Job Discussion Forums

rich45 · Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 127

Hi,

I'm working in Seoul at the moment, but I have found a job in Japan and I will fly to Tokyo on the 10th August.

My future employer emailed me this morning to say my Certificate of Eligibility is ready, and she is going to send it to me.

Now, I am going on a short vacation to Japan at the end of July for 5 days, so my questions are:

Can I wait until, say the 2nd August to go to the Japanese Embassy in Seoul?
or
Can I enter Japan and tell them that I don't want to activate my working visa yet?

Thanks for reading,

Rich Smile

seklarwia · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 9:53 am Post subject:

Once your visa is in your passport you can't enter as a tourist anymore. So the moment you step foot in Japan your year (or possible 3 years) will start ticking.

But that won't be a problem. Your COE is valid for a while (I think 3 months... I'm sure somebody else can confirm this) so you can just hold on to it and process it once you get back.

rich45 · Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 127

fluffyhamster · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 9:16 pm Post subject:

Yup (Sek), a COE is valid for 3 months - see Q14 in this link:
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/qa.html

FWIW:

-Same thing with the visa the COE grants; the visa has to be used within 3 months from the date it is entered into one's passport by the overseas consulate or embassy.

-Upon entry to Japan the visa gets stamped 'Used' and the appropriate Status and Period of Stay entered into one's passport.

-Don't forget to get along to your local city hall well within a month of arrival, in order to register your address in Japan and get an ARC (Alien Registration Card, or whatever it might now be called), as that's a form of ID that will be required for banking, utilities etc. Also inquire about getting NHI (but doubtless the cheaper 'Kokumin kenko hoken' scheme rather than the more expensive 'Shakai hoken', unless you are hell-bent on paying into and eventually retiring on a Japanese pension!).