Japan-Side Document Support for Legal and Professional Service Providers
Apostille and Certified Translation for Documents Issued in JapanApostille Japan is a Tokyo-based Gyoseishoshi office handling the Japan-side process for documents issued in Japan: MOFA apostille support and Certified Translation with a Certification of Translation Accuracy. This page is our inquiry channel for law firms, immigration consultants, global mobility and HR teams, translation companies, and other professionals who handle documents issued in Japan. We support submissions to the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines, with case communication in English and a clearly defined scope of service.
Key Points
- This service is intended for overseas law firms, immigration consultants and migration advisers, global mobility and international HR teams, translation companies, relocation companies, Japan-based professionals, and corporate clients.
- Our scope is limited to Japan-side document procedures, including assistance with obtaining Japanese documents where legally permissible, apostille and authentication procedures, Certified Translation into English, and dispatch of completed documents.
- Our supported destination countries are the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
- We do not provide foreign-law advice, represent clients in filings before overseas authorities, or guarantee acceptance by the receiving authority. Final submission requirements must be confirmed with the receiving authority.
- This is not a formal agency or partner program. The scope of work, required documents, and allocation of responsibilities are confirmed on a matter-by-matter basis.
Who This Page Is For
Legal and Professional Service ProvidersWe receive inquiries about documents issued in Japan from the following organizations and professionals.
Inheritance, matrimonial, family, and immigration matters that require Japanese public documents and certified English translations. We handle the Japan-side steps of such cases.
We organize the apostille and translation steps for documents issued in Japan, based on the written requirements issued by the receiving authority. We do not advise on the foreign-side process itself.
Assignments, transfers, and international hires that require authentication or certified translation of employees' or family members' documents issued in Japan.
Cases that require the MOFA apostille step or a Certified Translation with a Certification of Translation Accuracy.
Support for the apostille and certified-translation portion of matters handled by bengoshi, shiho-shoshi, gyoseishoshi, and other professionals.
Schools and other educational institutions, and corporate HR and legal teams that submit education, employment, and civil-status-related documents issued in Japan to overseas authorities. We also support Japanese corporate registry documents and Articles of Incorporation for overseas filings.
Even when the inquiry comes from a firm or professional, the individual document holder's consent, a power of attorney, or identity documents may be required depending on the documents involved. Whether we can accept a matter is confirmed individually after reviewing the case.
We accept enquiries from multinational and other corporate clients regarding one-off, recurring, or multiple matters. Each matter is managed separately under the statutory confidentiality duty applicable to Gyoseishoshi administrative scriveners, with the point of contact, quotation and billing arrangements, and English-language communications confirmed before engagement.
Japan-Side Support We Provide
What We Handle in JapanOur work is limited to the following Japan-side steps for documents issued in Japan.
- Review of written requirements issued by the receiving authority
- Identification of document types, issuing bodies, and authentication steps
- MOFA apostille application support
- Certified Translation
- Issuance of a Certification of Translation Accuracy
- Notary procedures in Japan where required
- Domestic and international delivery
- Case communication in English
- Case review and progress management by a licensed Gyoseishoshi
Document procurement: For matters involving document procurement, we assess feasibility on a case-by-case basis after confirming the relationship with the document holder, the authority to act, eligibility to request the document, and the issuing institution's handling. Not every family register, acceptance certificate, or other public document can be obtained on a client's behalf.
Powers of attorney and similar private documents in final form: Where a power of attorney or similar private document has been provided in final form, with its contents and scope of authority determined by the receiving authority or a local professional, we support the Japan-side steps, including confirmation of the receiving authority's written requirements, preliminary inquiries with a Japanese notary office, the required notarization and authentication process (including a MOFA apostille where applicable), a Certified Translation prepared by our office from the original document, and international delivery. Depending on the authentication method, the signer may need to appear in person at the notary office in Japan. We do not draft or determine the contents or scope of authority, assess validity under foreign law, or guarantee acceptance or registration outcomes overseas. See our pricing page for standard fees.
Five Supported Jurisdictions
Where We Support SubmissionsOur service covers documents issued in Japan and intended for submission to the following five jurisdictions.
