COE (CERTIFICATE of ELIGIBILITY) is a certificate that the Immigration Office issues to acknowledge your eligibility for an appropriate visa status, as claimed in your application. It certifies that you are eligible to stay in Japan under that visa status for the specific period(s) stated on the COE.

If you are living outside Japan and plan to stay in Japan for a purpose that is not applicable to a Temporary Visitor Visa, you must apply for a COE for the visa status appropriate to your intended activity. In principle, a COE application should be filed through a visa sponsor or proxy living in Japan >> VISA SPONSOR/PROXY

Contents
  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. FIND VISA STATUS TO APPLY FOR
  3. PROCESS of COE APPLICATION
  4. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS and FEES
  5. WHERE TO APPLY
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INTRODUCTION

In case you are new to the Japanese immigration system, it is helpful to first check the INTRODUCTION page to get an overview of visas, types of visa status, and visa sponsor or proxy before learning about the COE application.

>> Jump to INTRODUCTION page

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FIND VISA STATUS TO APPLY FOR

VISA STATUS

There are about 30 different categories of VISA STATUS in Japan. Each categories is based on your purpose purpose and activities in Japan, and each has its own requirements and criteria.

When you apply, you will need to submit documents to show that you meet the requirements. The Immigration Office will review your application as a whole. They will take into account factors such as your background, visa sponsor, financial situation, and how your purpose in Japan relates to your career or circumstances. The specific requirements and criteria vary depending on the visa category.

Please note that the Immigration Office will not issue a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) if they determine that you do not have a clear purpose for staying in Japan, or that your activities do not require residence in Japan.

For more details, jump to >> WHAT IS VISA STATUS?

In case that you want to change your visa status to a different type while you are on a particular visa status in Japan, you can change it by applying for CHANGE of VISA STATUS.

For more details on applying for a change of your visa status, jump to the following webpage >> CHANGE of VISA STATUS

PERIOD OF STAY

The Immigration Office decides your period of stay based on your application.

The basic and maximum periods of stay for each visa status are set by the Immigration Law. The Immigration Office determines the specific period of stay for each applicant by taking into account their circumstances and reviewing all the documents submitted with the application. In determining the period of stay, the Immigration Office considers factors such as your purpose in Japan, career, or other circumstances.

When the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is issued, the granted period of stay is shown along with the visa category. After entering Japan with the COE, you will receive your Residence Card showing the period of stay and the exact expiry date.

The period can be extended by applying for an EXTENSION of PERIOD of STAY (VISA Renewal) before the expiry date.

For more details on applying for an extension of your period of stay, jump to the following webpage >> EXTENSION of PERIOD of STAY

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PROCESS of COE APPLICATION

SCREENING PERIOD

It usually takes about 1 – 3 months for the Immigration Office to review your application. The period can vary depending on each case, the workload at the Immigration Office and its branches, and seasonal factors. In some cases, it may take 5 – 6 months before the result is issued.

Note that the Immigration Office cannot provide the exact status of your application or the specific date when the review will be completed.

EXPIRY DATE of COE and ENTRY VISA APPLICATION

The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) has an expiry date.
It expires 3 months after the date of issue stated on the COE. You must enter Japan with the COE before it expires.

After you receive the COE from your proxy or immigration lawyer, you need to apply for an entry visa using the COE at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General (or through the agency) in your country of residence. You will finally enter Japan with the entry visa and the COE, and your Residence Card will be usually issued at the airport Immigration Counter upon arrival.

The process of applying for an entry visa using the COE at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General varies depending on the local system and situation in your country of residence. In addition, the Embassy or Consulate-General is under a different bureau from the Immigration Office, so it is difficult to take care of your entry visa application from outside Japan. Therefore, you should contact the local Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General directly for details about the application.

