Japan’s COE (Certificate of Eligibility) Digitalization

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Can receive the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) via email!
Background
Benefits include
Persons to whom this notification applies:
Notice
Reference Page

Finally, from March 17, 2023, the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for residency in Japan will be digitized. Despite Japan’s slow progress in digitalization, it has been promoted in immigration-related work over the past few years.

Digital Certificate of Eligibility

Can receive the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) via email!

From 17^th March 2023, the foreign nationals can receive the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) via email!

In addition, foreign nationals can apply for visa and landing permission by presenting this email in person.

Background

The Japanese government has explained the specific reasons for COE digitalization as follows:

“In the Priority Plan for Realizing a Digital Society (7th June 2022 Cabinet Decision), the current paper-based Certificate of Eligibility (COE) will be electronically issued in FY 2022 through improvements to the online residency application system and the foreigner entry and exit information system using electromagnetic records. This is necessary to improve the convenience of foreigners, as well as to promote smoother landing and residency examination procedures.”

Before today, the COE had to be sent as a paper original by mail. I myself have sent it using EMS or DHL, but in some countries, the postal situation is poor, and transportation can take weeks to months. There was always a risk of loss, and I was anxious.

I have also heard stories of Japan’s proxy agents who do not know the local postal situation, sending the COE by regular mail, making it impossible to track and requiring a tearful reapplication.

If it becomes data instead of paper, the COE can be transmitted immediately after issuance, and applicants waiting overseas can apply for a visa on the same day.

This will be particularly helpful for residency applications for entertainers and performers who have tight schedules and cannot adjust their itineraries.

Currently, COE applications can be submitted online through the residency application system, but after review, it requires sending a reply envelope to immigration, putting the COE in the envelope, and having immigration return it. This was a very complicated procedure. Although the application has been digitized, the COE itself has not been digitized, which reduced convenience. It was very inefficient for there to be postal exchanges for the COE, even though there was an IC card. If this is eliminated, it will be a very welcome change for us.

Benefits include

The email can be transferred to the foreign nationals concerned living abroad, which reduces the time, effort, and cost of sending mail by post internationally.

In addition,

Online application makes it possible to complete the whole application procedures for issuing the Certificate of Eligibility and to apply for the residence procedures online after entering Japan.

Persons to whom this notification applies:

Those who apply for issuing a Certificate of Eligibility online.
Those who have completed user registration online in advance and visit a regional Immigration Services Bureau to apply for issuing a Certificate of Eligibility.

Notice

Foreign nationals who have a paper Certificate of Eligibility may submit a copy thereof.

When a representative of the applicant applies for a visa at a Japanese embassy, consulate, or consular office outside in Japan, the said representative must submit the original or a copy of the applicant’s paper Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or a printed copy of the email.