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A Certificate of Eligibility (hereinafter referred to as “Certificate” or “COE”), which is applied for to invite foreign nationals or for family members to come to Japan, may result in a “non-issuance”. The disappointment upon receiving such a notification can be significant, especially after eagerly awaiting it. However, non-issuance does not mean “you can never come to Japan again.” In this article, an Administrative Scrivener will clarify, based on official sources, the main reasons why a Certificate of Eligibility may be denied, the difference between “non-issuance” and “denial” of Status of Residence (and why administrative appeals are not possible), how to confirm the reasons for non-issuance, and key points to review for a re-application, from both the perspective of the foreign national and the HR professional of the accepting company. First, let’s calmly begin by identifying the cause.
For information on how to respond to a denial of an Application for Change of Status of Residence or Application for Extension of Period of Stay for those already in Japan, please refer to our separate article “Guide to Re-application After Visa Denial.” For residence planning with a view to permanent residence, please also see “Administrative Scrivener Explains Requirements for Permission for Permanent Residence.”
A Certificate of Eligibility is a procedure where the Minister of Justice confirms in advance, before entry into Japan, that the activities a foreign national intending to enter Japan plans to engage in fall under a Status of Residence and meet the conditions for Landing (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act [hereinafter, Immigration Control Act] Article 7-2). With this Certificate, the Visa application at overseas diplomatic missions and the Landing examination at Japanese airports or ports are conducted simply and quickly.
According to the Immigration Services Agency, there is no Application Fee for an Application for Certificate of Eligibility. The standard processing time is stated to be 1 to 3 months. It is common for the company or family inviting the foreign national (e.g., accepting organization, supporter) to proceed with the application on behalf of the foreign national.
“Non-issuance” means that, as a result of the review, the conditions for Landing were not deemed to be met. It’s natural to feel discouraged, but correctly understanding the cause will reveal the next step.
As a result of this review, if it is found that the foreign national falls under the grounds for denial of landing or does not meet the conditions for Landing, the Certificate of Eligibility will not be issued (Immigration Services Agency). This is “non-issuance.” The starting point is to calmly ascertain why the non-issuance occurred.
The reasons for non-issuance vary depending on the case, but the following types are commonly observed in practice. All of them relate either to “eligibility (whether it applies to the Status of Residence)” or “compliance with criteria and substantiation (whether it can be demonstrated with documents).”
| Type | Example Content |
|---|---|
| 🔍 Lack of Status of Residence Eligibility | It was determined that the planned activities do not fall under the activities of the applied Status of Residence (e.g., weak relevance between job duties and major/career). |
| 📄 Lack of Compliance with Criteria / Substantiation | It could not be sufficiently confirmed from the submitted documents that the conditions for Permission for Landing (e.g., academic background, work experience, remuneration level) were met. |
| ❓ Doubts about Document Credibility | Inconsistencies were found in the content of the submitted documents, and the factual basis was deemed insufficient. |
| 🏢 Circumstances of the Accepting Organization | Insufficient explanation or documentation regarding business continuity, stability, or necessity of employment. |
| ⛔ Falling under Grounds for Denial of Landing | It was determined that the foreign national falls under the grounds for denial of landing under the Immigration Control Act, such as a history of deportation or certain criminal records. |
What is important here is that non-issuance does not necessarily mean an evaluation of “lying” or “violating the system.” In many cases, it is a problem of “communication” where the explanation of eligibility was not conveyed, or necessary substantiating documents were insufficient. If the cause can be identified, there is room to strengthen the substantiation in a re-application.
In Status of Residence procedures, “non-issuance” and “denial” are often confused. While similar, there is a significant difference in how they can be challenged (filing an objection).
Why can’t the non-issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility be challenged by an administrative appeal? The issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility is not Permission for Landing itself, but rather positioned as a procedure to confirm the conditions for Landing in advance. Since non-issuance is not categorized as a “disposition refusing permission,” it is not subject to administrative appeal.
📌 That’s why “re-application” is the primary option. When a Certificate of Eligibility is not issued, the main practical response is to analyze the cause, strengthen the substantiating documents, and then re-submit the Application for Certificate of Eligibility. While theoretically, there is a way to challenge the non-issuance decision itself in court (administrative litigation), it involves significant time and burden of proof, so in most cases, re-application is the more realistic approach.
The key to a successful re-application is to correctly understand “why the denial occurred.” If you re-submit the same documents without knowing the reason, you may get the same result.
⚠️ Detailed points about the system and operations can also be confirmed at the Immigration Services Agency’s General Information Center for Foreign Residents (0570-013904) or the competent regional Immigration Services Agency. Instead of proceeding vaguely, first solidifying the facts may seem like a detour but is actually the shortest path.