HOW TO PROCESS

Here is the general process of a COE application;

  1. DECIDE VISA STATUS TO APPLY and CHECK THE REQUIREMENT : Check what visa status you should apply for and whether you – and, “your visa sponsor or proxy”, in the case of a work-related visa status – can meet the requirements and criteria for that particular visa status.
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  2. ARRANGE THE SITUATION: Find a VISA SPONSOR or PROXY who is in Japan and is willing to act on your behalf for the COE application. The person who can serve as your visa sponsor or proxy depends on the type of visa status. For example, if you are applying for a work-related COE, your future employer must be your visa sponsor. In the case of a Spouse of Japanese visa, your Japanese spouse or their relatives must be your visa sponsor. Even if you or your employer hires an immigration lawyer, a visa sponsor or proxy is still required.
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  3. PREPARE and COLLECT DOCUMENTS: Prepare and collect documents required for your COE application. If you hire an immigration lawyer, they will assist both you and your visa sponsor or proxy throughout the entire process, and submit the application on your behalf after confirming whether your situation meets the requirements and criteria for the visa status.
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  4. SUBMISSION of APPLICATION: Your visa sponsor or proxy completes and submits the application to the Immigration Office which has jurisdiction over the address of your workplace or visa sponsor/proxy. In most cases, except for certain visa statuses, an immigration lawyer can submit the application online. Depending on the visa status you are applying for, you may need to come to Japan as a temporary visitor at the time of application (see EXCEPTION below).
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  5. SCREENING of YOUR APPLICATION: The general processing period is around 1-3 months. The Immigration Office may contact your visa sponsor or proxy (or an immigration lawyer, if you or your visa sponsor has hired one) to request additional documents or ask for further information.
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  6. IN CASE OF APPROVAL: If your COE application is approved, the COE will be issued and sent to your visa sponsor or proxy in Japan (or to an immigration lawyer, if you or your visa sponsor has hired one). In the case of an online application, an e-COE will be sent by email. The COE is then forwarded to you so that you can apply for an entry visa in your country of residence.
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    IN CASE OF DENIAL: If you COE application is denied, a Notice of Denial will be sent to your visa sponsor or proxy (or to an immigration lawyer, if you or your visa sponsor has hired one). Your visa sponsor can inquire in person at the Immigration Office where the application was submitted to learn the reason for the denial. If the reason is not critical and can be resolved, it is possible to reapply immediately after the denial.
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  7. ENTRY VISA APPLICATION WITH COE AT THE JAPAN EMBASSY/CONSULATE-GENERAL: After you receive the COE from your visa sponsor or proxy in Japan, you need to apply for an entry visa using the COE at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General (or through an agent) in your country of residence. You should contact the Embassy or Consulate-General directly to learn the process for applying for the entry visa, or you may hire an agent in your country to assist with the application.

    The process, required documents, and fees vary by country. An immigration lawyer in Japan cannot handle the entry visa application from Japan. Note that the COE is valid for 3 months from the date of issue, and you must enter Japan with a valid COE.
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  8. FLY TO JAPAN: After your entry visa has been issued by the Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General, you can travel to Japan. Note that you must enter Japan before your COE expires.
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  9. RECEIVE YOUR RESIDENCE CARD AT THE AIRPORT: When you arrive in Japan, you will receive your Residence Card at the airport immigration counter in exchange for your COE. The card shows your visa status, period of stay, expiry date, and other relevant information.

    After receiving the Residence Card, you officially obtain your visa status and become a residence card holder living in Japan. You may stay and live in Japan and engage in the activities permitted under your visa status until the expiry date shown on your Residence Card.
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  10. REGISTRATION OF YOUR RESIDENCE ADDRESS IN JAPAN: You must register your residence address at the city or ward office that has jurisdiction over your address within 14 days after you decide where to live in Japan. After registering your residence address, you can open a personal bank account and obtain a cellphone and phone number in Japan.

    If your visa status is valid for less than 3 months, or if your visa is not subject to residence registration, you do not need to register (or cannot register) your address in Japan.