Route A generally focuses on MOFA apostille and Certified Translation, subject to the receiving authority's written requirements. Under Route B, notarization, Legal Affairs Bureau authentication, or additional confirmation may be required depending on the receiving authority and the document involved. The final requirements are confirmed based on the receiving authority's instructions.
Countries where embassy or consular legalization is the primary route, or where a local sworn or accredited translator system applies, are outside our scope as a rule. We do not accept matters intended for submission outside the five supported jurisdictions.
What We Do and Do Not Handle
A Clearly Defined Japan-Side ScopeWe handle the Japan-side document process only. We do not provide legal advice on foreign law, represent clients before foreign authorities, or guarantee acceptance by the receiving authority.
We handle the Japan-side steps for documents issued in Japan, organized on the basis of the receiving authority's written requirements.
- Review of receiving-authority written requirements
- Organization of document and authentication steps
- MOFA apostille application support
- Certified Translation and Certification of Translation Accuracy
- Notary procedures in Japan where required
- Domestic and international delivery
- English-language case communication and progress management
The following matters are outside our scope of service, and we are unable to accept them.
- Legal opinions on foreign law
- Representation before foreign courts, government agencies, or immigration authorities
- Determinations on visa, immigration, foreign inheritance, or foreign divorce procedures
- Judgments on whether a foreign authority will accept a document
- Any assurance of acceptance by the receiving authority
- Foreign-side authentication of documents issued outside Japan
- Embassy or consular legalization
- Certification as a sworn or accredited translator of any foreign jurisdiction
- Matters intended for submission outside the five supported jurisdictions
Matters constituting legal practice are reserved for licensed attorneys (bengoshi). See the Legal Notice at the bottom of this page.
From Initial Case Summary to Delivery
Five Steps for Professional InquiriesIn your initial message, please include: destination country, receiving authority, document names, issuing institutions, number of copies, whether the documents are already in hand, apostille requirements, translation requirements, notarization requirements, your target timeline, and the return destination country.
Please do not send passports, family registers, certificates, or scans or copies of other sensitive documents with your initial inquiry. A case summary is sufficient for the preliminary review.
Frequently Asked Questions from Professionals
Professional InquiriesCan overseas law firms or immigration consultants contact you directly?
Yes. We handle case communication in English. Send a case summary by email, and we will review it and reply with whether we can assist and which Japan-side steps may be involved. Acceptance of each matter is confirmed individually after review.
Can a firm or professional be the client instead of the individual?
It depends on the matter. Depending on the documents involved and whether procurement is needed, the individual document holder's consent, a power of attorney, or identity documents may be required. We confirm the engagement structure and required documents before accepting a matter.
Can you also obtain Japanese family registers or acceptance certificates?
For matters involving document procurement, we assess feasibility case by case after confirming the relationship with the document holder, the authority to act, eligibility to request the document, and the issuing institution's handling. Not every document can be obtained on a client's behalf.
Can we request Certified Translation only?
Yes. “Certified Translation only” means that our office prepares the English translation from the Japanese original and issues a Certification of Translation Accuracy for that translation, without an apostille or related authentication. We do not edit or proofread client-supplied or third-party translations, and we do not issue a certification alone for an existing translation.
Can we consult you even if the receiving authority's requirements are unclear?
Yes. We first confirm whether the receiving authority has issued written instructions or a checklist, and then organize the Japan-side steps on that basis. We do not make determinations under foreign law.
Can you guarantee acceptance by the receiving authority?
No. Acceptance is decided by the receiving authority, and we do not guarantee it. What we do is organize the Japan-side steps carefully, based on the receiving authority's published information and written instructions.
Submit a Case Summary
For professional inquiries, we recommend sending a written case summary first. We will review it and reply with whether we can assist and what needs to be confirmed.
Phone (secondary channel): +81-3-6821-1120 (Mon–Fri 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. JST)
Please do not send passports, family registers, certificates, or scans or copies of other sensitive documents with your initial inquiry. A case summary is sufficient for the preliminary review.
Legal 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. 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 recommend consulting a qualified legal professional.