Returning Old COE necessary?

Hi,
I had a COE issued back in 2021 and even got the visa (Engg/specialist/foreign), but was not able to travel due to the lockdown. Decided to stay back in my country for another 2 years.
Now I have applied for a new COE in March 2023, Do I need to return the older COE or it doesn't matter?

TYIA

immigration can find the record of issuing the old OCE. when they find it, they may ask you how did you treat it. you must response it. it takes a while for communications and issuing a new one will be delayed.
if you return the old one, they may be able to save some steps and their whole investigation process may be shortened and easier.

Thanks for your answer.
I did attach a scanned copy of my COE with other documents while applying.
I hope a digital copy is all they need (if they need it) .

it is better to send back the original.

You said you even applied for the visa using the older CoE you had, but could not enter Japan while the visa was valid?

As far as I know, once CoE is �gused�h and the visa is issued based on that, it is no longer valid, in other words it has expired. This means that you would not have any problem of having double CoEs.

Generally speaking, the issue with having �gtwo CoEs�h is when (1) you apply for a job with two employers, both accept you, and get both of them to start the CoE process for an overlapping period, without informing one or the other to stop the application process, or (2) you still have an outstanding (meaning still before expiry, or not used) CoE and you apply for another one for an overlapping period.

So in your case, my gut feeling is that you would not have any problem. If you have a digital copy of the CoE and send it with your application, they might use it as a piece of reference information - verification that you�fve already fulfilled the requirements for a work visa once in your past, but that would be about it.

THis is my take, but I am not an immigration lawyer.