Certificate of Eligibility Japan (COE): 2026 Guide

A certificate of eligibility in Japan (在留資格認定証明書, zairyu shikaku nintei shomeisho) confirms that your planned activities qualify for a residence status. The Immigration Services Agency (ISA) issues it through regional immigration offices. COE stands for Certificate of Eligibility.

ISA issues CoEs for every long-term status except Permanent Resident. Your sponsor in Japan files the application on your behalf, and the application is free.

ISA's standard processing period is 1 to 3 months. In mid-2026, averages for common visas ranged from about 38 days to 242 days. The CoE stays valid for 3 months, and you can receive it by email.

In this guide, you will learn:

• Who can apply for a certificate of eligibility, and where

• Which documents you need

• Real processing times by visa type

• How email CoEs work

• How to apply for a visa with your CoE

• What changed in 2025 and 2026

What is a certificate of eligibility (在留資格認定証明書, zairyu shikaku nintei shomeisho)?

Regional immigration offices issue the certificate of eligibility (CoE). They operate under the Immigration Services Agency (ISA), part of the Ministry of Justice. The CoE confirms that your planned activities are genuine and match a residence status.

Your CoE speeds up two later steps:

• Your visa application at a Japanese embassy or consulate

• Your landing examination when you enter Japan

A CoE does not guarantee a visa. The embassy still makes its own decision.

Official information: Immigration Services Agency of Japan (在留資格認定証明書: Link)

👉 Read also: Visa Renewal Japan 2026: Fees, New October Fee Table & How to Apply

Do I need a certificate of eligibility?

You need one for most long-term stays in Japan. ISA issues CoEs for every residence status except Temporary Visitor and Permanent Resident.

• Tourist or short business trip: no CoE. You enter as a Temporary Visitor.

• Work, study, or family stay: yes, in almost all cases.

Permanent residence works differently. You apply for it later, after living in Japan. Read our guide to getting permanent residency in Japan.

For some visas, you can apply at the embassy without a CoE. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns this means many more documents and several months of processing.

Electronic certificate of eligibility (email CoE)

Since March 17, 2023, you can receive your CoE by email. The email contains the same information as the paper version, except your photo.

Who can receive a CoE by email?

• Sponsors who apply online through ISA's Online Residence Application System

• Sponsors who apply at the counter, after registering online and submitting an email-issuance request form

Paper stays the default for counter applications. Online applicants choose email or mail when they apply.

How to use an email CoE

• Register receipt through the URL in the email. ISA sends weekly reminders until you do.

• Forward the email to the applicant abroad.

• The applicant shows the email on a phone at the Japanese embassy or consulate.

• The applicant shows it again at the landing examination in Japan.

If a representative submits the visa application for you, they must bring a printout of the email.

Paper CoEs got easier too

Since March 17, 2023, a copy of a paper CoE works for visa and landing applications. Your sponsor can scan it and email the file abroad.

Note: The email CoE saves mailing time. It does not shorten the immigration review.

Who can apply for a certificate of eligibility?

Someone in Japan usually files the application on your behalf. ISA accepts applications from:

• The applicant, if already in Japan

• Staff of the receiving organization, such as your employer for a work visa or your school for a student visa

• Relatives or other agents in Japan, such as your spouse for a Japanese spouse visa or a relative for a dependent visa

• Registered filers, such as lawyers and gyoseishoshi (行政書士, licensed immigration scriveners)

Registered filers can act only when the applicant or representative is in Japan. Need one? Browse our directory of immigration lawyers in Japan.

Family members in Japan file a proxy application at a regional immigration office, not at a Japanese embassy. The embassy handles the later visa application only.

Where do you submit a Japan Certificate of Eligibility Application?

At a regional immigration office

Representatives file at the office covering the receiving organization's location. Applicants who file in person use the office covering their planned address in Japan.

ISA does not accept applications by mail.

Online

You can also apply for a CoE online. The person filing must use ISA's Online Residence Application System from Japan.

Relatives can file online only for some statuses, such as student, dependent, and spouse visas. They must also live in Japan.

Which visas need a COE in Japan?

ISA issues CoEs for every residence status except Temporary Visitor and Permanent Resident. lists 26 statuses in total. Common ones include:

• Student visa for study abroad

• Japanese work visa for employment

• Japan investor visa for investment activities

• Japan Startup Visa for new businesses

• Japan Business Manager Visa for running a company in Japan

• Japan spouse visa for married couples

The 4-Month Business Manager Visa gives founders a short first stay to set up their company. Business Manager requirements tightened on October 16, 2025, including higher capital. Read our Business Manager guide before you apply.

