Hello, this is Iwaya of IMS Legal Professional Corporation. Starting July 26, Japan will be issuing COVID-19 “Vaccination Certificates” for those traveling abroad. Will this finally be the start of the “Vaccination Passport”?
Last week, we received many client inquiries regarding Japan and U.S. visas, naturalization, and Vietnamese visas. Maybe because they cannot enter Japan due to the COVID-19, but we are getting more and more inquiries from oversea customers.
In this blog, I would like to focus on one of the inquiries we received.
Certificate of Eligibility
As many may already know, the period of validity of the “Certificate of Eligibility (COE),” which is a certificate needed to enter Japan, is being extended due to current exceptional circumstances.
※Please check the Immigration Services Agency of Japan’s site for more details:
http://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/930005023.pdf
As extension measures are being taken as above, our customer wanted to know if he could enter Japan after the validity period of the COE if he had a visa. His uncertainty was probably due to the validity period of the COE being handled differently than usual.
As usual, you must enter Japan within the COE’s validity period with a valid visa. Therefore, the validity period of the COE will be prioritized. So, for example, even if the validity date of the visa is later than that of the COE, you cannot enter Japan even with a valid visa after the COE expires. That is why you must be careful.
Also, currently, you cannot apply for a visa at the Japanese embassies / consulate generals (Embassy of Japan, etc.) unless you have a “special exceptional circumstance.” If the border restrictions are lifted and the issuance of visas start again, there is a high chance that problems concerning the validity period of the COE and that of the visa will occur, so please be especially careful.
Supplementary information
Many misunderstand, but the validity period of the visa and the period of stay (ex: 3 months, One year, etc.) mentioned on the COE (around the middle of the COE on the “Status 在留資格” column) are 2 different things. The validity period of visas being recently issued is 3 months. The validity period means the visa itself is valid from this date to that date. After the validity period is over, the visa itself expires. You cannot extend the validity period of the visa.
Next, about the period of stay mentioned on the COE, the period starts from the day you actually enter Japan. For example, if the period of stay written on your COE is “One year,” and you entered Japan on July 19, 2021, the period of stay will be 1 year from that day. In other words, the period you are permitted to stay in Japan is 1 year from the date of entry.
The Difference Between a Visa and the Certificate of Eligibility
Last, I would like to talk about the meaning of a visa and the meaning of a COE for reference.
A visa is issued by the Japanese embassy or consulate general located abroad (Embassy of Japan, etc.). It has a meaning to “confirm” that the passport of the foreign national is valid, and to “recommend” that there is no problem for the individual to enter the country with the conditions written on the visa.
A COE, Certificate of Eligibility, certifies that the individual applies to condition (2) of the conditions (1 ~ 4) required to land in Japan listed below. Presenting this certificate at the landing examination makes the examination procedures run smoothly.
- The passport and visa are valid.
- The activities plan to be done in Japan are not false and applies to the status of residence. Also, if the status of residence has a landing permission standard, it must fit the standards as well.
- The period of stay related to the application must suit the regulations specified by the ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
- Does not apply to the reasons for denial of entry
We, at IMS, have a wealth of experience in supporting customers with countless and a variety of COE applications. If your company is thinking of hiring employees from abroad, or if you are a foreign national thinking of inviting your family to Japan, please consult us.
★Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel yet? We have a new company introduction video!★
For more information, please contact us below ↓
https://imsvisa.support/en/contact/
