Hi guys, so I received my COE from a company I’m going to work for on the 21st of January and I was told I had to use it within 3 months, meaning the 21st of April. I used it to get my visa about a month ago, but I’m not sure if I need it to enter Japan as well. Because of a bunch of delays with receiving my visa and catching covid twice, I’m not able to take a flight out until this Saturday which is the 23rd, and I won’t arrive in the 24th.
Is arriving past the expiry date of my COE a problem? I’ve looked it up on this sub and saw one post saying the COE is only needed for the visa application process, so I’m pretty confident. But my girlfriend is unsure so I figured I’d ask just in case. I can’t call the consulate today as it’s a public holiday in Australia and I want to reassure her ASAP. Sorry if this is annoying.
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You do not need a COE to enter Japan with a valid visa, but it is useful to provide proof to the immigration officer that you are still eligible for the status shown on that visa.
Due to covid, the expiration dates of COEs have been extended (until July in your case). Your work just needs to fill out a simple form shown here. https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/930005023.pdf
You have three months to enter from the date your visa is granted. They normally staple the COE to your passport and you hand it to the immigration official at the airport so they can give you your residence card. COE expiry dates must have been extended because mine was granted in July, yet my visa was granted in March. I still haven’t arrived in Japan, but my husband has (with the same expiry dates) and he had no problem whatsoever.