Japan quietly this yr relaunched and expanded its Trusted Traveler Program (TTP), which permits choose vacationers to make use of automated gates when getting into and exiting the nation.
Now we have beforehand coated our utility and the airport inspection and TTP card issuance experiences (learn extra right here and right here). I yesterday used this system for the primary time to enter the nation at Haneda.
You possibly can entry Japan’s web page for the TTP right here.
Our Latest TTP Protection:
Expertise Report: Japan’s Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) Is Now Open For New Functions & Entry Through Automated Gates
Japan’s Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) Utility Expertise
Japan Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) Streamlined Information
Japan’s Trusted Traveler Program
Japan’s TTP program shouldn’t be merely registering your passport data prematurely after which utilizing these automated gates, however it is advisable to fill out an utility on-line, add your passport picture, and wait a number of weeks for the preliminary inspection to finish.
Then, in your subsequent journey to Japan, it is advisable to purchase income stamps and full the ultimate inspection on the airport or another places, and this will take anyplace from half-hour to an hour. You can be issued a TTP card on the spot that you could then use to enter and exit the nation.
You possibly can enter utilizing the TTP card as much as 15 occasions throughout its validity interval.
Haneda TTP Entry Expertise
You could fill out the disembarkation card earlier than you journey to make use of the gates and do it on the identical TTP web site.
The net type basically asks for a similar questions because the paper one. It could not settle for the resort’s tackle (couldn’t proceed), however utilizing the resort’s identify was sufficient.
It is best to quickly obtain an e mail affirmation that the knowledge has been accomplished.
The arrivals corridor yesterday morning wasn’t tremendous busy (I didn’t take a photograph – as it’s prohibited), and the foreigner line was not lengthy.
As this was my first time utilizing the TTP card, I wasn’t certain the place these (it turned out that it’s simply ONE machine) gates had been, and I requested for recommendation.
The TTP gate space is furthest to the left on the Haneda Terminal 3, previous the automated gates for Japanese passport holders. It was not obvious in any respect.
Solely one of many 5 gates was designated for the TTP entrants, however no one was utilizing any of them.
The display screen provides you the order of steps which you need to observe. I made the error of inserting my TTP card first, making it caught to the reader, and I wanted assist to launch it.
1. Scanner reads your passport
2. You insert the TTP card
3. Fingerprints
4. {Photograph}
5. The machine updates your TTP card
The machine takes its time in a few of these steps, and I believed there might need been a difficulty, but it surely was all good on the finish, and the port opened.
I made a decision to not do the digital customs type this time however crammed out the paper one.
Conclusion
Japan may simply open the traditional passport e-gates to visa-free nationals as a result of the TTP secondary inspection course of is fairly time-consuming, and the preliminary one additionally takes weeks. I don’t assume this product makes a lot sense for anybody apart from these visiting Japan a number of occasions yearly.
As I’ve stated beforehand, I think about this an “insurance coverage” in case a number of long-haul planes arrive roughly on the similar time, and there may be congestion on the immigration (a number of studies earlier this yr about extra wait occasions). My arrivals since October final yr, after I first entered Japan after the pandemic on a “tour” visa, have been all easy.
This, nevertheless, makes me extra assured to guide ahead flights with out extra transit time on separate tickets, like I did yesterday.
I used to be arriving from New Delhi on a JAL flight (the final phase of my Oneworld RTW ticket) round 6 AM and was persevering with to Kagoshima. If I had not had this TTP card, I’d have most likely booked a ten AM flight however determined to go along with an 8:05 AM one as an alternative (AA award at 7,500 miles and $0). There was a slight delay on arrival, however I nonetheless had loads of time to go to the lounge at Terminal 1.
What have been your experiences utilizing the TTP card? Please depart your feedback beneath.
