Key Points
- A Japanese Police Clearance Certificate is a sealed public document that the applicant generally obtains in person through the competent prefectural police headquarters or, when residing overseas, through a Japanese embassy or consulate.
- Our office does not obtain or issue the police certificate on the applicant's behalf; our standard service is Japan-side MOFA apostille handling for a properly issued, sealed original.
- The certificate is issued with Japanese, English, French, Spanish, and German text, so a separate Certified Translation is not a default component; where separately required, availability is assessed after reviewing the translation scope, usable source material, and submission format, with fees from JPY 16,500.
- Apostille requirements, document age, submission format, and sealed handling should be confirmed from the current instructions of the receiving authority and the relevant Japanese authorities.
What is a Japanese Police Clearance Certificate?
警察証明書 / 渡航証明書 · Keisatsu Shomeisho / Tokoh ShomeishoThe Japanese Police Clearance Certificate (keisatsu shomeisho / 警察証明書) is a Japanese public document issued through the competent prefectural police headquarters in Japan. The same certificate is also referred to in Japanese practice as 渡航証明書 (toko shomeisho), 犯罪経歴証明書 (hanzai keireki shomeisho), and 無犯罪証明書 — these names refer to one and the same certificate. Internationally it is often described as a “Police Clearance Certificate” or “Certificate of No Criminal Record,” although those are descriptive aliases rather than a single official English title.
The certificate is issued in a sealed envelope. It is printed with Japanese, English, French, Spanish, and German text. Because of this multilingual format, a separate Certified Translation is not a default component of our police-certificate service. A receiving authority may nevertheless separately require a translation, a particular certification, or a specific submission format; where separately required, we assess translation availability after confirming the translation scope, source material usable without opening the sealed original, and submission format, then quote the applicable fee from JPY 16,500. Do not open the sealed original merely to prepare or check a translation.
As an eligible Japanese public document, a properly issued original may qualify for a MOFA apostille where the receiving authority or applicable submission procedure actually requires one. For a direct MOFA apostille, the original is generally required to have been issued within the preceding three months. Whether an apostille is required at all depends on the receiving authority and destination procedure.
A note on terminology: A Gyoseishoshi (行政書士) is a Japanese national qualification under the Gyoseishoshi Act. Within the scope permitted by Japanese law, a Gyoseishoshi may prepare and submit certain documents to government agencies and handle related administrative procedures.
The Sealed Envelope Rule: Do Not Break the Seal
A Constraint Unique to Police Clearance CertificatesIn the apostille process for Japanese police clearance certificates, the key caution is: keep the envelope unopened unless the issuing or receiving authority instructs otherwise. This is a defining constraint that distinguishes police clearance certificates from family registers and diplomas.
The certificate is issued in a sealed envelope. Do not open the original merely to inspect or translate it.
Japanese police clearance certificates are issued sealed in an official envelope. Receiving authorities may expect the certificate to remain sealed at submission, so the sealed condition should be preserved unless the issuing or receiving authority instructs otherwise.
Because the certificate is printed in five languages, opening the envelope is generally not needed for translation purposes. Where a separate Certified Translation is required, we first confirm what must be translated, which copy or source material can be used without opening the sealed original, and the submission format to assess whether we can provide it.
If the envelope has already been opened or damaged, the issuing police authority's and receiving authority's current instructions should be confirmed before the certificate is used. Depending on those instructions, a new application — including personal appearance and fingerprinting — may be necessary.
Our handling is designed to preserve the sealed condition: from receipt of the sealed certificate through MOFA apostille handling, any separately required Certified Translation, and delivery, the envelope is kept unopened.
How to Obtain — In-Person Application
Domestic Police Headquarters or Overseas Embassies / ConsulatesThe applicant obtains the Japanese police clearance certificate. Personal appearance is generally required because fingerprints are collected at application. Our office does not procure the police certificate on the applicant's behalf; our standard service begins after the certificate has been properly issued.
Apply in person at the competent prefectural police headquarters. Requirements vary by police headquarters and reason for issuance.
- Identity documents required for the application
- Proof that a foreign authority requires the certificate may be required
- Fingerprinting is performed at application, so personal appearance is generally required
- Collection arrangements, including whether an authorized representative may collect the issued certificate, follow the police headquarters' current procedure
- Issuance timing varies by police headquarters and application details; no nationwide fixed period applies
The Japanese embassy or consulate in your country of residence may serve as the application window. Fingerprinting and original-document procedures follow that mission's current instructions.
- Application is made through the relevant Japanese diplomatic mission
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinates the request with the National Police Agency
- The issued certificate is returned through the mission for collection
- Processing time varies by mission and routing; no fixed period should be assumed
For overseas residents, consular routing and mailing can take time, so early email-based document review is recommended before your submission deadline. The applicable procedure should be confirmed with the relevant diplomatic mission.
The Japanese police certificate (criminal record certificate / travel certificate) is handled only where the client has already obtained it and can entrust the sealed, unopened original to us; our role is limited to forwarding the MOFA apostille application with the seal preserved. Our office does not assess whether a criminal record exists, the certificate's contents, acceptance by the receiving authority, or any impact on visa, employment, or residence eligibility. Matters requiring explanations or additional documentation concerning criminal history or convictions are, as a rule, not accepted.
Overseas law firms, immigration consultants, and migration advisers may contact us regarding client matters involving a Japanese police certificate. The applicant must obtain the certificate personally where required, and our office cannot act in place of the applicant in the issuance process. After the certificate has been issued, we can review whether we can assist with the Japan-side steps described on this page. For professional enquiries, see our page for legal and professional service providers.
