Japan: Departure tax for all travelers from January 2019

Event

Starting in 2019, all travelers leaving Japan will be required to pay a "Sayonara levy" (departure tax) of JPY 1000 (approximately USD 10). Japan's parliament approved the measure, expected to come into effect on Jan 7, 2019, on Wednesday, April 11. It will apply to both Japanese and foreign travelers leaving the country by plane or ship. Children under the age of two and transit passengers leaving Japan within 24 hours of arrival will be exempted. Similar departure levies are in place in countries such as the US, Australia, and South Korea. 

Context

There were approximately 40 million departures from Japan in 2016, including 17 million by Japanese nationals, and the country attracted 29 million tourists in 2017. The government aims to use the extra tax revenue to boost tourism infrastructure, promote travel destinations in rural Japan, and fund global tourism campaigns.

Advice

As a reminder, individuals traveling to Japan must be in possession of a passport is valid for the proposed duration of the stay. People overstaying their visas in Japan are exposed to arrest, detention, and and a heavy fine.