1) What is the “CoE, change or renewal of residence status"?

A "status of residence" is required for foreigners to stay and work in Japan.

There are three main types of application procedures for status of residence: authorisation, change and renewal, which vary depending on whether the foreigner is in Japan or not, what kind of activity he/she will be engaged in and other factors.

-Approval (application for issuance of a certificate of eligibility): Foreigners living abroad are invited to come to Japan.

-Change (application for permission to change residence status): To change the scope of a foreigner's activities in Japan.

-Extension of stay (Application for permission to extend the period of stay): To extend the period of stay of a foreigner in Japan.

The following is an introduction to each of these procedures, including the documents required.

＞For more information on residence status, please refer to this page

About Residence Status

2) Application for a Certificate of Eligibility (Certificate of Eligibility)　　

The official name for "Approval, Authorization" of residence status is "Application for Issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility".

The "Application for Issuance of Certificate of Eligibility" certifies that a foreign national who intends to enter Japan meets the requirements for one of the residence statuses (other than temporary visitor and permanent resident) for the activities they attend to engage in in Japan.

①Documents Required

The following are the documents required to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility if your residence status is "Engineer/Specialist in humanities/International services" or "Specified Skilled Workers”

【General documents】

Application for Certificate of Eligibility for Residence Status (1 copy)

Photograph (4㎝×3㎝) 1 copy

　(Taken within 3 months of the application, clear, with no hat on the upper half of the body, no background, and with the applicant's name on the back).

A self-addressed envelope

(A self-addressed, stamped envelope with a 404 yen stamp (for registered mail).

ⅰIn the case of "Engineer/Specialist in humanities/International services"

The documents required vary depending on the category of your organization (company).

Please refer to the following for the documents to be submitted.

＞Click here for a set of application documents for "Engineer/Specialist in humanities/International services" certification.

ⅱIn the case of “Specified Skilled Workers”

The required documents differ depending on the organization (company) and industry (field) you belong to.

Please check the documents to be submitted below.

＞Click here for a complete set of application documents for "Specified Skilled Workers” certification.

② Fees

No fee is required.

The official name for "Change of Residence Status" is "Application for Permission to Change Residence Status".

An "Application for Permission to Change Status of Residence" is an application by a foreigner who is staying in Japan under one status of residence to change to a new status of residence when they attend to change their activities corresponding to a different residence status.

As you live in Japan, the main examples you are going to encounter are changing residence status from "Student" to "Engineer/Specialist in humanities/International services" or when you are experiencing a change of place of employment or the nature of your work.

①）Documents required

The following are the documents required to apply for a change of residence status when the residence status is "Engineer/Specialist in humanities/International services" or "Specified Skilled Workers".

【General documents】

-Application for permission to change residence status (1 copy)

-Photograph (4 cm x 3 cm) 1 copy

　(Taken within 3 months of the application, clear, without hat on the upper part of the body, without background and with the applicant's name on the back)

-Passport and residence card

ⅰIn the case of "Engineer/Specialist in humanities/International services"

The documents required vary depending on the category of your organization (company).

Please review the documents to be submitted below.

＞Click here for a set of application documents for a change to "Engineer/Specialist in humanities/International services"

ⅱ In the case of "Specified Skilled Workers”

The documents required will vary depending on the organization (company) and industry (sector) to which you belong.

Please check the documents to be submitted below.

＞Click here for a set of application documents for a change to a "Specified Skilled Workers” category.

②）Fees

A fee of 4,000 yen is required if you are granted a permit.

Fill in the fee payment form and pay with revenue stamps.

4) Application for permission to extend the period of stay (Renewal)　　

The official name for 'renewal' of residence status is 'application for permission to extend period of stay'.

An 'Application for Permission to Extend the Period of Stay' is an application made by a foreigner who is in Japan under one of the residence statuses and wishes to continue to stay without changing the residence status, provided that there is no change in their place of work or the nature of their work.

①）Documents required.

The following are the documents required for an application to extend the period of stay when the residence status is "Engineer/Humanities/International Services" or "Specified Skilled Workers”.

【General documents】

〇Application form for the extension of the period of stay (1 copy)

〇Photograph (4 cm x 3 cm) 1 copy

　(Taken within three months of the application, clear, with the upper half of the body without a hat and without a background, with the name written on the back).

〇Passport and residence card

ⅰIn the case of "Engineer/Specialist in humanities/International services"

The documents required vary depending on the category of your organization.

Please review the documents to be submitted below.

＞Click here for a set of renewal application documents for "Engineer/Specialist in humanities/International services"

ⅱIn the case of "Specified Skilled Workers”

The documents required will vary depending on the organization (company) and industry (sector) to which you belong.

Please check the documents to be submitted below.

＞Click here for a complete set of "Specified Skilled Workers” renewal application documents.

②）Fees

A fee of 4,000 yen is required if you are approved.

Fill in the fee payment form and pay with revenue stamps.