Narita Airport Terminals 1 & 2 to Fully Launch Joint Kiosks on September 24
The Customs and Tariff Bureau of the Ministry of Finance of Japan and the Immigration Services Agency announced that full-scale operations of "Joint Kiosks" will begin at Narita International Airport Terminals 1 and 2 on September 24, 2026. This announcement was made on September 18, 2026. This measure is expected to significantly shorten immigration and customs wait times for foreign international students, working holiday participants, and long-term residents entering Japan through Narita Airport.
The Joint Kiosk is an innovative system that integrates identity verification and information submission—procedures that previously had to be done separately during immigration (Immigration Services Agency) and customs declaration (Customs)—into a single terminal operation.
How to Process Immigration and Customs Simultaneously in a Single Step
Previously, when entering Japan, travelers had to verify their passport and face photo at the immigration counter, retrieve their baggage, and then separately submit a declaration of personal effects at the customs counter. However, using the Joint Kiosk greatly simplifies this cumbersome process, maximizing convenience for travelers and residents alike.
The specific steps to use the Joint Kiosk are very simple:
- Pre-registration: Users register their immigration and customs declaration information in advance through "Visit Japan Web," an online service provided by the Digital Agency, and generate a QR code.
- Terminal Operation: Upon arriving at the airport, users scan their generated QR code and IC-chip-embedded passport (IC passport) at the Joint Kiosk terminal.
- Information Submission: Users follow the terminal's instructions to take a facial photo and enter the required information to complete the initial process.
Foreign passengers who complete registration at the Joint Kiosk can quickly finish their immigration procedures through a dedicated booth. Furthermore, passengers deemed not to require a detailed customs inspection can pass through the customs checkpoint without stopping, using a "walk-through" system powered by facial recognition technology after retrieving their baggage.
Expansion to Major Airports Across Japan
The introduction at Narita Airport Terminals 1 and 2 is part of Japan's policy to digitalize quarantine and entry processes at its major gateways. The Joint Kiosk system is already operating successfully at several hub airports in Japan, and this rollout further expands its reach. The airports currently operating Joint Kiosks are as follows:
- Kansai International Airport (Terminal 1, Terminal 2)
- Haneda Airport (Terminal 2, Terminal 3)
- Narita International Airport (Terminal 3, and the newly added Terminals 1 and 2)
- Fukuoka Airport
For this system expansion, Panasonic Connect reportedly supplied a total of 177 Joint Kiosk terminals for Narita Airport Terminals 1 and 2. This large-scale deployment of terminals is expected to effectively disperse queues even during peak hours.
Positive Impact on Foreign Residents
For international students and workers returning to Japan after visiting their home countries for vacations or holidays, long wait times at the airport have always been a major source of fatigue. In particular, Narita Airport Terminals 1 and 2, which handle high passenger volumes, have frequently experienced immigration congestion.
With the introduction of the Joint Kiosk, the hassle of filling out paperwork is eliminated and wait times for screening are drastically reduced, making the entry process much more comfortable after a tiring long-haul flight. Foreign residents living in Japan are encouraged to actively use "Visit Japan Web" for their future entries to experience this faster, smarter entry service.
Tools: Internet Finder
Source: 財務省税関