COE processing times

Final Update:
CoE type: Dependent
Applicaion date: August 4, 2023
Issue date: March 5 2024
Total time: 214 days

Tokyo immigration: surprise email, no request for documents, nothing wrong with application.

My father-in-law called the Tokyo Immigration, Chiba office yesterday, and they said that we will receive the COE earliest a week from now, and latest in two weeks. The information is kind of odd -- perhaps just an overly zealous estimation.

Visa: Spouse of Japanese National
Date Submitted: November 7th
Location: Tokyo Immigration, Chiba Office
Status: "Being Processed," and no additional documents were ever requested
My Nationality: USA

@ImmigrationSucks

Oh, I hope that is true. Because that means mine should be soon too.

Visa: Spouse of Japanese National
Applied: October 17th, 2023
Had to send additional documentation: October 20th, 2023
Bureau : Tokyo immigration
Status: Still waiting - 140 days

Hello everyone, back with an update...

Applied COE type: Highly Skilled Visa
Submission date: Beg of July 2023
Submitted place: Tokyo Immigration
Status: Still waiting: COE Approved (Feb 21, 2024...received March 4, 2024)

I was approved back in February for my COE, keep in mind you have 90 days from your COE approval date (not when you receive your COE) to get back into Japan with a proper Visa.

The next step is to properly Identify your Visa type which will be on the COE. I thought mine would be the "Highly Skilled" and it turned out to be "Skilled Labor" which are two different types of Visas, so carefully look as the next step is very important!

The information I will be sharing is for people based in the US in the Arizona or California area. Though you just have to google your Country/Region, City/State for your own Embassy/Consulate to send your passport and paperwork to. Also, when you do find the proper Embassy/Consulate, check their site or call them and be sure they actually "Process" Visa applications, some actually don't.

Here is a site that shows the steps you'll need to properly be ready for your Visa application.

---https://www.la.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/visiting_japan_visa.html

There is a section titled "Visa Application at the Consulate" which is where you can choose the type of Visa you are applying for. Mine is a "Work or Long Term" visa so I clicked on that link. A PDF file will pop up and this shows exactly what needs to be sent to them to apply for your actual Visa.

***MAKE SURE YOU ARE FILLING OUT THE CORRECT VISA APPLICATION FOR YOUR SPECIFIC TYPE, WHICH SHOULD BE LISTED ON YOUR COE***

When taking your "Passport Photo" to glue (use a gluestick) to your application, be sure to ask whoever is doing it if they can take a "Japanese Passport Photo" that is the size you need (45mmx35mm). I went to Staples and they were able to do that for me here in the US.

Here is a link to show what is needed for the Japanese Passport Photo for your application.

---https://www.ivisa.com/photo/blog/japan-passport-visa-photo-requirement...

This should help every with the process after receiving your COE, Good luck to everyone, and I wish you all the best in life!

@ immigrationsucks,

I hope we get it soon because am in the same month and date with you.

Congratulations to those who got theirs today.

So I called Tokyo immigration myself (4 months waiting, dependant COE).

Even though they technically have an English line, good luck getting them to talk to you in English lol. I had to speak only Japanese to communicate with them, which was a bit of a struggle but I do think the October coes will be processed soon.

I was told this time that my application will likely get mailed out this month, which is way more information than I usually get when contacting them. So fingers crossed and good luck everyone!

Anything new today ...so far no post 😫

@Mrs(guest)
Mine was a SSW visa for 5 years!

and i applied around oct 25th

Hi all,

So we actually received our COE on Tuesday night, March 5th. Then yesterday, March 6th, I drove to the Japanese Consulate in Los Angeles to drop off my Visa application. My father-in-law scanned the COE and sent it to me via email the same day he received it. We're expecting the visa to come in next Monday or Tuesday.

Visa: Spouse of Japanese National
Date Submitted: November 7th
Location: Tokyo Immigration, Chiba Office
Status: Approved on March 4th, Received on March 5th
My Nationality: USA

@ImmigrationSucks

Oh nice! You already got yours? Congrats! I wonder why I haven't received mine yet... I did mine more earlier than you in the exact same location for the same visa..

Visa: Spouse of Japanese National
Applied: October 17th, 2023
Had to send additional documentation: October 20th, 2023
Bureau : Tokyo immigration
Status: Still waiting - 142 days

@immigrationsucks

Congratulations to you...
I pray we all get ours soon.
We try again next week

Applied: 2023/Nov/07
Status: still waiting
Tokyo immigration.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECEIVE COE FOR WORKING?

My child COE application update:

Date applied : 10/16/2023
Additional Papers Sumbitted : 12/07/2023

Went and asked last about the result at Shinagawa 2/28/2024, they said already eready around 2/26/2024, please wait in your house.

Today, 3/8/2024 : still nothing!

Anyone here got denied after waiting so long?

Hello does anyone know? Does Coe processing time change from one ken to another ken?
Does anyone know how much time it take to receive a coe from gunma,ken Tokyo immigration?

@Raizo99

When did you submit your visa application at the LA consulate? Have you received your visa yet?

@ImmigrationSucks

I just sent it to them on Tuesday (3/5/2024), I sent it Express USPS with a prepaid Express USPS envelope inside. I tracked it and it was delivered by Thursday (3/7/2024). Today is Friday the 8th, so I don't expect any info until the end of next week. They say it takes roughly 5 days, as long as you have your COE and all proper paperwork.

Once I get it back and approved I'll be posting my update on here for yall.

@ hana
it heard it takes two weeks to delivered the coe from the immigration to the default location

Unexpectedly, my approved COE came in the mail today. No email or phone call advance notice, just the same return envelope we used when submiting the COE.

Hopefully everyone gets theirs in a timely manner, I know how difficult the waiting is 😭

- Applied for Spouse Dependant COE on Oct. 23
- Additional documents submited Jan. 9
- Saitama Immigration (processed as Tokyo immigration)

Hello everyone,

Let's not loss hope as we try again this week🤗