Given the current situation with COVID-19, the Immigration Services Agency has decided that Certificates of Eligibility – which are normally valid for 3 months – will be treated as follows (Updated on June 22, 2022).
Japanese: https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/930005022.pdf
English: https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/930005023.pdf
-----From the Immigration Services Agency of Japan Website--------------------
・Certificates of Eligibility issued between January 1, 2020 and April 30, 2022 will be valid until October 31, 2022.
・Certificates of Eligibility issued between May 1, 2022 and July 31, 2022 will be valid for 6 months from their date of issuance.
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As of June 1, the immigration restrictions to enter Japan have been further relaxed, and a majority of the international students have come to Japan. Here at the university, in-person classes and student activities are being actively conducted. Regardless of the extension of the COE validity period mentioned above, please enter Japan by the beginning of September in time for the start of fall semester in-person classes. If you receive a positive result in the pre-departure PCR test taken within 72 hours of leaving your home country, your trip to Japan will be delayed, so please begin preparations to come to Japan as soon as possible. The content and format of classes vary from department to department, so please follow the policies of the college or graduate school to which you belong.
＊If your COE becomes invalid before you enter Japan, please contact the International Center and attach an explanation as to why you were unable to enter the country before it expired.
＊Despite acquiring a special reentry permit before leaving Japan, those students whose status of residence expired while they were away from the country should start the application process to acquire a COE anew. *Inquiries concerning COEs should be directed to this form.
＊If three months have passed since the issuance date listed on your Certificate of Eligibility, you will need a Declaration Form (moshitate-sho) issued by the university.
＊If you will be entering Japan anew, you can request the issuance of this Declaration Form on AMARYS (the immigration data management system). For further information, please check this FAQ section for new international students entering Japan.
If you have any questions, please access this web form, and send an inquiry by clicking "行いたい手続き Choose a procedure that you wish to proceed" > "５. その他（問合せ/連絡）Others (Inquiry/Contact)".