If you haven't already, please read my previous articles on Finding a Job in Japan and Part One of How to Obtain a Japanese Working Visa, which covers preparing to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility!

If you haven't been offered a job already, this is the part where you should know whether or not you will be proceeding onto submitting the actual Certificate of Eligibility Application. Once I accepted the job offer, they needed to start the process immediately because it can take at least three months for immigration to process your application and grant you your Certificate of Eligibility.

This article will cover the process of filling out the application and applying for the Certificate of Eligibility! Fortunately, you've, hopefully, already submitted your documents (diploma copy, COE photos, transcripts) found in part one of my series, and that was the majority of the leg work!


RECEIVE THE CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY APPLICATION

The company I would be working for sent me an Excel file containing the COE application. The kind of COE application you receive depends on the type of Visa you are applying for. A COE application for a student will look different than one that is intended for an Assistant Language Teacher or journalist. I will be detailing the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities Visa which is application number 6 on the immigration website found here.

The company highlighted everything I needed to fill out in yellow. It's a long application, but most of it should be filled out by your employer.

Page One

• Nationality
• Family Name, Given Name, Middle Name
• Date of Birth
• Sex
• Place of Birth
• Marital Status
• Occupation
• Hometown/City
• Passport Number
• Passport Expiration Date
• Date of Entry (anticipated start date at company)
• Port of Entry (Intended airport you will arrive at. Can change!)
• Intended Length of Stay (Visa are granted in 1, 3, 5 yr. duration.)
• Intended Place to Apply for Visa (the consulate that covers your address)
• Past Entry/Departure from Japan
• Family in Japan

PAGE 2

• N/A

PAGE 3

• Name of School
• Date of Graduation
• Select degree (Bachelors, Masters, etc.)
• Major (Law, History, Linguistics, etc.)
• Employment History (start with most recent)

• Name of foreign national being offered employment or an invitation
• Business Experience

PAGE 5

• N/A

SUBMIT YOUR COE APPLICATION TO YOUR EMPLOYER

After I checked and double checked, I sent my completed COE application back to the employer. They then finished entering the rest of the information and went to the Japanese immigration office with the completed application packet on my behalf.

They gave me an estimate of about a two week turn around. However, it is normal to take up to three months to process and grant your COE. So, be patient during this time.

RECEIVE CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY

The company notified me of having received my COE about a month later, and that they were going to send it to me by EMS. Please confirm your address with your employer, try not to over check the tracking, and make sure you or someone can sign for the letter.

CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE OF YOUR COE

The Certificate of Eligibility is only valid for THREE MONTHS from the date it's ISSUED. Remember that your place of employment has already taken one to two weeks to get the COE to you, so you need to act FAST! Please make sure all your dates are correct and you are set and ready to enter Japan before the COE expiration date.

You need to apply for the working Visa, be granted the working visa, and enter Japan before the COE expires or you'll be denied entry into Japan and have to start the entire process over again. No, the clock does not stop ticking once you receive your work visa. You have to enter Japan BEFORE the COE expires no matter what!

I would be nice if I could tell you to celebrate and buy your ticket for Japan now that you have been granted the COE, but it's not over yet! You still need to apply and be granted the working Visa!


The good news is that you are ready to finally apply for the work visa! Please stay tuned for my next blog post on locating your nearest embassy, preparing your visa application, and what to do next!