Foreigners staying in Japan have to be applicable to one of 27 types of immigration status. There are limitations on activities for foreign nationals holding the status of residence. When you work or study or marry or start your own business in Japan, the applicant living outside Japan is able to apply for a Visa to the Japanese embassy and consulate abroad. It takes a long time; therefore a person who lives in Japan in place of the applicant is able to apply for the certification of status of residence. It is called an Application for Certificate of Eligibility. You can apply for the documents to the immigration office of the territory, where the school or the company where you want to go is situated. It is decided whether it is available to issue the certification or not after the inspection taken from 8 and 10 weeks. Then the person who is in place of the applicant sends it to the applicant who is planning to visit Japan. The applicant applies for the Visa that is suitable for the status of residence to the Japanese embassy and consulate abroad. Then you can visit Japan after getting Visa. The certificate of eligibility is not a replacement for a Visa. Even though you can get the certificate of eligibility from the immigration office, it could be that a Visa is not issued from the judge of the Japanese embassy and consulate abroad.

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