Visa (Certificate of Eligibility holders)

This page is for person(s) visiting Japan for the purpose of work, study, cultural activities, or as a dependent (spouse or child) (Please note this excludes the spouses or children of aliens residing in Japan with the status of “trainee” or “pre-college student”).

This information ONLY applies for applicants who have a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

What is Certificate of Eligibility (COE)?

A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is a document that verifies the activity in which the foreigner wishes to engage while in Japan. The advantage of this document is that it reduces the time required to obtain a visa and complete immigration procedures when work or long-term stay (more than 90days) are the purposes of the trip including: dependent, work (entertainer, artist, professor, researcher, instructor, journalist, business manager, legal or accounting services, medical service, engineer, humanities specialist or international services, intracompany transferee, nursing care, skilled labor), religious activities, study (student/trainee/internship), cultural activities, or long-term resident.
The application for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is made by your sponsor in Japan at the nearest regional immigration authority to his/her place of residence. Employers or schools as well as relatives could become your sponsors.
Once the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) reaches you by way of your sponsor in Japan, you are ready to apply for a visa at the Japanese Embassy. The Embassy highly recommends obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) before applying for visa. Contact the Immigration Services Agency of Japan to obtain a COE. Obtaining a COE takes 1 to 3 months.
- You MUST enter Japan within 3 months of the designated day on your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), regardless of any time limits noted on the actual visa you receive.
- If you have a valid Japanese Visa on your passport at the time you apply for a new Japanese visa (For example, when you apply for a work visa, but you have a student visa which is still valid), please submit a request statement (format) for visa cancellation.
For further information about COE, please see: Application for issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility

Special Visa

Specified visa: Designated activities (Future creation individual) (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 別ウィンドウで開く

J-Find: Japan System for Future Creation Indivisual Visa (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) 別ウィンドウで開く

Status of Residence of “Designated Activities” (for Digital Nomad/Spouse or child of Digital Nomad)

Highly Skilled Professionals

Outline the establishment of a “new system” for accepting highly-skilled foreign professionals Highly Skilled Professional Visa (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 別ウィンドウで開く

J-Skip: Japan System for Special Highly-Skilled Professional (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) 別ウィンドウで開く

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

We recommend that you contact us or apply for a visa approximately 1.5 months before your departure date.

Please note that in principle we do not accept an application from B-1 and B-2 U.S. visa status holders.
The Consulate General of Japan in Nashville., we accept visa applications from Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee residents.
For residents of other states, please refer to the List of Embassy/Consulates in the U.S.

1	Visa Application Form Signed by the applicant (Form / Sample)
2	Valid Passport with at least 1.5 blank pages left
3	One 2”x 2” Photo Must be taken in front of a plain background and within the past 6 months Do NOT use filters Passport type photo only (We do not accept photos on regular printer paper) Use GLUE ONLY to attach the photo to the application, please do not staple or tape.
4	U.S. Visa (if applicable) F-1 visa holders must present an endorsed I-20 form J-1 visa holders must present an endorsed DS-2019 form Please note: The Consulate general of Japan does NOT accept any applications from B-1 and B-2 U.S. visa holders.
5	Proof of Residency e.g., Copy of Driver’s license card, Copy of State ID card, or Utility Bill
6	Certificate of Eligibility (hardcopy) *If you have a digital COE sent by email, please submit a printed copy of your digital COE or the email.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS FOR Dependent visa

1	Copy of dependent's residence card and dependent's visa (if applicable)

Processing Time

In general, it takes 5 business days to issue a visa. (ex., If you apply on Monday, you can pick up a visa next Monday. Our holidays are not counted as "business days.")
It may take more than one month depending on the visa. We recommend that you apply for a visa approximately 1.5 months before your departure date. We do NOT have expedited services.

In-Person Application

We are not accepting walk-in visits at this time.
If you need to apply for visa to enter Japan, you must call us to schedule an appointment.
We DO NOT take appointments by email.
Please call us at the following number.
(615) 340-4300 (Mon- Fri 9:00am-12:30pm, 01:30-05:00pm (except holidays)

Apply by Mail

Your visa application may be processed through the mail. Please enclose a self-addressed envelope and prepaid FedEX, UPS, USPS Priority Express Mail label with tracking number for return. Please include a Release of Liability Form. The Consulate-General of Japan is not responsible for your passport in case of its loss, damage, delay when sending through the mailing service for return.

Applicants who wish to apply by mail should send their documents to:
Attn: Visa Section
Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville
1801 West End Avenue Suite 900 Nashville, TN 37203

Visa Fee

Standard Fees: Single Entry: 20 USD
Double and Multiple Entry Visa : 40 USD
Indian Passport Holder Fees: Single Entry: 6 USD
Extension of Re-entry Permit: 20 USD

*US citizens are exempt from visa fees.
(Some countries are also exempted from visa fees. Please check the visa exempt countries list to find out if your visa fee is waived. )
* Payment is due at the time of PICKUP.
* We accept CASH only (Please prepare cash in the exact amount). We DO NOT accept personal checks and credit cards.