Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sets out a specific checklist of documents that foreign nationals must submit when applying for a Japan work visa — the route most skilled workers use to take up paid employment in the country. Every applicant needs a valid passport, a completed visa application form, and one passport-sized photograph; nationals of Russia, CIS countries, or Georgia must submit two copies of the form and two photographs instead of the standard one.
The document that matters most is the Certificate of Eligibility (COE). It is issued by a regional immigration bureau under Japan’s Immigration Services Agency, and it confirms that an applicant meets the conditions to land in Japan and that the work they have declared is genuine and falls within a recognised status of residence under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. Applicants can submit either the original COE or a copy; those who were issued an electronic COE must show it on a screen at the visa counter or bring a printed copy. A proxy based in Japan — typically the employer or a representative — is allowed to apply for the COE on the applicant’s behalf, which is why most employers handle this step before the worker ever visits an embassy or consulate.
Holding a COE is not strictly required. Applicants who do not have one can still apply, but MOFA requires them to submit a much larger set of supporting documents, and processing can stretch to several months rather than the roughly one week typical of a COE-backed application. Even with a COE in hand, MOFA is explicit that presenting it does not guarantee a visa will be issued — it only makes the embassy review and the landing examination at passport control more straightforward.
Requirements can vary by nationality, and MOFA directs every applicant to check the specific document list published by the Japanese Embassy, Consulate-General, or Consular Office with jurisdiction over where they live before filing. For readers combining a Japan work move with a property purchase, the paperwork sequence is the same regardless of city or prefecture: secure the COE through the employer first, then assemble the standard passport/form/photo set before booking a visa appointment.
References
Legit.ng – Japan Publishes Required Documents for Foreign Workers to Get Skilled Labour Visa / Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan – VISA
