What is a Certificate of Eligibility(CoE)?

A certificate of eligibility is a document to proves that a person meets the landing criteria for a particular Resident Status in Japan. This system does not apply to “Temporary Visitor” status, which is applicable to travel for sightseeing, visiting relatives, or short-term business.

●Who can apply for CoE?
A foreign national seeking to enter Japan or a designated representative may apply for CoE. For example, for a foreigner who intends to work in Japan, the agent can be an employee of the sponsring company.

●Where do I apply for CoE?
The application should be submiteed to the regional immigration office that has jurisdiction over the location of the sponsoring institution or the address of the relative who wishes to act as an agent.

●Is it guranteed to enter Japan if I have CoE?
CoE does not guarantee entry into Japan. You must first submit CoE to the Japanese diplomatic mission abroad and obtain an entring visa. Landing may be denied if, for example, a change in circumstances is found at the time of landing examination to be incompatible with the landing permission criteria.

●Does CoE have an expiration date?
The validity period of CoE is three months. If you do not apply for an entering visa within three months from the date the CoE is issued, it will lose its validity. The validity period of CoE is different from the validity period of the visa.