Professional Explanation! What is the expiration date of the Certificate of Eligibility?
If you intend to stay in Japan for a medium to long term, you must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility before entering the country. However, please note that this Certificate of Eligibility has an expiration date, so if you make a mistake in applying for it at the wrong time, it may expire when you need it, and you may not be able to use it.
What is a Certificate of Eligibility?
A certificate of eligibility certifies which status of residence a foreigner intending to enter Japan falls under in terms of the activities to be performed in Japan.
This certificate is intended for foreigners staying in Japan for medium- to long-term stays, so it does not apply to short-term visas for sightseeing, visiting relatives, etc. Such foreigners are required to apply for a temporary visitor visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate abroad before entering Japan.
When a foreigner enters Japan for the purpose of sightseeing, the immigration inspection is conducted at a branch office of the Immigration Bureau at the airport. However, the screening process for foreign nationals entering Japan over the medium to long term can be time-consuming.
In order to save time and effort, the Immigration Bureau will examine the foreigner in advance to determine whether or not he/she is allowed to enter Japan, and if so, certify that he/she will be granted status of residence once in Japan. If the foreigner is admitted, a certificate of eligibility will be issued to him or her after he or she enters Japan.
Then, before entering Japan, the foreigner (applicant) goes to the Japanese embassy or consulate in his/her country with the issued certificate of eligibility to apply for a visa.
How to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility?
There are two ways to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility.
The first is for the foreign national to come to Japan and apply in person, and the second is for a company or organization that accepts the foreign national in Japan to apply on the foreign national’s behalf in Japan.
However, since the first method requires the foreigner to come all the way to Japan, the second method, in which the receiving organization applies on behalf of the foreigner, is the most common method. Normally, an administrative scrivener or a staff member of the host institution will file the application on behalf of the foreigner. For status of residence (e.g., spouse of Japanese national), it is common for a relative of the applicant to apply on behalf of the applicant.
What is the expiration date of the Certificate of Eligibility?
A Certificate of Eligibility is valid for three months from the date of issue. Therefore, you must enter Japan within this three-month period. If it expires, the Certificate of Eligibility becomes invalid.
Therefore, you should apply for a Certificate of Eligibility when you are almost certain that you will enter Japan. If you can no longer enter Japan, you must return the Certificate of Eligibility issued to you to the Immigration Bureau. At that time, a statement of reasons stating the reason for returning the certificate must also be submitted.
Conclusion
When a foreigner stays in Japan for a mid- to long-term period, a certificate of eligibility is required. However, it is valid for only three months, and the application should be made only after the prospect of entering Japan has been established to some extent.
