The Government of Japan has reopened the country’s borders for travelers for short-term and mid-to-long-term work/business purposes. Travelers must follow the Certificate of Registration (COR) process from March 1, 2022.
The Certificate of Registration Process:
- The hosting company/organization of the hopeful traveler applies for an ID for the portal called ERFS. It typically takes up to a week from the time of application.
- The Japan entity uploads required data in ERFS and applies for a Certificate of Registration (“COR”) for each hopeful traveler. A COR is typically issued the same day.
- Each hopeful traveler applies for a visa at the local consular post with the COR. It typically takes a week from the time of application.
- The traveler is allowed to enter Japan if they have a valid visa issued from a consular post AND they meet the latest quarantine requirement.
Certificate of Eligibility Update
As a surge in the number of travelers and new Certificate of Eligibility (“COE”) applications is expected, the administration issued new statements on the validity of COEs as below:
| BEFORE | AFTER |
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“Declaration” is additionally required in the visa application document package when the original 3-month validity is passed. |
Erickson Insights
Response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, and guidance from government agencies and health advisories change often. Individuals should always check local requirements before traveling.
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to share updates as more news is available. If you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions, please contact your employer or EIG attorney.