🎯 Who is this for?
Students filling out the application form who are unsure about the meaning of CoE or how it relates to their travel history.
❓ Question
There is a field in the application form called “Past history of applying for CoE.” What is a CoE? Is it the same as travel history?
✅ Answer
A Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) is a document issued by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. It confirms in advance that your planned activities in Japan meet the requirements for a long-term stay. Once you receive a CoE, you can apply for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate outside Japan.
-
A CoE is not a visa, but you need it first in order to apply for one.
-
Travel history is different. It asks about the times you actually entered Japan, even for short visits such as tourism.
-
The “Past history of applying for CoE” field is about whether you have ever applied for a CoE in the past, regardless of whether it was issued, denied, or whether you actually traveled to Japan.
📝 Additional Information
-
When filling in “Past history of applying for CoE,” you need to enter:
-
The Expected Entry Date at the time of application
-
The Requested type of Residence status you applied for
-
The Application result (Issued, Issue rejected, Withdrawn)
-
-
Since you must write the planned date of entry, this shows that CoE applications are usually made while the applicant is outside Japan.
-
A CoE is normally applied for on your behalf by a school, company, or individual in Japan. You cannot usually apply for it directly from overseas.
-
Applying for a CoE while already in Japan is extremely rare, usually unnecessary.
💡 FAQs / Tips
-
✅ CoE = for long-term stay approval before visa application.
-
✅ History of visit to Japan= your actual past visits to Japan including short-term visitt.
-
❌ Do not confuse the two—they are separate records.
🧭 Related Links