Visa (COE holders)

This page is for person(s) visiting Japan for the purpose of work, study, cultural activities, or as a dependent (spouse or child) [Please note this excludes the spouses or children of aliens residing in Japan with the status of “trainee” or “pre-college student”].

This information ONLY applies for applicants who have a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). If you are a dependent of a Japanese national or a permanent resident without a COE, please refer to this page.

What is Certificate of Eligibility?

• A Certificate of Eligibility is a document that verifies the activity in which the foreigner wishes to engage while in Japan. The advantage of this document is that it reduces the time required to obtain a visa and complete immigration procedures when work or long-term stay (more than 90days) are the purposes of the trip including: dependent, work (entertainer, artist, professor, researcher, instructor, journalist, business manager, legal or accounting services, medical service, engineer, humanities specialist or international services, intracompany transferee, nursing care, skilled labor), religious activities, study (student/trainee/internship), cultural activities, or long-term resident.
• The application for a Certificate of Eligibility is made by your sponsor in Japan at the nearest regional immigration authority to his/her place of residence. Employers or schools as well as relatives could become your sponsors.
• Once the Certificate of Eligibility reaches you by way of your sponsor in Japan, you are ready to apply for a visa at the Japanese Embassy. The Embassy highly recommends obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) before applying for visa. Contact the Immigration Services Agency of Japan to obtain a COE. Obtaining a COE takes 1 to 3 months.
  • You MUST enter Japan within 3 months of the designated day on your Certificate of Eligibility, regardless of any time limits noted on the actual visa you receive.
  • If you have a valid Japanese Visa on your passport at the time you apply for a new Japanese visa (For example, when you apply for a work visa, but you have a student visa which is still valid), please submit a request statement (in any format) for visa cancellation.

*For further information about COE, please see: Application for issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility
 

• Outline the establishment of a “new system” for accepting highly-skilled foreign professionals:

*For Highly Skilled Professional Visas, please see: Highly Skilled Professional Visa (MOFA)
                                                            please see: J-Skip (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
*For Specified visa: Designated activities (Future creation individual),
                                                            please see: Specified visa: Designated activities (MOFA)
                                                            please see: J-Find (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

• The Embassy of Japan reserves the right to request additional documents if deemed necessary.
• The Embassy of Japan will not make copies.
• Please do NOT staple or fold any document. 

	Visa Application Form Signed by the applicant (Form / Sample)	Original
	Valid Passport with at least 1.5 blank pages left	Original
	One 2”x 2” Photo Must be taken in front of a plain background and within the past 6 months Do NOT use filters Passport type photo only (We do not accept photos on regular printer paper)  Use GLUE ONLY to attach the photo to the application, please do not staple or tape.	Original
	U.S. Visa, if you are not a U.S. citizen. F-1 visa holders must present an endorsed I-20 form (ALL school attestation, student attestation, and travel endorsement must be signed) J-1 visa holders must present an endorsed DS-2019 form Please note: The Embassy of Japan does NOT accept any applications from B-1 and B-2 U.S. visa holders.	Original & 1 Copy
	Proof of Residency e.g., Driver’s license card, State ID card, or Utility Bill	Original & 1 Copy
	Certificate of Eligibility (hardcopy) *If you have a digital COE sent by email, you only need to submit a printed copy of your digital COE.	Original & 1 Copy

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS FOR ENTERTAINER (ONLY FOR U.S.CITIZEN)

*The Embassy of Japan will not make copies.

Contract or Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and the remuneration of the applicant, (e.g. a copy of a contract)

Original & 1 Copy