Apostille Japan | Japan Apostille and Certified Translation
for the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines
Japan-side support for matters involving Japanese documents for overseas submission
The required Japan-side process for a Japanese document can vary by receiving authority, document type, issuing authority, and purpose of submission. We confirm the receiving authority's published requirements or instructions provided to us and identify the necessary Japan-side steps. For matters involving the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, or the Philippines, we handle eligible MOFA apostille procedures and prepare Certified Translations where required.
WhatsApp and email messages may be sent at any time, regardless of your time zone. Phone hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. (JST).
What We Handle
- MOFA apostille handling for eligible Japanese public documents.
- Certified English translations with a Certification of Translation Accuracy where required.
- Document types include family registers, residence records, civil-status certificates, corporate documents, academic documents, employment documents, and other eligible Japanese records.
- Remote handling is available in many cases for clients in Japan and overseas, subject to the document and issuing authority.
- From our Akasaka office in Tokyo, we handle Japan-side apostille procedures, including appointment-based filing at the MOFA Tokyo service desk where appropriate. With online appointments required at that desk from October 5, 2026, we check current appointment availability and determine the appropriate filing method for each matter, so you do not have to research MOFA's service-desk procedures yourself.
How We Work With You
For Individuals
If you need to submit a Japanese document overseas, we start from the receiving authority's requirements and confirm the Japan-side document, authentication, and translation steps for your submission.
Supported Documents →For Law Firms and Immigration Professionals
For overseas law firms, immigration professionals, global mobility teams, and other professional service providers, Apostille Japan can serve as a Japan-side point of contact for agreed document, authentication, translation, and delivery steps.
For Professional Clients →States
Kingdom
Zealand
Our current destination scope is limited to the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The office is operated by a registered Gyoseishoshi subject to professional confidentiality obligations. Personal records and documents are handled only to the extent necessary for the requested service.
MOFA Apostille Handling Certified Translation Private-Document Authentication Where Required Receiving-Authority Requirement Review
Japan-Side Document Authentication Insights
Practical guidance for overseas legal, immigration, and global mobility professionals handling documents issued in Japan.
How the Apostille and Certified Translation Process Works
We first identify the actual receiving authority and the proof it requires. We then confirm the relevant Japanese record, its issuing authority and form, and whether apostille, private-document authentication, Certified Translation, or another Japan-side step is required.
Please provide the destination country, receiving authority, document name, desired deadline, and whether the document has already been issued. If you do not know the Japanese document name, send the receiving authority's requirement in text.
We review what the actual receiving authority requires the document to prove, together with any authentication, translation, certification, or submission-format requirements.
We identify the relevant Japanese document and confirm its issuing authority, form, issuance status, and the condition of the original where relevant.
We determine whether MOFA apostille handling, private-document authentication, Certified Translation, or another Japan-side step is required, and in what sequence.
Once the required steps are clear, we provide the professional fee, expected disbursements, and scope of work. After engagement, we proceed with document receipt, authentication and translation work, and return or international dispatch as applicable.
* Required procedures vary depending on the receiving authority, the proof required, the Japanese document, and the Japan-side authentication or translation steps involved.
* If you plan to file yourself, see How to Apply for a Japanese Apostille (MOFA) for the procedure, required documents, and power-of-attorney rules.
* Document procurement assistance is assessed separately based on the issuing authority's procedure, the client's eligibility to request the document, and any required authorization.
Daisuke Mori, Apostille & Certified Translation Specialist
Daisuke Mori is the representative of Apostille Japan in Tokyo, specializing in Japan-side apostille procedures and Certified Translation for Japanese documents submitted to the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines. He is a registered Gyoseishoshi (Japanese Administrative Scrivener) under Japan's Gyoseishoshi Act.
Requirements are reviewed based on the receiving authority, document type, issuing authority, and the instructions available for the specific submission.
Member of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry 東京商工会議所 会員
Apostille and Certified Translation Services
For document-specific guidance on issuing authorities, authentication, and translation requirements, see our Japanese Documents Guide.
