Increase in fees for foreign resident procedures: Change of status 4,000 → 6,000 yen (Nihon Keizai Shimbun 2025/01/31) reports that various fees for residence procedures will be increased. By the way, among the various applications, there is no set fee for “Application for issuance of Certificate of Eligibility.” Why is this?
1.What is a Certificate of Eligibility?
The Certificate of Eligibility (hereinafter referred to as the “CoE”) is a document used by foreigners wishing to enter Japan to prove in advance that they are compatible with their status of residence. Obtaining this has the advantage of making your visa application go smoothly.
Normally, there is a fee for administrative procedures, but in Japan there is no fee for applying for this certification. This paper explores the reasons for this and considers the characteristics of Japan’s system while comparing it with similar systems in other countries.
2.System for CoE and why there is no fee
(1) Overview of the system
A CoE is a certificate issued by the Immigration Services Agency to facilitate immigration control for foreigners. Obtaining this certificate has the advantage of expediting the examination process when applying for a visa at an overseas diplomatic mission outside of Japan.
(2) Reasons why fees are not charged
The following are the reasons why there is no fee for applying for a certification certificate.
1.Public nature of the system and national interest
The purpose of the certificate is to promote the entry of legal foreigners and to accept human resources who will contribute to Japanese society and economy. In particular, smoothly accepting international students, highly skilled professionals, technical intern trainees, etc. is important from the perspective of Japan’s economic growth and international cooperation. Setting a fee increases the burden on applicants and may increase the number of cases in which they hesitate to enter Japan, which is considered to be against the national interest.
2.Streamlining and increasing efficiency of immigration procedures
The issuance of a CoE serves to reduce immigration control duties in Japan by conducting a preliminary examination of residence status after entering the country. Determining eligibility in advance reduces the burden of immigration inspection and improves the efficiency of overall administrative procedures. Therefore, the purpose of facilitating management operations can be achieved without charging fees.
3.Applicant attributes
Applicants for CoE include many people with limited financial means, such as international students, technical intern trainees, and family residents. Instituting a fee would place a heavy burden on applicants, especially from developing countries, and could lead to more cases of abandonment. As a result, there is a risk that Japan will not be able to accept the human resources it needs, so policies are being adopted to reduce the cost burden.
4.Balancing costs with other procedures
Although the certification itself is free, a fee will be charged at the overseas embassy when applying for a visa (generally around 3,000 to 6,000 yen). Additionally, there is a fee for changing or renewing your status of residence after entering the country, so overall there will be a certain amount of cost burden. Taking this situation into consideration, it is thought that consideration has been taken to avoid placing an undue burden on applicants by waiving the fee for CoE.
3.Comparison with similar systems in other countries
(1) America (visa application and entry permit)
In the United States, there is no pre-screening system equivalent to Japan’s certification, and all foreigners are screened at the time of applying for a visa at an overseas embassy. The main visa application fees are as follows:
- B (tourist/business visa): $185
- F (Student Visa): $185
- H (work visa): $205 or more
American visa examinations are more rigorous than those for Japanese certifications, and additional interviews and examinations are often required. Although the fee is high, it is thought to reflect the examination cost.
(2) United Kingdom (Entry permit “Visa Sponsorship”)
In the UK, there is a “Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)” which is equivalent to the Japanese certification. This is issued by your employer and submitted at the time of your visa application, but a fee will be charged.
- CoS issue fee: 239 pounds (approximately 45,000 yen)
- Visa application fee (e.g. Tier 2 work visa): approximately £600 to £1,400
The British system is thought to be intended to cover examination costs by collecting fees and to tighten immigration control.
(3) Canada (Immigration Program)
In Canada, when applying for a work visa or student visa, an “Invitation to Apply (ITA)” or “Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)” may be required as a pre-screening, and a fee will be charged for these.
- LMIA examination fee: 1,000 Canadian dollars (approximately 110,000 yen)
- Student visa application fee: 150 Canadian dollars (approximately 16,500 yen)
Canada’s system requires employers and applicants to pay the cost, which is in contrast to Japan’s free system.
4.Characteristics of Japan’s system and future prospects
Japan’s certification system aims to reduce the burden on applicants and encourage the acceptance of legal foreign nationals. Compared to other countries, Japan has adopted a system that minimizes the burden on applicants, which also contributes to maintaining its international competitiveness.
However, as the number of applications increases in the future, the burden of examination may increase. Therefore, it is possible that fees may be introduced in some categories. For example, with regard to applications for certified certificates for highly-skilled professional visas, one possibility would be to collect a fee only when a company applies.
5.Conclusion
The reason why there is no fee for applying for a Japanese Certificate of Eligibility is the result of considering the public nature of the system, efficiency of administrative procedures, applicant’s attributes, and balance with other procedures. Compared to other countries, Japan has adopted a system that reduces the burden on applicants and promotes the acceptance of foreigners, but it is necessary to consider the possibility of future system reforms.