C. What Is a Certificate of Eligibility?

A Certificate of Eligibility is issued before a visa application by a regional immigration authority under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice (listed in Appendix 3) as evidence that the applicant fulfills various conditions of the Immigration Control Act, including those certifying that the activity in which the foreigner wishes to engage in Japan is valid and comes under a status of residence (excluding Temporary Visitor Status).
The Certificate of Eligibility has the advantage of reducing the time required to obtain a visa and complete immigration procedures, since a foreigner in possession of such a certificate can probably acquire a visa at an embassy or consulate without any inquiries being made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, by showing the certificate to the immigration officer, obtain landing permission more easily.
Please note, however, that even if a foreigner possesses a Certificate of Eligibility, an embassy or consulate will not issue a visa in certain circumstances -for example, if there has been a change in the situation since the issue of the certificate (such as the company that was planning to hire the foreigner deciding not to do so because of business difficulties) or if it becomes evident that the documents submitted to obtain the certificate were false.(See inadmissible visa applications)
There are two processes for acquiring a Certificate of Eligibility, as shown in the accompanying diagram. An application is usually made by a proxy in Japan at the nearest regional immigration authority (listed in Appendix 3) to the proxy's place of residence in Japan. The second process is limited to special cases, such as applicants who happen to be residing in Japan and are prepared to leave the country to apply for a visa.
For more details concerning the acquisition of a Certificate of Eligibility and the time required, please inquire at the nearest regional immigration authority (listed in Appendix 3).

2) Applying for a Visa with a Certificate of Eligibility

Under the Immigration Control Act, any foreign national who enters Japan (except for those with the status of 'Temporary Visitor') is able to apply through a proxy (that is, a person in Japan ) for a certificate in advance and establish that he/she fulfills the criteria stipulated by the Ministry of Justice Ordinance in Japan . If the Ministry judges that the applicant fulfills the criteria, it will issue the certificate of eligibility for the appropriate status for that person in Japan . The certificate is called a 'Certificate of Eligibility' as for the status of residence. This system is designed to make entrance procedures simpler, faster and more efficient.

XIII. Procedures After Entry into Japan

After entering Japan, foreigners may have to carry out the following procedures, depending on their status. All these procedures should be undertaken at the nearest immigration authority. Although these procedures are unrelated to acquiring visas, they are included here for reference, because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does receive many inquiries about them. For further information, please inquire at your nearest immigration authority (not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). (See Appendix 3.)

Permission to extend term of residence

This permission is required when a foreigner wishes to remain in Japan under the same status of residence after the originally authorized term of residence has expired. Applications must be made before the term of residence expires.

Permission to change status of residence

This permission is required when a foreigner wishes to cease his or her present activity and engage in another activity covered by a status of residence different from the one originally granted.

Permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted by the status of residence previously granted

This permission is required when a foreigner who has a status of residence limiting his or her activities wishes to engage in an income-generating business or a paid activity that is not permitted under that status of residence. In other words, this permission is necessary if a foreigner wishes to engage in a secondary activity that belongs to a different status of residence.

Permission for permanent residence

This permission is required when a foreigner residing in Japan wishes to acquire a permanent resident status.

Permission to acquire a status of residence

This permission is required when a foreigner stays in Japan without going through entry procedures (for example, when a foreign baby is born in Japan or a person renounces Japanese nationality) and wishes to remain in Japan more than 60 days after the occurrence of the matter.

Certificate of Work Eligibility

This certificate is issued to foreigners who have a status of residence permitting them to work.

Re-entry permission

This permission is required when a foreigner residing in Japan wishes to leave the country temporarily and then return during the authorized term of residence. (Permanent foreign residents also require re-entry permission.)

Transfer of endorsements to new passport

When a foreigner obtains a new passport because the old one has become invalid or been lost, he or she must get any valid stamps for status of residence, authorized term of residence, and multiple re-entry permission transferred to the new passport.

Cancellation of passport endorsements

When a foreigner no longer requires a status of residence because, for example, he or she has acquired Japanese nationality, he or she must have all valid stamps in his or her passport canceled.

Alien registration

Another procedure that foreign residents must not forget is alien registration, which they must complete at the municipal office of the area in which they live (not at a regional immigration authority). Foreigners staying in Japan for more than 90 days are obliged to complete alien registration. (They will receive a Certificate of Alien Registration, which they must carry at all times.)

What is landing permission?

Landing permission is stamped in a foreigner's passport by immigration officers at the airport or seaport where he or she goes through immigration procedures. It is this landing permission, not a visa, that serves as the legal basis for the foreigner's stay in Japan. A visa is only a recommendation and does not automatically guarantee landing permission.
When a foreigner wishing to enter Japan arrives at an airport or seaport in Japan, he or she first of all has to apply to an immigration officer for landing permission. The immigration officer will check the validity of the foreigner's passport, the existence of a visa when necessary, the validity of the visa, the purpose of entering Japan, the scheduled period of stay, and so on. Landing permission will be granted only if all the conditions stipulated in the Immigration Control Act, including those being checked by the immigration officer, are met.
The stamp of landing permission states not only the date and port of entry but also the status of residence (often referred to as immigration status) of the foreigner, which determines the activities in which that foreigner is permitted to engage in Japan and the term of residence of his or her immigration status.
The receipt and validity of landing permission are prerequisites for any future applications at a regional immigration authority in Japan for a specific purpose, such as extension of term of residence or change of status of residence. Any such applications must be made at the nearest regional immigration authority to the applicant's place of residence in Japan.
When an immigration officer at the port of entry completes an examination for landing and grants landing permission, the visa immediately becomes invalid (although multiple visas remain valid until the date of their expiration). After that, as explained above, it is the stamp of landing permission that serves as the legal basis for the foreigner's stay in Japan.