Japan's Digital Nomad Visa works differently. Most applicants apply directly at a Japanese embassy without a CoE, so confirm with your embassy first.

Short-term stays, such as tourist trips, do not use a CoE.

👉 Read also: Japan Immigration News: What Every Foreign Resident Needs to Know (August 2026)

What documents do I need for a Certificate of Eligibility?

Every certificate of eligibility application includes:

• Application for Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書交付申請書): choose the form for your residence status

• One photo of the applicant, 4cm x 3cm

• A stamped return envelope, if you want the paper CoE mailed

Then add the application documents for your status. For example:

• Work visa: an employment contract showing your salary, job duties, and contract period

• Student visa: a letter of admission and proof of funds

• Spouse visa: the Japanese spouse's family register (koseki) and your marriage certificate

Two rules apply to every application:

• Japanese certificates must be issued within 3 months of the application date.

• Foreign-language documents need a Japanese translation.

Some nationals must also submit a TB Clearance Certificate. See the TB screening section below.

Japan’s COE application fee

There is no application fee for a certificate of eligibility. ISA charges nothing for it. The October 1, 2026 fee changes cover renewals, status changes, and permanent residence, not CoEs.

Your visa costs extra. See "Japan visa fees (2026)" below.

Certificate of Eligibility Japan processing time

ISA's standard processing period is 1 to 3 months. Actual waits vary widely by visa type. ISA publishes average processing days every month.

These averages include time spent waiting for additional documents. Established sponsors often move faster than new companies.

How to check your CoE status

• Online applications: check the status in ISA's Online Residence Application System.

• Counter applications: contact the immigration office that received the application.

TB screening for some nationals (JPETS)

Japan requires pre-entry tuberculosis screening for some nationals. It applies to people planning a mid-to-long-term stay.

Applicants get a chest X-ray at a designated panel clinic in their home country. The clinic issues a TB Clearance Certificate, valid for 180 days from the X-ray.

Submit it with your CoE or visa application. You may be exempt if you legally reside outside these countries.

Why was my COE rejected in Japan?

Reasons vary by visa. Weak finances and a poor fit between job duties and the chosen status are common causes.

Common reasons for CoE rejection

• ❌ Weak proof of funds for the applicant's stay

• ❌ Job duties that do not match the residence status

• ❌ A sponsor that fails compliance checks, such as unpaid taxes

• ❌ Inconsistent information across the application documents

• ❌ A serious criminal history

• ❌ A past overstay or immigration violation

• ❌ Unverifiable degrees or work history

How to avoid CoE rejection

• ✅ Ask your sponsor to submit every required company document

• ✅ Check that all dates and details match across documents

• ✅ Provide clear proof of financial stability

• ✅ Show how your background fits the role

• ✅ Respond quickly if immigration requests additional documents

What if your CoE is refused?

You cannot formally appeal a CoE refusal. ISA lists no appeal procedure for it. Your sponsor can fix the problem and apply again.

Certificate of Eligibility and expiration rules

How long is a certificate of eligibility valid?

A CoE is valid for 3 months from its issue date. You must enter Japan within that window.

A visa in your passport does not extend the CoE. Plan your visa application and flight early.

What if your CoE expires before you use it?

You cannot extend a CoE. Your sponsor must apply for a new one.

What if you no longer need a paper CoE?

Return the original to the immigration office that issued it. Include a short note with the application number, your name, your relationship to the applicant, and your reason.

Step-by-step: How to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書)

1. Confirm your residence status

Choose the status that matches your activities, such as work, study, family, or business.

2. Prepare the application documents

Collect the form, photo, and status-specific documents. Add a TB Clearance Certificate if your nationality requires one.

3. Your sponsor files the application in Japan

Depending on the visa, your sponsor may be:

• Your employer

• Your school

• Your Japanese spouse

• A family member, for dependents

• A lawyer or gyoseishoshi acting for you

4. Immigration reviews the application

ISA's standard period is 1 to 3 months. Some visas take much longer, as the table above shows.

5. Receive the CoE

Your sponsor receives a paper CoE by mail, or an email CoE if they requested one.

