(Appendix.1)_Guide_for_Application_for_COE_2025SS

Guide for Application for Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
1. What is a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)?
A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is an official document issued by the Ministry of Justice. All applicants,excluding those who possess a valid status of residence in Japan (*), must have a COE issued before
applying for a student visa. (*A visa for short-term stays such as a tourist visa is not regarded as avalid status of residence in Japan.)
Hitotsubashi University(HU)’s partner law firm will act as a proxy and apply for your COE at the Tokyo
Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice.

*There is no need toapply for a “COE” forthose who have aJapanese passport ora valid status ofresidence in Japan.

Roadmap for obtaining your student visa
When to do

By whoWhat to do Applicant submits information and documents necessary for COE application toAug.~ Sep. 2024

Applicant

HU’s partner law firm. (At this step, the law firm (hit-u@shigyo.co.jp) will email

YOUAREHERE

each applicant first. Please just wait for their email before submission procedures.)
Early Dec. 2024

HU HU releases each applicant’s selection result, based on their application documents.

▶ Receive an electronic COE

 The partner Law firm organizes the COE application documents, based on theinformation provided by applicants, and applies for the COE at the Immigration
Early Dec. 2024

Partner law

Bureau of Japan on the applicants’ behalf. (*Applicants DO NOT need to apply

firmfor the COE by themselves.)

SAMPLE* The COE screening process by the Immigration Bureau generally takes 2-3 months,
but we cannot guarantee or estimate when the COE will be actually issued.
Early Mar. 2025

Partner lawfirm

 Once the COE is issued, the partner law firm receives the COE in electronic▶ Apply for a “Student” visa.

form, and send it to each applicant by email.
 Upon received the electronic COE, applicant applies for a student visa

Mar. 2025(BeforeYour Departure)

ApplicantLate Mar. 2025

Applicantat a Japanese Embassy/Consulate in respective country. For documents required forA visa seal will be placed on apassport when granted.

student visa application, please refer to the website linked below.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa6.html
 Applicant enters Japan with a student visa.

▶ Receive a residence card

If your application documents are insufficient, the COE screening might be delayed. Please submit correct
information and submit an acceptable photo. More information and detailed instructions will be provided after
your nomination is submitted to HU.

Need Help?

Want toContact?

The Residence Card will
be your official identification
during your stay in Japan.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of JAPAN: General visa: Student
https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa6.html

ぎょうせい し ょ し ほうじん

サポート 行 政 書士法人

Immigration Services Agency: Application for Certificate of Eligibility

Support Gyoseishoshi Law Firm Co.Ltd

https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-1.html

📧📧 hit-u@shigyo.co.jp

FAQs: VISA / Residing in Japan https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/faq.html

(Appendix.1)_Guide_for_Application_for_COE_2025SS

2. Specifications for photos to be submitted
Photos to be submitted for various applications should be as specified below.
Please also refer to the “Acceptable Photo Examples” and “Unacceptable Photo Examples” below to help ensure you submit a
photo that meets the specifications.

(Reference) https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/guide/photo_info.html