What kind of photo is required for the Certificate of Eligibility?
When applying for a Certificate of Eligibility, a photograph is required. If the photo is not appropriate, you may be asked to resubmit a new one. Here are some points to keep in mind regarding the photograph to be submitted.
What is a Certificate of Eligibility?
A certificate of eligibility is a document that certifies the activities that a foreigner can engage in while residing in Japan. This certificate is not for short-term stays, such as for sightseeing, but for mid- to long-term stays in Japan. This certificate describes the activities that the foreigner is allowed to engage in, but not other activities.
In other words, this certificate is a document that certifies that the activities and status in Japan (spouse, etc.) are not false and that the foreigner has the status of residence. Therefore, without this certificate, it is not possible to prove in Japan the activities that the foreigner intends to engage in upon arrival in Japan. Therefore, it is necessary to apply for and receive a Certificate of Eligibility in order to enter and engage in activities in Japan.
What is photo data?
The following documents are required to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility.
(1) Application form for Certificate of Eligibility
The form can be downloaded from the Ministry of Justice website. You can also check the example of how to fill out the form on the website.
(2) Photo data
A photo that meets all of the following conditions must be submitted.
・A photograph taken within the last three months prior to the application.
・A clear color image, hat not removed, upper body, frontal view, no background
・Film size less than 1MB
・Photocopies of printed photographs are not acceptable.
(3)Photocopy of passport (the page with photo, name, nationality, etc.)
What precautions should I take when submitting photo data?
The first point to note is the size of the photo. The height is 4 cm and the width is 3 cm. As for where to take the photo, a photo booth near a train station or other such location is fine. However, if you want to make data, it is better to go to a photo shop and get the data together with prints.
There are no particular rules regarding the position of the face, as long as it fits within the photo. However, if the face is too small in the photo, you may be asked to resubmit the photo.
In addition, it is not acceptable to use an old photo or to reshoot a photo you currently have and use it as data. Naturally, you should not use apps to process photos that you already have. Furthermore, should you avoid wearing large accessories on your ears or other parts of your face, which may make your face unrecognizable?
Conclusion
The facial photograph required for the Certificate of Eligibility must be up-to-date and recognizable as the applicant’s own. Although it may be somewhat financially burdensome, it is recommended to have it taken at a photo shop and keep it in data.