6. Apply for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate

Submit your CoE with your visa application documents.

7. Enter Japan within the CoE's validity

Land in Japan before the CoE's 3-month validity ends. Major airports issue your residence card (在留カード, zairyu card) on arrival.

Then register your address at your city office within 14 days. You can then request your residence certificate (住民票, juminhyo).

How to apply for a Japanese Visa with your certificate of eligibility

Once you have your CoE, apply for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate. Use the one covering your home country or country of residence.

Documents for the visa application

• A valid passport

• A signed visa application form

• One photograph

• Your CoE: the original, a copy, or the CoE email

Requirements vary by country, so check your embassy's checklist first. Most embassies process a complete application in about one week.

Where to find your Certificate of Eligibility number

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa application form has a field called "Certificate of Eligibility No." Copy the number exactly as it appears on your CoE.

ISA publishes a sample email CoE showing its layout. If you apply without a CoE, ask your embassy how to complete this field.

Japan visa fees (2026)

Japan raised visa fees for applications accepted from July 1, 2026. It was the first change since 1978.

Embassies collect the fee in local currency. Some nationalities pay reduced fees under bilateral agreements, so check your embassy.

Can a visa be refused even with a CoE?

Yes. A CoE does not guarantee a visa. Immigration lawyers report more cases where ISA approves the CoE but the embassy refuses the visa.

Check that your visa application matches your CoE exactly. Errors or missing documents are common problems.

Frequently asked questions

What is a certificate of eligibility in Japan?

A certificate of eligibility (在留資格認定証明書, zairyu shikaku nintei shomeisho) confirms that your planned activities qualify for a residence status. Regional immigration offices under the Immigration Services Agency issue it. People usually call it a COE. It speeds up your visa application and landing examination, but it does not guarantee a visa.

Do I need a certificate of eligibility to enter Japan?

You need one for most long-term stays, such as work, study, or family visas. ISA issues CoEs for every residence status except Temporary Visitor and Permanent Resident. Tourists and short-term visitors do not need one. For some visas, you can apply without a CoE, but processing takes much longer.

How long does it take to get a certificate of eligibility in Japan?

ISA's standard processing period is 1 to 3 months. Actual averages vary widely by visa type. Between May and July 2026, students averaged 41 to 71 days. Business managers waited 153 to 242 days.

Who can apply for a certificate of eligibility on my behalf?

Someone in Japan usually applies on your behalf. This can be your employer, your school, or a family member in Japan. Lawyers and gyoseishoshi can also file when the applicant or representative is in Japan. Family members file at a regional immigration office, not at a Japanese embassy.

How long is a certificate of eligibility valid?

A certificate of eligibility is valid for 3 months from its issue date. You must enter Japan within that period. A visa in your passport does not extend it. If your CoE expires, your sponsor must apply for a new one.

Can I use an electronic COE for my visa application?

Yes. Since March 17, 2023, ISA can issue your CoE by email. You can show the email on your phone at the Japanese embassy or consulate and at landing. A copy of a paper CoE also works.

How much does a certificate of eligibility cost?

The certificate of eligibility itself is free. The visa costs extra. From July 1, 2026, a single-entry visa costs about ¥15,000, and a multiple-entry visa about ¥30,000. Some nationalities pay reduced fees under bilateral agreements.

What happens if my certificate of eligibility is refused?

You cannot formally appeal a CoE refusal. ISA lists no appeal procedure for it. Your sponsor can fix the problem and apply again. Common causes include weak proof of funds and job duties that do not match the visa.

In closing

A certificate of eligibility is the first step toward most long-term visas in Japan. It is free, but processing can take weeks or months.

Start early, especially for Business Manager and spouse visas. Check ISA's latest processing times before you set a move date. For the full timeline, read our step-by-step guide to moving to Japan.

After you arrive, read our guide to the re-entry permit before any trips abroad.

Never miss a letter from immigration

Immigration mails paper CoEs, document requests, and refusal notices to your sponsor's address in Japan. If you are abroad, those letters can sit unread for weeks.

MailMate receives, scans, and translates your Japanese mail. You see every notice online, wherever you are.

Sources

• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Application for Certificate of Eligibility (Japanese)

• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Electronic Certificate of Eligibility (Japanese)

• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Monthly residence examination processing periods (Japanese)

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Visa Fees

• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Japan Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening (JPETS)