Receiving-Authority Considerations
Current Service Scope: United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the PhilippinesThe destination country alone does not determine whether a Japanese police certificate is required, whether it must remain sealed, whether a MOFA apostille is needed, or whether a separate translation must be added. The receiving authority's current instructions control.
Separately from any receiving-authority document-age expectation, MOFA generally requires the original public document to have been issued within the preceding three months for apostille or authentication. Receiving-authority document-age rules and MOFA apostille eligibility are separate checks, so older certificates should be reviewed against both before submission.
United States
Receiving Authorities and Procedures Vary Case-SpecificUnited Kingdom
Receiving Authorities and Procedures Vary Case-SpecificSingapore
Receiving Authorities and Procedures Vary Case-SpecificNew Zealand
Receiving Authorities and Procedures Vary Case-SpecificPhilippines
Receiving Authorities and Procedures Vary Case-SpecificThe receiving authority's current written instructions, the required sealed condition, and the actual authentication and translation requests are confirmed before any Japan-side step is arranged.
Japanese Police Clearance Certificate Process
Five-Step Document-Specific Workflow* Police-authority issuance, diplomatic-mission routing, MOFA processing, courier schedules, and receiving-authority review remain outside our control.
Pricing for Police Clearance Certificate
Apostille Handling and Optional TranslationPolice-certificate pricing reflects that the certificate itself is obtained by the applicant and is issued in a multilingual format. Our standard fee covers Japan-side MOFA apostille handling for a properly issued, sealed original. Certified Translation is not included by default and is added only where the receiving authority separately requires it. Any government or third-party charges, if applicable, are confirmed separately.
Official issuance fees, domestic postage, international courier or shipping charges, and other third-party disbursements are settled separately from our professional fees.
View Full Pricing →Police Clearance Certificate FAQ
Eight Practical QuestionsThese questions address the sealed envelope, overseas application, document age, related foreign records, document names, translation, apostille requirements, and the initial inquiry.
Why is the Japanese police certificate issued in a sealed envelope?
The certificate is issued in a sealed envelope, and receiving authorities may expect it to remain sealed at submission. The sealed condition should therefore be preserved unless the issuing or receiving authority instructs otherwise.
Because the certificate is printed in five languages, opening the envelope is generally not needed for translation purposes. Do not open the original merely to inspect or translate it.
If the envelope has already been opened or damaged, confirm the issuing police authority's and receiving authority's current instructions before the certificate is used; a new application, including personal appearance and fingerprinting, may be necessary depending on those instructions.
How can I obtain a Japanese police certificate while living overseas?
The Japanese embassy or consulate in your country of residence may serve as the application window. Fingerprints and original-document procedures follow that mission's current instructions.
In this route, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinates the request with the National Police Agency, and the issued certificate is returned through the mission for collection. Processing time varies by mission and routing, so no fixed period should be assumed.
Once you have received the sealed certificate, keep the envelope unopened. Where a MOFA apostille is required for your submission, we can review the Japan-side handling from that point.
How old can the certificate be for an apostille or overseas submission?
For a MOFA apostille or authentication, the original Japanese public document is generally required to have been issued within the preceding three months.
Separately, the receiving authority may apply its own document-age or submission-time expectation to the police certificate. These are two different checks.
Whether an older certificate can still be used should be reviewed against both the receiving authority's current instructions and MOFA's requirements before submission or reissuance planning.
How does a Japanese police certificate differ from an FBI Identity History Summary / background check?
They are distinct documents covering different jurisdictions. An FBI Identity History Summary concerns records held by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, while a Japanese police certificate concerns records in Japan and is issued through the competent Japanese police authorities.
A receiving authority may request one, the other, or both, depending on the applicant's residence history and the procedure's current instructions. Confirm the exact request before obtaining either document.
Are Toko Shomei, Hanzai Keireki Shomeisho, and Police Clearance Certificate the same document?
Yes. 警察証明書 (keisatsu shomeisho), 渡航証明書 (toko shomeisho), 犯罪経歴証明書 (hanzai keireki shomeisho), and 無犯罪証明書 refer to one and the same Japanese certificate.
Internationally, receiving authorities may describe it as a “Police Clearance Certificate,” “Police Certificate,” or “Certificate of No Criminal Record.” These are descriptive aliases; if a receiving authority uses different wording, confirm that it means the Japanese police certificate before applying.
Do I need a Certified Translation if the certificate is already multilingual?
Not by default. The Japanese police certificate is issued with Japanese, English, French, Spanish, and German text, so a separate Certified Translation is not a standard component of our police-certificate service.
A receiving authority may nevertheless separately require a translation, a particular translator certification, or a specific submission format. Where the receiving authority separately requires a translation, we confirm what must be translated, which copy or source material can be used without opening the sealed original, and the required submission format before determining whether we can provide the translation and quoting the applicable fee, from JPY 16,500.
Do not open the sealed original for translation purposes.
Does a Japanese police certificate always need an apostille?
No. Whether a MOFA apostille is required depends on the receiving authority and the applicable submission procedure.
Where an apostille is required, the eligible sealed original is handled through MOFA while the sealed condition is preserved. Where it is not required, no apostille step should be assumed or added.
Confirm the receiving authority's current written instructions before arranging any Japan-side authentication step.
What information should I send for an initial inquiry?
Please provide the destination country, receiving authority, document, desired deadline, and whether the certificate has already been issued.
If the certificate has already been issued, we will then confirm the sealed condition and the receiving authority's instructions as follow-up items. Email is recommended where written requirements need to be reviewed; WhatsApp may be used for initial overseas inquiries, and LINE is available for clients residing in Japan.