    After receiving your Residence Card and settling down in Japan, you will need to complete any necessary applications or notifications (both visa-related and administrative procedures) as required. >> Jump to OTHER APPLICATION and NOTIFICATION after you start living in Japan

EXCEPTION

CASES NOT APPLICABLE TO COE APPLICATION: There are some cases – basically, those applicable to “Unspecified LONG-TERM RESIDENT / 告示外定住者” or “Unspecified DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES / 告示外特定活動” (Long-Term Resident visa status or Designated Activities visa status but not specifically designated by the Minister of Justice) – where you need to apply for a Change of Visa Status from a Temporary Visitor visa to the relevant visa status while you are in Japan, without applying for the COE. If you are applicable to those visa status, you must enter Japan under a Temporary Visitor visa first and apply for a Change of Visa Status during your stay.

CASES WHERE YOU MUST SUBMIT THE COE APPLICATION YOURSELF WITHOUT a VISA SPONSOR or PROXY: In some cases, there is no option other than to submit the COE application yourself. In such cases, you must come to Japan for your COE application, even if you hire an immigration lawyer for your application (check the following webpage >> Immigration lawyer cannot act as your visa sponsor or proxy).

Example cases and visa statuses:

  • Business Manager based on a new company without any representative or staff in Japan
  • Intra-Company Transferee or Humanities/Engineer based on a new company/branch without any representative or staff in Japan
  • Designated Activities for sightseeing during your stay on a Tourist visa (you can apply for it at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General without coming to Japan instead)
  • Freelance Artist
  • Freelance Journalist

POINTS to NOTE

  • COE Application is not applicable to Temporary Visitor (Tourist Visa):
    A Temporary Visitor visa must be obtained at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General (or through an agent) outside Japan.
  • Change of Visa Status from Temporary Visitor:
    In principle, you cannot apply directly for a Change of Visa Status from Temporary Visitor to another visa status without first applying for a COE, except for the cases listed under EXCEPTION above.
  • No updates during screening:
    The Immigration Office will not provide any information regarding the timing of COE issuance during the screening period.
  • Travel during COE screening:
    While your COE application is under review at the Immigration Office, you may travel back and forth between Japan and your country of residence ( or other countries) as a Temporary Visitor.
  • If you are staying in Japan as a Temporary Visitor at the time of issue of the COE, there would be a possibility that you can convert COE to Residence Card without going back to your resident country by applying for CHANGE of VISA STATUS from Temporary Visitor to your visa status depending on the situation. However, you cannot extend Temporary Visitor Visa for the reason of processing/waiting for the COE application.
  • However, note that you can convert the COE to Residence Card directly only in case the COE is issued while you are staying in Japan.
  • [March 2025 Update]
    As noted in the foregoing (strike-through) paragraph, the Immigration Office exceptionally allowed some applications for Change of Visa Status from Temporary Visitor with a COE only when the COE was issued during your stay in Japan. However, we have been informed that this exceptional practice has now been discontinued. For applicants’ safety, we have stopped advising and handling this procedure. We strongly recommend following the regular route – leaving Japan once and applying for an entry visa with your COE at a Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General abroad, even if your COE is issued while you are in Japan under a Temporary Visitor visa.
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REQUIRED DOCUMENTS and FEES

The required documents vary depending on the visa status as well as each applicant’s individual circumstances. The Immigration Office publishes list of basic required documents for each visa status. However, additional or different documents may be requested since each applicant has a unique situation, nationality, background, purpose of activity in Japan, and visa sponsor. There is no applicant whose case is exactly the same as another.

There is no application fee (Immigration Tax) for a COE application. If you hire an immigration lawyer, a professional fee will be charged. The amount varies depending on the lawyer and the complexity of your case.

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WHERE TO APPLY

Generally, COE application must be submitted at the regional Immigration Office which has jurisdiction over the address of your workplace in Japan or VISA SPONSOR/PROXY. In case of VISA STATUS to work, it will be based on your employer’s (company) address or your workplace. In case of family-related VISA STATUS, it will be based on VISA SPONSOR’s residence address.

ONCE YOU OBTAIN RESIDENCE CARD after you enter Japan with COE, any of your visa-related application must be submitted to the Immigration Office which has jurisdiction over your residence address.

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