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Immigration procedure · 在留資格認定証明書
Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) for Japan
The CoE is the first step towards almost every long-term visa for Japan — study, work or family. It is usually filed by the school, employer or relative in Japan, it is free and it takes 1–3 months. Who files, where, paper or e-mail CoE, and what happens next.
Checked against the Immigration Services Agency of Japan on 28 September 2026 · All immigration procedures
What it is
A CoE is not a visa
The Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書) is issued by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA) before you travel. It confirms that the purpose of your stay fits a status of residence and the landing conditions. Legal basis: Article 7-2 of the Immigration Control Act (入管法).
Who files
Usually not you, but the receiving side in Japan
You are the applicant, but the documents are taken to the immigration bureau by a representative (代理人). Who that can be is set for each status in the Enforcement Regulation of the Immigration Control Act (施行規則, Appended Table 4).
| Purpose | Who files the CoE | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Employment | A staff member of the company that hired you | Engineer / Specialist, Skilled Labor, Nursing Care, Specified Skilled Worker, HSP |
| Transfer within a company | A staff member of the Japanese office you are transferred to | Intra-company Transferee |
| Technical intern | A staff member of the host company or the supervising organization | Technical Intern Training |
| Business | A staff member of the company’s office in Japan; for a new office, the person in charge of setting it up | Business Manager |
| Study | A staff member of the school or university | Student |
| Family of a worker or student | The person who will support you in Japan, or your relative in Japan | Dependent |
| Family of a Japanese national or permanent resident; Long-Term Resident | Your relative living in Japan | Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, Long-Term Resident |
| Designated Activities | The organization or employer listed by ISA for your sub-type | Designated Activities |
Where, how long, how much
Filing conditions on the ISA page
Online. A CoE can be filed through ISA’s online residence application system (在留申請オンラインシステム) by companies, schools, administrative scriveners (行政書士) and attorneys, and by a relative with a Japanese My Number card. See online applications. Documents in other languages need a Japanese translation: anyone can translate, as long as the translation is accurate and the translator signs it.
Paper or e-mail
CoE by e-mail since 17 March 2023
ISA issues the CoE in two ways. The e-mail version is easier when you are abroad: no waiting for post from Japan.
ISA forms
CoE application forms for your status
Each status has its own form and document list. Choose the status to see buttons for the ISA files: application form, filled-in example, checklist. Part of the form is filled in by the receiving side.
Work
Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) 高度専門職
All about this status: requirements and documents · My document list · Status page on the ISA website
Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services 技術・人文知識・国際業務
Intra-company Transferee 企業内転勤
Skilled Labor: chefs and other trades 技能
Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能) 特定技能
Nursing Care 介護
Technical Intern Training 技能実習
Business Manager 経営・管理
Professor 教授
Researcher 研究
Instructor 教育
Medical Services 医療
Legal / Accounting Services 法律・会計業務
Artist 芸術
Religious Activities 宗教
Journalist 報道
Entertainer: performances, shows, sport 興行
All about this status: requirements and documents · My document list · Status page on the ISA website
Family
Dependent: family of a worker or student 家族滞在
Spouse or Child of Japanese National 日本人の配偶者等
Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident 永住者の配偶者等
Long-Term Resident 定住者
All about this status: requirements and documents · My document list · Status page on the ISA website
Permanent Resident (永住者) 永住者
This status has no such procedure.
All about this status: requirements and documents · My document list · Status page on the ISA website
Study, training and other statuses
Student 留学
Designated Activities (特定活動) 特定活動
All about this status: requirements and documents · Status page on the ISA website
Trainee (研修) 研修
Cultural Activities 文化活動
All about this status: requirements and documents · My document list · Status page on the ISA website
Temporary Visitor 短期滞在
This status has no such procedure.
All about this status: requirements and documents · My document list · Status page on the ISA website
Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA); forms are in Japanese and English. The file register is refreshed every week; last check 6 Oct 2026.
What comes next
From the CoE to the residence card
The visa step in detail: getting the visa at a Japanese embassy after the CoE.
Refusals and mistakes
Why a CoE is refused
ISA’s test: the purpose of the stay is genuine, fits the status and, where the status has landing criteria (上陸基準省令), meets them.
Common mistakes
There is no appeal procedure — the ISA page says so. In practice the receiving side asks the bureau for the reason, fixes it and applies again.
FAQ
Certificate of Eligibility questions
Can’t find your question? Write to us — a real person replies.
Sources
Where this information comes from
Facts and document lists were checked against the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA) on 28 September 2026. Form links come from a register of ISA files that our server refreshes every week: when ISA publishes a new version of a form, the button opens the new file.
- ISA — Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書交付申請): who files, where, fee, processing time
- ISA — CoE by e-mail: how to receive it and show it at the embassy and the airport
- ISA — Q&A (Q2–Q6 on the CoE, Q11 on refusal at the border, Q17 on airports, Q24–Q25 on translations and criminal records)
- ISA — who can file the CoE for the applicant (施行規則 別表第四, PDF)
- ISA — online applications by relatives and by the applicant
- ISA — at the airport and the city office: residence card, address within 14 days
- ISA — landing examination: fingerprints, photo and landing conditions
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — visa with a CoE: documents and 5 working days (Japanese)
This page is general information, not legal advice. Immigration decides each application and may ask for more documents. Where a rule is known only from practice, we say so.
