COE processing times

Ours took 10 days.

Branch: Tokyo
Applied: Sept. 9
Approval: Sept 19
Number of applicants: 1 + 2 dependents
Education level: PhD
Category: Specialist in Humanities.
Nationality: USA.

Note:
* Previously held visa 4 years ago.
* Same employer this time.

Only difference between then and now is that we have a child and JLPT N1.
Experience, education level and nationality is important. Higher priority is given to educated migrants that are able to contribute to society.

Congrats everyone who got their COE recently! Thanks for sharing your update.

@Pihfs
Congrats! May I ask what's your company's category? (if you don't know about the category system: where does your company fit in - between a big listed multinational and a brand new start-up?)
AFAIK this has a bigger importance than any of the criteria you mentioned for the humanities visa

I'm asking this because people reporting that they got their COE in less than a month are very often employed by category 1 or 2 companies, aka big companies (I'm just looking for evidences to support or contradict this observation)

If this is not the case, congrats anyways! You got extra lucky with your wait time. Enjoy your life in Japan :)

@BU (guest)

May I know which branch you applied at?
My application was sent to the Tokyo immigration early July and I haven't heard anything yet.

Finally got my COE.

Applied 7/11th
Approved 10/8

I applied at the Tokyo Tachikawa branch. 3 applications for dependents of a national.

I know it’s a very difficult process to wait endlessly and not have any indication of how things are going. Honestly, given that this was for dependents of a national, and that we’re US citizens, and because we have decent savings in Japan I’m a little surprised that it took this long but ultimately it was within the 1-3 month range.

I’m hoping that all those out there waiting still that this is their break through week and that even though you’re not getting any information may the cogs behind the doors be slowly turning in your favor. Good luck y’all!

@Pihfs

I’m glad for ya. However, as a fellow American applying your discourse is troubling…

“Higher priority is given to educated migrants that are able to contribute to society.”

I’m not disputing that the authorities do prioritize folks with higher education level, but people contribute to society of various ways. The officials can have their standards but don’t act like if you have more education somehow you contribute to society more.

@COEYES1

I agree with you, this statement rubbed me wrong as well. All of us COE applicants are future migrants able to contribute to Japanese society in our own specialty, regardless of our education level. Otherwise Japan wouldn't grant us a visa.

Also education/JLPT level has little to do with wait times for the humanities visa. These are important criteria for the HSP visa, but for humanities, immigration only care about seeing that you got at least a junior college degree (it's ok even if the degree has nothing to do with your current job. They just want to see a degree. Any.) and are paid no less than a Japanese national. That's all.

Also congrats on your COE!!

Applied on January 20th 2024
Received my COE on October 1st . It almost took eight and half months to get.

Nationality: Indonesia
Visa Type: Student
Apply Date: 22 June 2024 (by School)
Submitted: Tokyo Immigration
Status: Still waiting

My school said that I could get my COE around the end of August, until now there is no update on my COE.
There are about 60 applicants for the October term at my school, but only about 30 people have gotten COE as of September 15 and about 30 more people left still waiting for COE.

@Mana

Mine was the Shinagawa one.

@COEYES1,@Enha,

Congrats! for Ur COE,I agree with you, I think keeping people waiting till 7-8 month without any information also wrong ,They should reject applications if not eligible. or respond over help line.(which is always busy)
Applied dependent COE almost 6 month ago at Tokyo immigration. still waiting.

hello!! any updates from Nagoya Immigration? 🥲

@Pihfs

What a condescending comment. I don’t doubt income has an impact on CoE processing time. However education level does not in any sense equal to more contribution to the society. Congrats on your CoE hope you educate your kid in a better way.

Hello everyone, I have been silently following this topic since the day my husband submitted the application for my dependent COE, which was on May 22, so it's been almost 5 months until now.
I’ve seen that many people have contacted the Immigration Office where they submitted their documents to ask about the status of their applications, but almost all received the same response from the staff: "Your application is being processed."
Yesterday, my husband also went to Osaka Immigration to inquire, and I didn’t expect to receive any new information about my application’s status. However, I was quite surprised when my husband told me that the immigration officer informed him that my application is in the final stage and that a result will be available soon.
Has anyone in this topic received similar information?