Certificate of Eligibility

Those who wish to enter Japan for purposes other than those described in Temporary Visitor Visas usually need to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility before applying for their visa. The Certificate of Eligibility is issued by the Ministry of Justice in Japan and it is your sponsor in Japan who applies for it on your behalf at the local immigration bureau in Japan.

The time needed to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility is between one to three months, and we urge you make sure that your sponsor in Japan applies for the Certificate of Eligibility well in advance.

The certificate is valid for three months, and if the applicant has not applied for the visa and entered Japan before the certificate expires, then a new certificate must be obtained before entering Japan.

• Flow Chart for Visa Application with Certificate of Eligibility

If the certificate is invalid at the time of entry to Japan, then the visa itself will also be invalid and you will be refused entry into Japan.

The embassy is not involved in the application procedure, and all questions should be directed to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.