips, and consider applying anyway if they travel often.

Thailand's TDAC: every foreigner, every trip

Thailand took a different route. Since May 1, 2025, all non-Thai nationals entering by air, land or sea must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, according to the Royal Thai Embassy in London. Registration has to be done within 3 days before arrival, through the Immigration Bureau's website at tdac.immigration.go.th.

The card is an immigration formality, not a visa, the embassy said, and it did not change visa rules or the visa exemption scheme. Visitors who enter visa-free still have to file it. The exemption itself is changing separately: in July, Thailand's cabinet approved cutting visa-free stays from 60 days to 30 days for most eligible countries, Pattaya Mail reported, with the change taking effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette.

The three-day window is the detail most likely to trip up business travelers. A card cannot be filed weeks ahead with the rest of the trip paperwork. The embassy page directs travelers to the Immigration Bureau's own site, which as of Nov. 2 still told foreigners to submit the card 3 days in advance.

For companies, the systems fall into three buckets. Thailand requires a card on every trip, filed in the 3 days before arrival. Korea's requirement depends on passport or residency and on a waiver that lapses at year-end unless renewed. Japan's is law but not yet live, with fiscal 2028 the target and the fee still to be set.

The next date to watch is Dec. 31, when Korea's K-ETA exemption for Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and the 19 countries is due to expire.