Application for COE (Certificate of Eligibility) for those who wish to stay/live in Japan

Any foreigner who wants to enter Japan for non-temporary reasons has to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

The Certificate of Eligibility for Japan is a document you have to get before you can apply for a long-term Japan Visa, such as a Work Visa , Student Visa , or Marriage Visa . However, it is the Immigration Services in Japan who issue Certificates of Eligibility, so you need a sponsor or proxy in Japan to handle the application on your behalf.

The purpose of the Japan Certificate of Eligibility is to facilitate the visa application process. It serves as approval from the Japanese Immigration Services that you meet the entry requirements as set by the Japanese government.

As such, the Certificate of Eligibility for Japan is not the same as a visa; it is merely a pre-requisite before you apply for a Japan visa.