Once you have an idea of the cause, prepare for a re-application. There is no Application Fee for re-applying for a Certificate of Eligibility, so focus on “the quality of proof” rather than “the number of attempts.” The following checklist serves as a guide.
| Review Perspective | Specific Confirmation Points |
|---|---|
| 🎯 Explanation of Applicability | Can you specifically explain that the planned activities correspond to the activities permitted under the Status of Residence being applied for, by linking job duties, major, and career history? |
| 📚 Proof of Compliance with Standards | Is compliance with the Permission for Landing standards, such as academic background, work experience, and remuneration level, supported by objective documents like certificates and contracts? |
| 🧾 Reinforcement of Statement of Reasons | Is a Statement of Reasons attached that explains the circumstances and background regarding points deemed insufficient in the previous application? |
| 🏢 Documents of the Accepting Organization | Are documents demonstrating the continuity and stability of the business, and the necessity of employment (e.g., financial statements, registration, organizational chart) prepared? |
| 🔗 Consistency Check | Are there any discrepancies in dates, names, titles, or numerical values among the various documents? |
When reviewing, the idea of “adding missing proof” rather than “re-collecting the same documents as before” is important. In particular, applicability (the connection between activity content and career history) is a part that tends to be emphasized in the immigration review. Additionally, please refer to other articles for general responses when a Status of Residence is denied.
💡 Also pay attention to the timing of re-application: If your planned arrival date in Japan (e.g., start date of employment, enrollment date) is fixed, schedule your re-application allowing for a standard Processing time of about 1 to 3 months. To meet the deadline, early cause analysis and document preparation are essential.
For companies inviting foreign nationals, the denial of a Certificate of Eligibility is an issue directly impacting recruitment plans. Keeping the following points in mind will facilitate re-application and rescheduling of start dates.
When a company analyzes “why the denial occurred” together with the individual and reinforces it with company-side documents, it leads to both successful recruitment and appropriate acceptance.
To avoid denial itself, it is paramount to provide thorough proof at the initial application stage. Utilize the following perspectives for your pre-application self-check.
📎 Furthermore, the issuance of the Certificate of Eligibility is becoming digitized, allowing it to be received via email. After issuance, it can be used for Visa applications and Application for Landing via smartphones, etc. Preparing with the post-issuance process in mind will ensure a smooth arrival in Japan.
Q1. My Certificate of Eligibility was denied. Does this mean I can no longer come to Japan?
A. No. Denial means that “the conditions for Landing could not be confirmed based on the content of this application,” and it does not permanently prohibit your arrival in Japan. You can review the reasons and submit an Application for Certificate of Eligibility (Re-application) again.
Q2. Can I file an administrative appeal against a Denial?
A. Regarding the Application for Certificate of Eligibility, the Immigration Services Agency states “Method of Appeal: None.” As a general rule, it is not possible to contest a Denial through an administrative appeal based on the Administrative Complaint Review Act. In practice, Re-application is the primary course of action.
Q3. Will I be informed of the reasons for Denial?
A. It is common for the notification letter not to detail the reasons. In some cases, an explanation of the reasons may be provided at the counter. It is effective to analyze the discrepancies between the submitted documents and the decision through the expert who handled the application.
Q4. Is there a Fee for Re-application? Can I apply any number of times?
A. There is no Fee for the Application for Certificate of Eligibility. There is also no limit on the number of times you can apply, but resubmitting the same content is unlikely to change the outcome. Therefore, analyzing the reasons and strengthening the evidence is a prerequisite.
Q5. How long does a Re-application take?
A. The standard processing time for a Certificate of Eligibility is said to be 1 to 3 months. For a Re-application, expect a similar period and it is recommended to prepare early to meet your planned arrival in Japan.
Q6. What should a company (accepting organization) prepare?
A. The main task is to prepare documents demonstrating the continuity and stability of the business, the necessity of employment, and the relevance of the job duties to the applicant’s background. Strengthening these points in conjunction with the applicant’s background and qualifications will improve the accuracy of the Re-application.
While the Denial of a Certificate of Eligibility can be disheartening, it is also a starting point for reviewing the “explanation of eligibility” and “supporting documents.” Although a Denial of a Certificate of Eligibility cannot be contested through an administrative appeal, the option of a Re-application, which incurs no Fee, remains. The quickest path to subsequent issuance is to calmly identify the reasons for Denial and strengthen any insufficient evidence. If you are struggling with cause analysis or the design of a Re-application, or if your company needs to revise its arrival schedule, please consult an experienced Administrative Scrivener.
Our office provides consultations to both foreign nationals and accepting companies, based on the latest institutional trends.
Please feel free to use our free consultation service first.
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For those who will apply for a status of residence at the Immigration Services Bureau by themselves. Before you submit, we check your application form and supporting documents and tell you about any missing documents and points to watch. We accept checks online (Google Meet, about 20 minutes) or via LINE.
・Eligible: applications for a Certificate of Eligibility, change of status of residence and extension of period of stay (applications for permanent residence are accepted only from residents of Miyazaki Prefecture). Naturalization is not covered.
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・What we tell you is our office’s opinion. It does not guarantee approval; the outcome depends on the decision of the Immigration Services Bureau.
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・If we find that a document contains information that is not true, or that the application is not your own (or a family member’s), we will decline the check.
This article is based on publicly available information as of July 2026. Details and operation of the system may change in the future. For actual applications, please confirm with official information from the Immigration Services Agency or our office.
Author of this article: Administrative Scrivener Satoshi Nakayama
Representative, Administrative Scrivener Corporation Miyazaki International Legal Office
Location: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture
