Japan COE FAQ — 15 Most Asked Questions

A COE is a pre-screening document issued inside Japan by Immigration, confirming your eligibility for a specific residence status. A visa is a separate document issued overseas by a Japanese Embassy/Consulate, permitting you to actually enter Japan. You typically need both for long-term stays.

It depends heavily on the visa type. Based on MOJ's latest monthly statistics, processing ranges from ~20 days for simple categories (Journalist, Entertainer) to 170+ days for complex ones (Business Manager, Nursing Care). The common Engineer / Humanities / International Services visa averages 55–65 days. See the Processing Time page for the up-to-date numbers.

No. COE applications are filed inside Japan. A proxy — your employer, school, family member, or a Japanese lawyer/scrivener — must file on your behalf.

No, the COE itself is free at Immigration. You pay only for incidentals: photos, translations, postage. The visa fee at the embassy (¥15,000 single-entry since 1 July 2026) is separate.

No. There is no official expedited service. The only way to speed things up is to submit complete, well-documented applications and respond immediately to any supplementary document requests from Immigration.

No. See the first FAQ. They are distinct documents from two different ministries.

No. A COE is not a permit to reside or work. You must convert it to a visa at a Japanese Embassy and then enter Japan, at which point your Residence Card grants you the right to work under that status.

You must re-apply. In your new application, attach the expired COE and an explanation — this signals that you were previously approved and usually shortens the review. You cannot extend a COE.

No. Embassies retain independent discretion and can refuse if they discover adverse information (fraud, criminal record, security concerns). In practice, denials of COE-backed visa applications are rare — well under 1%.

Technically you could, but the COE is tied to the specific employer and job. If you change employers, your original COE no longer reflects your actual situation, and the embassy may refuse the visa. Safer to re-apply for a new COE with the new employer.

Yes, for most work and long-term categories. Family members typically apply for their own COE under the Dependent (家族滞在) status once you have yours, or they can bundle their applications with yours.

COE is for applicants currently outside Japan. Change of Status (在留資格変更) is for those already inside Japan on a different visa who want to switch — e.g., student to engineer after graduation. Both are filed at Regional Immigration Bureaus, but a Change of Status carries a fee when granted (from October 1, 2026: ¥10,000–¥75,000 depending on the period granted) and you don't need an embassy step.

Traditionally the COE is a paper document mailed to your proxy. Since 17 March 2023, every residence status can opt for an electronic COE (e-COE) delivered as a PDF by email, which the applicant can present directly at the embassy. Confirm with your proxy or school which format applies.

Immigration sends a brief denial notification. You can re-apply after addressing the issues. Licensed immigration lawyers or scriveners can request an interview to obtain clarification about why denial occurred.

A specific planned address in Japan is required on the COE application form. It doesn't have to be your permanent future address — an employer address, school dorm, or temporary friend's address is usually acceptable if consistent with the other documents.