Japan launched a Trusted Journey Program (TTP) in 2017 with very scarce details about its eligibility necessities (learn extra right here, right here, and right here).
This system was relaunched with little fanfare in early 2023, and the eligibility standards had been considerably expanded. Sebastian and I wrote about our utility experiences (learn extra right here and right here).
You may entry Japan’s web page for TTP right here.
A reader despatched us a message that there’s now a be aware on TTP’s web site that new registration for this system and card issuance have been suspended. The present playing cards can be utilized till they expire.
Discover on TTP’s web site:
At the moment, TTP is briefly suspending Consumer registration functions and immigration card info registration .
Those that have already registered immigration card info can use the automated gates.
We are going to inform you concerning the reopening date on this web page as quickly as it’s determined. (As of August 4, 2023)
The difficulty with this TTP program has been the reasonably lengthy inspection progress when you fill out the required info and add paperwork on the web site (six weeks in my case). The time it takes on the airport to examine the paperwork, acquire the income stamps, learn the fingerprints and situation the cardboard (mine took 50 minutes).
Japan Trusted Traveler Program Registration Experiences in 2023:
Expertise Report: Japan’s Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) Is Now Open For New Functions & Entry By way of Automated Gates
Japan’s Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) Software Expertise
Conclusion
Japan ought to relaunch this system however make it extra streamlined as a result of, in its present kind, it takes means an excessive amount of time and human sources on the airport.
The whole program has been considerably beneath the desk and actually solely worthwhile, because of the pink tape, for these visiting the nation a number of occasions a yr.
There are situations the place the immigration traces have been backed up resulting from many arriving international passengers, however my experiences prior to now 10 months have been clean.
I’m again in Japan this autumn and completely satisfied to see how these automated gates work with the issued TTP card.
