Certificate of Eligibility for Japan: COE Procedure, Required Documents and Employer Checklist
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Certificate of Eligibility for Japan:
COE Procedure, Required Documents and Employer Checklist
If you plan to enter Japan from overseas for work, family reunification, marriage, business management, Specified Skilled Worker, study, or another mid- to long-term purpose, a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is often an important first step.
A COE is not the visa itself. However, it is a key immigration document used for the visa application at a Japanese embassy or consulate overseas and for the landing procedure when entering Japan.
Quick answer: what should be checked first for a COE application?
A COE application should be reviewed from both the applicant side and the Japan side. It is not enough to prepare a form only. The applicant’s background, sponsor or accepting organization, supporting documents, and recent screening trends should be checked together.
- Applicant: nationality, current residence country, education, work history, family relationship, past residence history, and past applications.
- Japan side: employer, spouse, family member, school, company, or other accepting organization.
- Documents: contracts, company records, family records, marriage or birth certificates, explanatory letters, and translations.
- Processing time: the standard processing period is one to three months, but actual timing may vary depending on the status and case.
- Additional requirements: for certain nationalities, pre-entry tuberculosis screening may also need to be checked.
What Is a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)?
A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is a document issued through Japan’s immigration procedure to confirm in advance whether the planned activity of a foreign national in Japan matches a status of residence and satisfies the conditions for landing.
A COE is generally used when a foreign national intends to enter Japan with a status of residence other than Temporary Visitor or Permanent Resident. For example, a COE is often required or practically important when a person plans to work for a Japanese company, live in Japan as a spouse or family member, operate a business in Japan, study in Japan, or work as a Specified Skilled Worker.
Common Cases Where a COE Is Required
Four Key Points in COE Screening
A COE application is not just a matter of submitting forms. In practice, it is important to review the case from the following four perspectives.
e-COE and Paper COE
Under the current system, a Certificate of Eligibility may be received by email. In e-COE cases, the email can be forwarded to the applicant overseas and used for the visa application and landing procedure in Japan.
e-COE can reduce the time, cost, and risk involved in sending a paper certificate overseas. However, the actual handling may differ depending on the Japanese embassy, consulate, visa application center, country, or region. Some offices may require a printed copy, email presentation, or additional documents.
What Happens After the COE Is Issued?
Confirm the applicant information, status of residence, validity period, and accepting organization.
The applicant applies for a visa at the relevant Japanese embassy, consulate, or designated visa application center.
Check the visa validity, flight schedule, planned entry date, and documents to bring.
At major airports, a residence card may be issued at the time of landing permission. Address registration is also required after entry.
Can a Temporary Visitor Change to a Mid- or Long-Term Status in Japan?
Changing from Temporary Visitor to a mid- or long-term status of residence, such as a work status, Dependent, or Student, is generally difficult while staying in Japan. Under Japanese immigration law, a change from Temporary Visitor status is not normally permitted unless there are unavoidable and special circumstances.
Therefore, if a foreign national wishes to stay in Japan on a mid- or long-term basis, the standard route is usually to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at a regional immigration bureau, obtain the COE, apply for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate overseas, and then enter Japan with the appropriate status of residence.
In some individual cases, it may be possible to consider a change of status application in Japan if a COE has already been issued during the period of Temporary Visitor stay. However, having a COE does not automatically mean that the change from Temporary Visitor status will be accepted or approved.
Processing time: check the latest official data
The standard processing period for a COE application is generally one to three months. Actual processing time varies by status of residence, the applicant and sponsor, submitted documents, additional document requests and the immigration office handling the case.
The Immigration Services Agency publishes average processing times by month of permission. Check the publication month, status of residence and the Certificate of Eligibility column when planning your application. These averages describe past cases granted permission; they exclude refusals and withdrawals and do not guarantee a completion date for your case.
Check the latest ISA processing-time publications
Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening for Certain Nationalities
For applicants from certain countries who intend to stay in Japan for a mid- to long-term period, a TB Clearance Certificate issued by a designated panel clinic may be required when applying for a COE or visa.
As of the current official guidance, JPETS applies to nationals of the Philippines, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, and China who intend to enter and stay in Japan as mid- to long-term residents, excluding re-entry permit holders. For Indonesia, medical examinations are scheduled to begin on November 2, 2026, and submission of a TB Clearance Certificate becomes mandatory for covered applications filed on or after January 4, 2027. Implementation dates for Myanmar and China have not yet been determined.
The obligation to submit a TB Clearance Certificate when applying for a COE or visa started on June 23, 2025 for the Philippines and Nepal, and on September 1, 2025 for Viet Nam. Applicants should check the latest official information regarding target countries, covered applicants, exemptions, designated panel clinics, and certificate validity.
Check coverage by nationality, current country of residence, status of residence and application date. Specified Skilled Workers are temporarily exempt, and re-entry permit holders are excluded. Residence outside a target country may also qualify for exclusion when supported by appropriate official evidence. For a COE application filed before the certificate requirement starts, a later visa application based on that COE does not require the certificate solely because the visa application is after the start date. See the ISA guidance and transition rule and our JPETS guide for details.
How Tommy’s Legal Service Can Support You
Tommy’s Legal Service supports COE applications for applicants living overseas. We provide bilingual assistance in Japanese and English, including initial case review, document checklist, application documents, explanatory letters, online filing, responses to additional document requests, and guidance after COE issuance.
| Support Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Initial case review | We confirm the purpose of entry, applicant background, sponsor, family relationship, and accepting organization. |
| Document checklist | We organize the documents required from both the applicant overseas and the person or organization in Japan. |
| Document preparation and translations | We prepare and organize application forms, explanatory letters, supporting documents, and Japanese translations. |
| Online application | Where applicable, we file the application online as a certified immigration procedures agent. |
| Additional document response | If immigration requests additional documents, we review the notice and prepare the response materials. |
COE applications require different documents and different explanations depending on the status of residence involved. Clarifying the strategy at the beginning helps reduce the risk of missing documents, inconsistent explanations, and processing delays.
Related Pages
Official References
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Application for Certificate of Eligibility
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Electronic Certificate of Eligibility
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Processing Time Data
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Start of Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening
- Japan Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening
Need Support for a COE Application?
COE applications require a careful review of the applicant’s background, the sponsor or accepting organization in Japan, status eligibility, supporting documents, and recent screening trends.
Please first tell us your nationality, current country of residence, purpose of entry, expected status of residence, sponsor or accepting organization in Japan, and desired timing of entry.
You may request application support or a quotation without booking an initial paid consultation. If detailed document review or individual advice is needed, we explain the scope and fee in advance and begin after your agreement.
