Flow to enter into Japan

Depending on what foreigners do in Japan, the process of entry into Japan is different. With temporary visa, they can come to Japan with easier process. If a foreigner will stay in Japan on a long term basis, or he wants to work in Japan, he needs to apply for Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

Process for temporary visa

  1. Get visa at Japanese embassy in foreign country
  2. Enter into Japan with COE and visa

Process for mid-long term or work visa

Flow to enter into Japan for mid-long term or work visa will be the followings:

  1. Submit application for COE to Japanese immigration bureau
  2. Get visa at Japanese embassy in foreign country
  3. Enter into Japan with COE and visa

Certificate of Eligibility

Visa issued by Japanese consulate is one of required document to enter into Japan. In order to get visa, a visa applicant must get COE at Japanese immigration.

Applicants can apply for their COE by themselves. But they are not in Japan, if they don’t have temporary visa. And that’s  why they need to apply for visa. Then normally a representative of applicant in Japan applies for COE on behalf of the applicant. It depends on visa status who can be the representative under Japanese immigration law.

If it’s work visa, employment contract must be made before the application for COE. And stuff of the employer company can represent the applicant, and submit application for COE on behalf of the applicant.

If it’s visa based on the relationship of family, such as dependent or spouse visa, family of applicant in Japan has the right to submit application on behalf of the applicant.

Normal processing term of immigration bureau is 1-3 months. But actually it can be longer and shorter than that. It can be 1 week to 6 months.

Visa application at Embassy or Consulate

After COE is issued. The representative of applicant submit COE to the applicant by airmail. And the applicant applies for visa with the COE, at the Japanese embassy or consulate in a country where the applicant lives. For example, if applicant is American citizen and lives in South Korea, he applies for visa at Japanese embassy or consulate in South Korea.

Normal processing term is 1 week. Then they will give you your passport with attached visa for entry into Japan.

Entry into Japan

Once you get visa at embassy, it’s recommendable to enter into Japan without delay.

Each of COE and visa is valid for 3 months after its issuance. If they are expired, you can’t enter into Japan.

After you enter into Japan with status for more than 3 months, Japanese residence card is issued for you.