The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) on March 27, 2026, issued circular regarding the Simplification of procedure for extension of Certificate of Coverage (COC) cases under Article 7.2 of the Social Security Agreement between India and Japan.
Following a bilateral meeting between India and Japan, procedures for extension of Certificate of Coverage (CoC) under the Social Security Agreement (SSA) have been simplified to improve ease of doing business and living.
• Extension up to 8 years (beyond 5 years) can now be granted without consultation between the two countries if specific conditions are met (e.g., project delays, successor issues, children’s schooling, nearing retirement).
• Regional Offices can directly issue CoC for such cases without requiring prior approval/NOC from Japan, speeding up the process.
Additional provisions:
• Pending cases (awaiting Japan’s consent) can now be processed under the new simplified procedure.
• Liaison agencies may still consult each other in specific cases if needed.
• The new process is effective immediately.
Instructions to Regional Offices:
• Publicize the new guidelines and assist applicants.
• Ensure proper verification, documentation, and record-keeping.
• Submit monthly reports of CoCs issued to the Head Office for sharing with Japan.
Overall, the changes aim to streamline CoC extensions, reduce delays, and enhance cross-border workforce mobility between India and Japan.
[Notification No: IWU/7(13)2008/Japan/E-55049/51]
