Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
In Japanese: 在留資格認定証明書 (zairyu shikaku nintei shomeisho)
Definition
A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is a document issued in advance for a foreign national to obtain residence status in Japan, used for visa applications.
In more detail
A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is issued before entry by a regional immigration office, certifying that the planned activities in Japan fit a status of residence. For international students, the receiving school often applies as the proxy.
With the COE the student applies for a visa at an embassy, and the status of residence is granted at the landing examination on entry. The COE itself is not permission to enter or stay.
A COE is valid only for a limited time; check the period on the certificate and in Immigration Services Agency guidance.
Tracking application documents, issue dates and planned entry dates per student between application and admission helps avoid delayed enrolment.
In Classio
Classio’s international-student records bring together residence card and passport expiry, work hours, attendance rate and cases for each student, and notify the student and staff as deadlines approach. Notifications and applications themselves are made by the school and the student.
See also
Related terms
- Residence status
Residence status is the legal status that lets a foreign national stay and act in Japan; there are types such as "Student", each with a period of stay.
- Residence card
A residence card (zairyu kado) is issued to mid- to long-term residents staying in Japan for more than three months and shows their status and period of stay.
Sources
Sources checked: October 18, 2026