What Can and Cannot Be Verified
Eligible for verification
- Apostilles issued on or after June 1, 2026
- Apostilles with a QR code
- Apostilles within the scope of the verification website provided by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Not described as eligible for this website
- Apostilles issued on or before May 31, 2026
- Apostilles without a QR code
- Authentication of official seals (koin kakunin)
- Apostilles issued by foreign governments or authorities
MOFA describes the scope of the verification website as QR-coded apostilles issued on or after June 1, 2026. We have found no official guidance indicating that authentication of official seals (koin kakunin) or apostilles issued by foreign authorities can be checked on this website. For those documents, please refer to the verification method provided by the relevant issuing authority.
Apostilles issued on or before May 31, 2026 are not described as eligible for the online verification website. However, the fact that a document falls outside the scope of the online verification website does not, by itself, mean that it is invalid or forged.
The Three Required Entries
The verification website asks for the following three entries relating to the apostille. All three are entries used on the verification website.
| Field | Entry format |
|---|
| Apostille Number | Half-width numeric characters |
|---|
| Apostille Date | Half-width numeric characters; the displayed example is the 2026/06/01 format (a calendar picker is also available) |
|---|
| Access Code | Half-width alphanumeric characters |
|---|
Verification Steps
- Scan the QR code on the apostille, or open the Apostille Verification website from the official MOFA link
- Enter the Apostille Number
- Enter the Apostille Date
- Enter the Access Code
- Select “Search”
- Compare the displayed information with the apostille in hand
Please note: the screen flow after scanning the QR code may differ depending on the device and environment, and automatic entry of the fields via the QR code is not guaranteed. The specific items shown on the result screen are not described on MOFA's official pages, so they are not listed here. A search result is not guaranteed to be displayed in every case, and the cause of a failed search cannot be determined without checking the entries and the eligibility conditions.
What Verification Means — and Its Limits
What the service provides under MOFA's system
- For eligible apostilles, the MOFA verification website allows the result of a check against issuance records to be confirmed online.
- An apostille is a certification by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs relating to the official seal or similar elements on a public document.
General cautions
Online verification does not confirm or guarantee any of the following:
- The factual accuracy of the contents of the underlying public document
- The current validity of the underlying public document
- The accuracy of any translation
- The document's suitability for the intended purpose of submission
- Acceptance by the receiving authority
- The outcome of visa, corporate registry, banking, court, or other examinations
In addition, the presence or absence of a QR code should not, by itself, be used to judge a document's effect or its acceptability to a receiving authority.
If the QR Code Cannot Be Scanned or No Result Is Displayed
- Open the verification website directly from the official MOFA link
- Re-check the three entries, including character types and the date format
- Confirm the eligibility conditions, such as the issue date and the QR code
- Check with the issuing authority or the receiving authority as needed
No search result being displayed is not, by itself, grounds for concluding that a document is forged or invalid.
Security Notes
- The Apostille Number, Apostille Date, and Access Code are the entries used for verification.
- Do not publish the Access Code to the general public.
- When sharing these details with a receiving authority, confirm that you are communicating with an authorized officer through official contact channels.
- Do not publish personal information or full document images that are not needed for verification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.
Which apostilles can be verified online?
A.
The Apostille Verification website provided by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) covers QR-coded apostilles issued on or after June 1, 2026. The verification website itself states that only apostilles with a QR code issued on or after that date can be verified on the site. Apostilles issued on or before May 31, 2026, and apostilles without a QR code, are not described as eligible for this website. However, the fact that a document falls outside the scope of the online verification website does not, by itself, mean that it is invalid or forged.
Q.
What do I need for verification?
A.
Three entries relating to the apostille: the Apostille Number (half-width numeric characters), the Apostille Date (half-width numeric characters; the displayed example is the 2026/06/01 format), and the Access Code (half-width alphanumeric characters). These three items are the entries used on the verification website. After entering them, select Search to run the check.
Q.
What should I do if the QR code cannot be scanned?
A.
Even if the QR code cannot be scanned, you can open the Apostille Verification website directly from the link published on MOFA's official page and enter the three items. The screen flow after scanning a QR code and any automatic entry of the fields may differ depending on the device and environment, so rather than relying on the scan result, try accessing the website from the official link.
Q.
If no search result is displayed, does that mean the apostille is fake?
A.
The absence of a search result does not, by itself, mean that a document is forged or invalid. First, re-check the three entries, including the character types and the date format, and confirm that the apostille meets the eligibility conditions, such as the issue date and the presence of a QR code. If the issue is not resolved, we recommend checking with the issuing authority or the receiving authority as needed.
Q.
Can authentication of official seals or apostilles issued in other countries be checked on the same website?
A.
MOFA describes the scope of the verification website as QR-coded apostilles issued on or after June 1, 2026. We have found no official guidance indicating that authentication of official seals (koin kakunin) or apostilles issued by foreign governments or authorities can be checked on this website. For those documents, please refer to the verification method provided by the relevant issuing authority.
Q.
If online verification succeeds, will the document always be accepted by the receiving authority?
A.
No. Acceptance is decided by the receiving authority. Online verification does not confirm the factual accuracy of the underlying document, its current validity, the accuracy of any translation, the document's suitability for the intended purpose, or the outcome of any examination. Our office likewise is not in a position to guarantee the authenticity of an apostille or its acceptance by a receiving authority.
Official MOFA Links
Both of the following are official websites of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (links open in a new tab).
About This Page
This page is a free informational guide to the online verification service provided by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our paid services are limited to apostille procurement, Certified Translation, and related support for Japanese documents destined for five jurisdictions: the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines. For document authentication inquiries, please visit our Contact page.