- Denial of Landing
- Passport & Visa
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
- Immigration / Landing Examination
I will explain what each process and element entails one by one.
Denial of Landing
Not everyone is allowed to enter Japan. Naturally, Japan cannot allow criminals or dangerous individuals to enter. Therefore, the Japanese government has established laws defining who can and cannot enter. The list defining those who cannot enter contains the “Reasons for Denial of Landing.” Decisions are made objectively, fairly, and uniformly based on this list, and if a person falls under these reasons, landing is basically denied.
“Naturally, we cannot let criminals enter the country.”
Passport & Visa
Basically, a passport and a visa are required to enter Japan (with some exceptions).
A passport, often in the form of a booklet, is issued by the government of the foreign national’s home country. It clarifies the holder’s identity and serves as a guarantee that the home government will take the person back if necessary. This allows the country accepting the foreigner to receive basic profile information from the most trustworthy source, with a guarantee of its correctness. Based on this, they can permit entry, knowing they can hold the home country responsible for taking the person back in an emergency.
“This is America. Our citizen Edward is going over there (to Japan), so please take care of him. Let us know if anything happens.”
Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is essentially a preliminary offer (pre-approval) of a Status of Residence received before coming to Japan. There is a reason for this pre-approval system.
First, there are three main conditions required to land in Japan:
- Must not fall under any Reasons for Denial of Landing
- Passport and Visa must be valid
- Must fit a Status of Residence category
Landing is permitted only when these three conditions are cleared. Among these three, examining whether a person “fits a Status of Residence” takes time. Therefore, instead of arriving in Japan and waiting for an on-the-spot examination without a reservation, this certificate allows the foreigner to undergo screening specifically for the Status of Residence part while still in their home country and receive a preliminary decision. Obtaining this beforehand is the mainstream application process.
Immigration / Landing Examination
The landing examination checks the following three conditions for entry. If cleared, landing permission is granted.
- Must not fall under any Reasons for Denial of Landing
- Passport and Visa must be valid
- Must fit a Status of Residence category
Additionally, the landing permission examination system provides three chances for review:
- 1st Examination: Examination by an Immigration Inspector
- 2nd Examination: Hearing by a Special Inquiry Officer
- 3rd Examination: Objection filed with the Minister of Justice
“We examine 3 items through a 3-stage examination system.”