Congratulations! If you were fortunate enough to have a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) issued while visiting Japan on a tourist visa, you’ve already cleared a significant hurdle.

Under normal circumstances, you would need to return to your home country or country of residence, visit a Japanese embassy or consulate, apply for the visa, and then re-enter Japan with your new visa. This process can be quite inconvenient, especially if your home country is far from Japan, adding not only travel expenses but also the cost of your time.

However, there is a way to bypass this hassle. It is possible to convert your tourist visa to a new visa without leaving Japan. That said, the process has specific conditions you must meet.

For instance:

  • You must have stayed in Japan continuously since applying for and submitting your COE.
  • If you have left Japan and returned after applying for a COE, you will need to be careful. Specifically, you will not be able to complete this procedure unless you have continuously stayed in Japan from the day before the issue date of your COE to the present.
  • You need to keep track of the expiration date of your current tourist visa. Remember, obtaining a COE does not automatically extend your tourist visa. You’ll still need to complete the necessary procedures at the Immigration Bureau to ensure compliance.

If you’re unsure about any of these steps, feel free to reach out to us. We may be able to provide guidance or assistance.

Additionally, if you arrived in Japan on a tourist visa and only later learned about the new type of visa, it might still be possible to apply for and secure it without leaving Japan. Of course, you’ll need to have all the required documents ready—either stored on your PC or sent to you via email.

Navigating these processes can be tricky, but with the right support, you can successfully transition to the visa that best suits your needs.

 

Common cases

Question 1: Can I change from a tourist visa to a Student Visa?

While in Japan on a tourist visa, I obtained a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for a Student Visa. Can I switch directly from a tourist visa to a Student Visa? I was already in Japan before applying for the COE and remain here after its issuance. I read on your site that obtaining a visa within Japan is possible.

Answer

To use the COE to directly change to a student visa, you need the school to reissue the Application for Change of Status of Residence. First, please ask the school if they can handle this. If the university responds that they will not issue the Application for Change of Status of Residence for the organizational part, changing your status of residence within Japan is likely impossible. As a rule, you should return to your home country to apply for the visa.

Question 2: Issues Regarding Job Offers Obtained on a Tourist Visa

I was living in Japan on a student visa. After graduating from Japanese language school, I did my best to get hired by a company before my student visa expired, but I was unsuccessful and had to return to my home country. I am currently in Japan on a tourist visa. If I am fortunate enough to be hired by a company and receive a Certificate of Eligibility before my tourist visa expires, is it possible to apply for a change of status without leaving Japan?

Answer

It is still possible to apply to change your status of residence from “Temporary Visitor” to a work visa (such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa) while in Japan. However, this requires that you are physically present in Japan when the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is issued, and that your employer has all the necessary preparations for the status change application ready.

Please note, however, that the Immigration Bureau does not guarantee the timing of COE issuance. If the 90-day tourist stay period expires before the COE is ready, you must leave Japan and apply for the work visa from abroad. Unfortunately, waiting in Japan on a tourist visa while the COE issuance timing remains uncertain always carries a certain risk.

 

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