Application for Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
If you would like to have foreign national come to work or live in Japan, you need to make an application for issuance of Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at the Immigration Bureau in Japan beforehand.
COE is the certificate issued from Minister of Justice after the examination regarding Compatibility with the status of residence as well as Compatibility with the criteria for certain status of residence prescribed by the Ministerial Ordinance with respect to foreign national except for temporary visitor who intends to enter or landing in Japan for the purpose of living or working for the period of medium- to long term.
If foreign national makes visa application to Japan embassy or consulate overseas together with COE, the issuance of visa tends to be implemented swiftly since it is indicated that the examination for conditions regarding status of residence has already been done beforehand on the immigration side.
After issuance of visa from Japan embassy or consulate, foreign nationals are able to enter Japan after immigration checking at the airport or port, and then residence card which describes the same status of residence of COE will be issued. Please be noted that residence card is issued only at Narita, Haneda, Chubu, and Kansai International Airport.
Also, please be noted that COE becomes invalid unless foreign national lands in Japan within 3 months after issuance of COE from immigration bureau.