Professional Fees — Overview
The figures below are representative starting professional fees, tax-inclusive where Japanese consumption tax applies. Final fees depend on the receiving authority, document type, issuing authority and form, and the authentication or translation steps actually required. See the full Pricing page for private-document authentication, document-specific fees, priority handling, disbursements, and other conditions.
Public-Document Package — Where Applicable
MOFA Apostille Handling + Certified TranslationFor an eligible Japanese public document where the receiving authority requires both MOFA apostille handling and one Certified Translation, and where this combination is applicable. The destination country alone does not determine whether the package applies. Japanese police certificates follow a separate fee structure.
| Service | Professional fee |
|---|---|
| MOFA Apostille Handling | From JPY 55,000 |
| Certified Translation | From JPY 33,000 |
* Certified Translation from JPY 33,000 is a typical starting point for civil-status and employment-related Japanese documents. Fees vary by document category, length, form, and required certification.
* These figures are professional fees and include starting prices. Other services — including private-document authentication, academic and corporate document translation, police certificate handling, optional coordination, document procurement where permitted, priority handling, and disbursements — are explained on the full Pricing page.
MOFA Apostille Verification
For apostilles issued by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on or after June 1, 2026, the authenticity of the apostille can be checked through the Apostille Verification website using the QR code or URL printed on the certificate. The apostille certifies the official seal on a Japanese public document; it does not certify the substantive truth of the document content. (Reference: MOFA: Certification (Authentication / Apostille))
Apostille and Certified Translation FAQs
Which destination countries do you currently handle?
Our current service scope is limited to the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines. Requirements still vary by receiving authority, procedure, document type, and purpose, so the required Japan-side steps are confirmed for each matter.
What is a Certified Translation?
A Certified Translation is an English translation accompanied by a Certification of Translation Accuracy, in which the translator certifies that the translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate from Japanese into English. The certification states the translator's name, signature, contact details, and date. It is a certification by the translator and does not in itself involve an oath or notarization. Where additional notarization or authentication is required, the necessary Japan-side steps are confirmed separately.
Can I use this service from overseas?
Yes. Many matters can be handled remotely by email and mail. Whether document procurement or another procedure can be handled on your behalf depends on the issuing authority, the client's eligibility, and any required authorization. Our services are limited to documents intended for the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, or the Philippines.
What is the turnaround time?
Turnaround depends on the receiving authority's requirements, the issuing authority and form of the document, the condition and location of the original, the authentication or translation steps required, and the method of receipt and return. Processing times of MOFA, Japanese notary offices, the Legal Affairs Bureau, municipalities, delivery providers, or receiving authorities cannot be shortened or guaranteed by our office. Please tell us your desired deadline so that we can assess whether the matter can be handled and provide a case-specific estimate.
Start With the Receiving Authority
Please provide the destination country, receiving authority, document, desired deadline, and whether the document has already been issued. If you do not know the exact Japanese document name, send the receiving authority's requirement in text. We will review the document and required Japan-side steps before confirming whether we can assist. You do not need to send sensitive document images containing family-register, tax, seal-certificate, police-record, passport, or similar personal information at the initial inquiry stage unless specifically requested.
You may send a message via WhatsApp or email at any time, regardless of your time zone. We also check messages outside regular business hours and aim to respond as promptly as possible. Phone hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. (JST).
info@apostille-japan.comLegal Notice
Information on this website reflects operational practices at the time of writing to the best of our knowledge. However, requirements, judgments, and operational practices of receiving authorities are subject to change without notice. We are not responsible for decisions or examination outcomes by receiving authorities. Please confirm current requirements with the relevant authority prior to submission.
Scope of Service: Our services are limited to Japan-side document preparation, apostille handling, Certified Translation, and related administrative procedures within the lawful scope of a Gyoseishoshi. We do not provide advice on foreign law, determine whether a receiving authority will accept a document, or represent clients in litigation or other matters reserved for attorneys. Where legal judgment is required, we may recommend consultation with an appropriate licensed professional.