Apostille Japan | Japan Apostille & Certified Translation
for the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines
Apostille & Certified Translation — Specialist for Five Anglophone Jurisdictions
We primarily assist Japanese nationals living overseas and others who need to submit Japanese public documents abroad, as well as corporate clients, law firms, immigration consultants, and other professionals handling documents for overseas submission to the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, or the Philippines. We also assist individuals in Japan who need to submit documents overseas.
Japan Apostille and Certified Translation at a Glance
- Tokyo-based Gyoseishoshi office handling Japanese public documents for five target jurisdictions.
- MOFA apostille procurement and certified English translation are reviewed together.
- Supported documents include family registers, residence records, birth and marriage certificates, diplomas, employment certificates, and police certificates.
- Remote-first service is available by email and international mail for clients in Japan and overseas.
States
Kingdom
Zealand
Focused expertise for five Hague Convention jurisdictions
Apostille Japan is operated by a licensed Gyoseishoshi Administrative Scrivener subject to statutory confidentiality obligations under Japanese law. Personal records, certificates, and translation documents are handled only to the extent necessary for the requested service and are managed with care throughout receipt, processing, retention, return, deletion, or disposal.
Apostille Certified Translation Notary Assistance Authentication Review
アポスティーユ · Certified Translation · 公証役場手続き支援 · 認証手続き確認
How the Apostille and Certified Translation Process Works
Where available, we can coordinate the Japan-side process from obtaining Japanese public documents through a Ministry of Foreign Affairs apostille, a certified English translation prepared by our office from the Japanese original, and domestic or international delivery of the completed documents.
Please provide the destination country, receiving institution, document name, and desired timeline.
We check whether an apostille, certified translation, notarization, or related procedure may be required.
We provide an estimate of professional fees, disbursements, and the expected processing time.
We receive the original document or review copy and confirm the document details.
We proceed with the required authentication and certified English translation steps in the appropriate order.
Resulting documents are sent by domestic mail or international delivery, depending on the case.
* Required procedures vary depending on the receiving institution, document type, and purpose of submission.
* Document procurement assistance is assessed individually based on identity verification, powers of attorney, eligibility to request the document, and the procedures of the issuing authority or municipality.
Daisuke Mori, Gyoseishoshi / Administrative Scrivener
Apostille Japan is a Tokyo-based professional service dedicated to handling Japanese public document authentication and Certified Translation for submission to five English-speaking jurisdictions. Our office in Akasaka sits within minutes of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supporting careful coordination of apostille applications and related document workflows.
By focusing exclusively on the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines, we review destination-specific instructions and document requirements for each case, rather than offering generic multi-country coverage.
Member of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry 東京商工会議所 会員
Apostille and Certified Translation Services
Professional Fees for Apostille and Certified Translation
Country-Specific Standard Package
Apostille + Certified TranslationA standard package covering one apostille procurement and one Certified Translation for submission to one of the five target jurisdictions. Destination-specific document-format review is included. Additional requirements from the receiving authority, changes in requirements, preparation of additional documents, re-authentication, or re-shipment will be confirmed separately. The final amount, including the applicable tax treatment, will be confirmed in the quotation or invoice.
USCIS
UKVI
ICA
Immigration New Zealand
PSA
| Service | Professional fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | From JPY 55,000 | 3 to 5 business days |
| Office-side priority handling | From JPY 82,500 | Individually confirmed |
| Service | Professional fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | From JPY 66,000 | 5 to 7 business days |
| Office-side priority handling | From JPY 99,000 | Individually confirmed |
| Document type | Professional fee |
|---|---|
| Standard civil registry documents, including family registers, residence records, marriage certificates, birth certificates, and death certificates | From JPY 33,000 per document |
| Diplomas and academic transcripts | From JPY 38,500 per document |
| Driver's licenses, passports, and identification documents | From JPY 33,000 per document |
| Corporate registry certificates | From JPY 44,000 per document |
| Non-standard documents, including articles of incorporation, contracts, and court judgments | From JPY 6,600 per 400 Japanese characters |
- Priority handling may be available depending on the document type, receiving authority requirements, and operational feasibility.
- Priority handling may involve office-side document review, translation, application preparation, in-person submission preparation, dispatch coordination, or priority case management.
- This option does not shorten the processing time of MOFA, Japanese notary offices, the Legal Affairs Bureau, or receiving authorities.
- Availability is confirmed case by case before engagement.
- Fees are payable in advance.
- Bank transfer, credit card, and PayPay payment are available.
- Disbursements such as notary fees, government fees, postage, and courier charges are collected in advance where applicable.
- Domestic and international mail-in requests are accepted. Return shipping may be arranged by EMS, registered international mail, DHL, FedEx, or another trackable method.
Not sure which package applies to your document? Please share the destination country, document type, receiving authority, and desired turnaround. We will provide a fee estimate including expected disbursements before engagement.
Formal Quote & Inquiry →Recent MOFA Apostille Verification Update
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
Why focus on only five countries?
We specialize in the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines because these are five Hague Convention jurisdictions with broadly comparable apostille routes, while translation and document-format requirements differ by receiving authority. These jurisdictions generally do not operate a single sworn-translator system comparable to certain civil-law jurisdictions, but the receiving authority's current instructions must be confirmed for each case. Certified Translation is commonly used for these jurisdictions, but the required steps depend not only on the destination country but also on the receiving authority, the specific procedure, the document type, and the purpose of use. In some cases a Certification of Translation Accuracy on its own is sufficient; in other cases notarial authentication by a Japanese notary office and further authentication steps are required. We confirm the final route based on the receiving authority's published guidance or the instructions provided by the client.
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. Depending on the receiving authority's requirements, notarial authentication of the translator's signature on the certification may be required, followed, where required, by certification of the notary's seal by the Legal Affairs Bureau and a MOFA apostille. We coordinate the required steps based on the receiving authority's published guidance or the instructions provided by the client.
Can I use this service from overseas?
Yes. The service is designed to operate remotely in many cases. Overseas clients can make contact by email, send documents by international mail (or have relatives in Japan deliver them), and receive authenticated documents by FedEx, DHL, or EMS to a global address, depending on the case. In many cases, no visit to Japan is required. Our services are generally limited to documents intended for the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, or the Philippines; matters involving destinations outside these five jurisdictions are generally outside our current service scope.
What is the turnaround time?
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs currently indicates the following standard processing times: for in-person applications, return by mail after three business days or counter pickup after four business days; for mail applications, dispatch after three business days. Applications of ten or more documents at a time, congestion, document deficiencies, or additional checks may require more time. Mailing time in both directions and any notary office or Legal Affairs Bureau steps are estimated separately. Certified Translation time is estimated separately depending on document volume and complexity. For time-sensitive matters, office-side priority handling may be available for document review, translation, preparation, and dispatch coordination. This option does not shorten the processing time of MOFA, Japanese notary offices, the Legal Affairs Bureau, or receiving authorities. For inquiries, please contact us via email or WhatsApp.
Legal Notice
Information presented here describes the services we provide. 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. We strongly recommend confirming current requirements with the relevant authority prior to submission.
Scope of Service: Our services are limited to document preparation and submission representation under the Gyoseishoshi Act. Matters constituting legal practice — including legal validity determinations, litigation, and inheritance settlement representation — are reserved for licensed attorneys (bengoshi) and are outside our scope. For matters requiring legal judgment, we may recommend that you consult a licensed attorney or another appropriate professional.