We would like to explain what you should do to enter Japan after your application for COE (Certificate of Eligibility) has been approved.

 

 

Get your COE

When your COE is approved, have your relatives in Japan or your immigration lawyer (Gyousei-shoshi) mail it to you in a traceable way such as Express Mail Service, EMS, DHL, etc.

 

 

Application for a visa to the Japanese embassy

 

 

After receiving your COE, you need to apply for a visa to the Japanese embassy or the Japanese consulate in your country. Bring your photo, visa application form, and other necessary documents to the Japanese embassy/consulate. Required documents vary depending on the embassy. Also, some embassies require an appointment. We recommend you call the embassy in advance to confirm. After about a week of examination, you will receive your passport with the visa seal affixed.

The time from application to receipt of the visa varies from country to country, but it is approximately a week or so. During this time, you need to leave your passport with them, and you will not be able to leave the country.

 

Note

Even if your application for COE is approved, there may be cases where you cannot get a visa as a result of an examination at the Japanese embassy/consulate in your home country.

In this case, the Japanese embassy/consulate will not tell you the reasons. If you cannot get a visa issued, you cannot come to Japan even though you have a COE.

 

 

Validity of COE

 

 

The Certificate of Eligibility is valid for three months from the issue date. So, you need to schedule your entry into Japan by this time. If you do not arrive in Japan within three months after COE is issued, the COE will become invalid.
As a special exception to the spread of coronavirus infection, the validity period had been set to 6 months, but that measure ended with the COE issued on July 31, 2022.

If you cannot arrive in Japan within three months, you need to apply again for the COE.

 

 

When Landing Japan

 

 

You will receive your residence card at the airport upon arrival. The resident card will show the status of residence granted, the period of stay, and the date of expiration of the period of stay.

Once your place of stay (residence) is determined, you must register your address at the municipal office, which has jurisdiction over your address within 14 days.
*Foreigners whose period of stay is less than three months are not eligible for resident registration.

 

 

We are pleased to help you apply for COE. Please contact us!