What is a "CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY"?

A "Certificate of Eligibility" is issued before a visa application by a regional immigration authority under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice as evidence that the applicant fulfils various conditions of the Immigration Control Act, including those certifying that the activity in which the foreigner wishes to engage in Japan is valid and comes under a status of residence ( excluding Temporary Visitor Status ).

The Certificate of Eligibility has the advantage of reducing the time required to obtain a visa and complete immigration procedures, since a foreigner in possession of such a certificate can probably acquire a visa at an embassy or consulate without any inquiries being made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, by showing the certificate to the immigration officer, obtain landing permission more easily.
[However, there are some exceptional cases where work, specified & general type visas are granted by the Japanese embassy or consulate without certificate of eligibility and/or without any inquiries being made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Please note, however, that even if a foreigner possesses a "Certificate of Eligibility", an embassy or consulate may not issue a visa in certain circumstances -for example, if there has been a change in the situation since the issue of the certificate (such as the company that was planning to hire the foreigner deciding not to do so because of business difficulties) or if it becomes evident that the documents submitted to obtain the certificate were false.

Validity of Certificate of Eligibility

The certificate of eligibility is valid for 3 months from the date of issue and within the validity a visa should be obtained and landing in Japan should be done.

Entering Japan with Certificate of Eligibility

At the time of entering Japan on the working visa granted overseas on the basis of the Certificate of Eligibility, the visa is regarded as cancelled upon entry to Japan. [However, in the case of multiple entry work visa it is not so.] The immigration official at Narita or another port of entry will replace it by stamping residence status and the expiry date of stay on passport. With that stamp in place, permission for an extended stay in Japan is given.