Currently filling up my COE application form for a work visa.I am from Singapore where the name format and order is different from other countries as some of us have both a English Given name and a Chinese Given name.
For example if my name is John Tan Wei Ming, on my Passport’s Visual Inspection Zone(VIZ), whereby:
John = Given name (English)
Tan = Family Name
Wei Ming = Given name (Chinese)
The Singapore passport only has a single name field.
For all my supporting documents (Passport, diploma, academic transcript) are all written in this order:
John Tan Wei Ming
However, in the COE application form it states that the order should be Family Name then Given Name, which makes my name:
Tan John Wei Ming
This name order is also shown in my passport but in the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) section at the bottom of the page ( Tan<<John<Wei<Ming<<<<<<<).
I have asked the company hiring me about this and they said to input the name as Tan John Wei Ming.
However I am slightly worried if this will cause issues with the application due to discrepancy of the names or would immigration sort it out themselves?
Does anyone have any experience with this?
2 comments
> I have asked the company hiring me about this and they said to input the name as Tan John Wei Ming.
If I were you, I would call/email and ask either immigration services in Japan, or at your local Japanese embassy.
If you’re worried, call immigration but they will probably tell you what your company said to you. There is only first and last name in Japan. The MRZ is standardized across all passports, and it’s surname followed by given name. Any middle names or additional names are tacked onto your first name as one given name(s).
I have two first names and my mom’s maiden name in my legal name. For example, if my first names are Mei Ahn, my mom’s maiden name is Doe, and my last name is Smith my name in Japan is:
Smith, Mei Ahn Doe
It makes it a pain because my legal name is very long. If you don’t go by your English name but instead go by your Chinese name, register a legal alias 通称名(tsuushoumei) at the ward office.