For apostille certification and certified translation matters involving documents to be submitted to the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, or the Philippines, email is recommended for written instructions, receiving-authority requirements, document details, and quotation requests. WhatsApp Business is available for initial inquiries from overseas, LINE is available for clients residing in Japan or for Japanese-language inquiries, and phone contact is a supplementary channel during business hours.
Feel free to send us your questions or document inquiries via WhatsApp or email at any time, 24/7. 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).
After reviewing the information you provide and any instructions received from the receiving authority, we will determine whether the matter falls within our service scope and outline procedures that may be available in Japan. We will then provide a quotation based on the document type and requested services.
Please provide the country of submission, receiving authority, document name, desired deadline, current document status, and any written instructions received from the receiving authority. If you do not know the exact Japanese document name, quote or summarize the receiving authority's requirement or checklist in text instead.
We review the document type, purpose of submission, and instructions from the receiving authority to determine whether the matter falls within our service scope and which procedures may be available in Japan.
We provide information on service availability, procedures available through our office, professional fees, disbursements, and estimated processing time.
If you decide to proceed, we will provide instructions for sending original documents or review copies.
* Additional confirmation may be required depending on the receiving institution's requirements.
* An inquiry alone does not create an engagement with our office. Acceptance of a matter is subject to our review of the inquiry and any required information.
* For inquiries from law firms and other professionals, see also “For Legal and Professional Service Providers”.
Inquiries and submitted documents are handled by a licensed Gyoseishoshi subject to statutory confidentiality obligations under Article 12 of the Gyoseishoshi Act. Do not send confidential documents such as family registers, passports, or corporate registry documents at the first inquiry. Please send only an outline at first, such as the country of submission, receiving authority, document name, desired deadline, current document status, and any written instructions received from the receiving authority. We will provide document submission instructions after reviewing your inquiry.
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.