If an applicant wishes to work, study, or live in Japan, he/she should in principle first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility. The Certificate of Eligibility is issued by the Ministry of Justice in Japan. To obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, the applicant must ask a sponsor in Japan (an employer, spouse, school, etc.) to contact the local immigration office and make an application on his/her behalf. The application must be made by a sponsor in Japan. It cannot be made by the applicant himself.

Once a Certificate of Eligibility has been obtained, the applicant should bring in

1. Valid passport
2. One visa application form, completed and signed
3. One passport-sized photograph (taken within last 6 months)
4. Original Certificate of Eligibility
5. One photocopy of Certificate of Eligibility

All visa applications must be submitted by the applicant in person at this office.

It normally takes 3 working days.

Please note that Certificate of Eligibility expire after 3 months of the issue date.