When foreign individuals plan to enter Japan and reside there, they need to prepare various documents such as a passport, plane tickets, and a visa. Among these, the most important are the passport and the visa. The passport is issued by the government, while the visa is issued by the Japanese government (Embassy or Overseas Diplomatic Establishment).

For residence purposes such as “short-term stay” for tourists in Japan, as well as for “diplomatic” and “official” for diplomats and embassy personnel, visa applications must be made to Overseas Diplomatic Establishment (such as Japanese embassies abroad). When applying for a “short-term stay” visa, applicants must complete the visa application with the required documents specified by the actual Overseas Diplomatic Establishment. However, please note that this does not apply to countries with visa exemptions (Short-Term Stay).

On the other hand, for other types of residence statuses, it is mandatory to submit a Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice (hereinafter referred to as the “Immigration Office”) when applying for a visa at overseas diplomatic missions.

Under current law, there are 29 categories of residence statuses, categorized into those that allow work and those that do not. First of all, it is essential to thoroughly consider whether there is a residence status applicable to the activities a foreign national intends to engage in Japan. If one has an applicable residence status, please check the criteria for obtaining residence status carefully. Once the necessary documents are gathered, the foreign national or their representative must apply for a “Certificate of Eligibility” to the Immigration Office. Once the application is approved, the Immigration Office will issue the “Certificate of Eligibility for Status of Residence, and finally, you can enter Japan.

Therefore, the foreign nationals and their representatives must obtain this Certificate of Eligibility. In other words, the activities that the foreign national intends to undertake in Japan must fall under one of the residence statuses specified in the “Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.” The examination and certification of whether the activities meet the criteria (commonly referred to as “residence status eligibility”) are conducted by the Immigration Office before the foreign national enters Japan, under the system known as the “pre-entry examination system.”

The examination conducted by the Immigration Office generally involves the following aspects: It evaluates the submitted documents and evidence to assess whether the proposed activities for residence align with the criteria. Additionally, the examination determines the suitability and applicability of the residence status based on administrative and legal precedents, as well as factors such as the history of denial of landing, residence history, forced departure, and other relevant considerations. The final decision is reached after a comprehensive and objective assessment of these factors.”

As a result, individuals who are found to meet these criteria and requirements are issued a Certificate of Eligibility, while those who do not meet the criteria receive a Notice of Non-Issuance. Therefore, applicants should ensure that they obtain and organize all necessary documents and evidence. It is crucial to demonstrate clearly that the application aligns with each criterion and requirement to avoid any troubles during the examination process.

For your reference, the processing time for each case varies but generally takes approximately 1 to 3 months from the application’s acceptance date. Once the Certificate of Eligibility is issued by the Immigration Office, it is sent to the foreign national using international postal services.
Upon receiving the Certificate of Eligibility, the foreign national can submit a visa application to the overseas diplomatic mission along with other necessary documents. The visa is typically issued within about one week. Then, the foreign national can enter Japan within the validity period of the visa. Upon arrival at the airport or port of entry, the immigration inspection procedure will take place, during which the landing permission stamp will be affixed to the passport, allowing the foreign national to enter Japan.