Japan’s Finance Ministry says it will fully digitalize customs declarations at airports by 2030 as part of its “Smart and Secure Border Control: Customs Vision 2030.” The ministry aims to improve convenience for inbound travelers as Japan targets about 60 million visitors per year by that time. Under the plan, passengers will complete customs procedures for the items required upon entry into Japan using QR codes. The QR codes are generated after travelers enter their names and addresses online.
The move builds on earlier steps: Japan introduced electronic customs declarations in 2019, but the ministry says the remaining process still needs broader digital coverage. The proposal covers customs declarations for both accompanied and unaccompanied articles, indicating that travelers may be able to submit required information digitally rather than using face-to-face or paper-based methods at airports. The ministry’s timeline and specific implementation details beyond the QR-code approach are not outlined in the available reports, but the overall goal is complete digitization of airport customs declarations by 2030.
