Key Points
- Japanese seal certificates include an individual seal registration certificate issued by a municipal authority and a corporate seal certificate issued by a Legal Affairs Bureau. The issuing authority and the matter certified are different.
- For submissions to the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines, we handle apostille procurement and Certified Translation into English for the relevant seal certificate.
- Depending on the receiving authority, a power of attorney, certificate of registered corporate matters, signature certificate, or other supporting document may be required in addition to the seal certificate.
- The distinction between an individual and a corporation, the required certificate, date of issue, number of originals, and need for authentication or translation of related documents must be confirmed against the receiving authority's instructions.
What is a Japanese Seal Registration Certificate?
印鑑証明書 / Inkan ShomeishoThe Japanese Seal Registration Certificate — inkan shomeisho (印鑑証明書) — is a public document issued by either a municipal office (for individual seals) or the Legal Affairs Bureau (for corporate seals), certifying the registered seal impression and registered owner information. Depending on the receiving authority, a Japanese seal registration certificate may be reviewed as supporting evidence for confirming signing authority, identity, or the registered seal impression. It is not the same legal instrument as a notarized signature block or signature certificate in other jurisdictions, so the receiving authority's document name and authentication method should be checked in advance.
The seal certificate may be reviewed as supporting documentation in overseas company incorporation, international commercial transactions, and real estate transactions. It may be requested for Singapore ACRA / CSP company procedures where requested by the Singapore-side CSP or receiving authority, New Zealand company or financial procedures, overseas real estate transactions, international banking account openings, and M&A or contracts with overseas corporate counterparts.
Because a seal registration certificate is generally treated as a Japanese public document, it may be eligible for a MOFA apostille if the original document satisfies MOFA's requirements, including issuance within three months, the issuing authority's name, and an official seal. Individual seal certificates may be obtainable through convenience store kiosks in supported municipalities, using a My Number card and PIN. Availability depends on the municipality, certificate type, issuance status, and the receiving authority's instructions.
Individual Seal vs. Corporate Seal Certificate
Which One Should You Get?For overseas company incorporation and international commercial transactions, the most common question is: should I obtain the individual seal certificate or the corporate seal certificate? The two differ in issuing authority, registration location, and intended use, and the right choice depends on your destination and transaction type.
| Aspect | Individual Seal Certificate | Corporate Seal Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Municipality of residence | Legal Affairs Bureau (head office location) |
| Registered with | Municipal seal registry | Commercial registry (representative seal filing) |
| Procurement method | Counter or convenience store kiosk (My Number card) | Legal Affairs Bureau counter or online application |
| Issuance fee | Approx. ¥300 | Approx. ¥420–¥500, depending on the request method |
| Primary use | Overseas Director registration, real estate, banking | Corporate contracts, M&A, overseas subsidiary establishment |
| Singapore ACRA / CSP | May be requested depending on written instructions | May be requested where corporate authority verification is needed |
| Overseas relocation | Deactivated upon overseas departure (re-registration may be needed) | Unaffected |
| Validity period (destination) | 3-6 months | 3-6 months |
Quick decision guide:
• Preparing Singapore or New Zealand company procedures as an individual → Individual seal (where requested for foreign Director registration)
• Japanese parent company establishing an overseas subsidiary → Corporate seal (parent company's formal contracting authority)
• Overseas real estate purchase or sale → Individual seal (for personal transactions)
• Opening an overseas corporate banking account → Corporate seal + Individual seal (representative) may be requested together
• M&A or major contracts with overseas corporate counterparts → Corporate seal (formal documentation for inter-corporate transactions)
When in doubt, we confirm destination instructions at engagement and suggest the appropriate certificate type. We can also handle bundles when both individual and corporate seal certificates may be requested.
Authentication Requirements by Country
Two Routes — Public Document AuthenticationAuthentication route and translation requirements differ by destination country. Because the seal certificate is a public document (issued by municipal office or Legal Affairs Bureau), the United States and the United Kingdom generally follow Route A — Translator-Certified Route (translation completed with gyoseishoshi's certification). Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines may involve Route B — Notary-Verified Route, depending on the receiving authority and document purpose. Timeline management should be checked against the receiving authority's instructions. Our office helps prepare documents for submission across all five countries.
United States
USCIS · State Authorities Route AUnited Kingdom
Companies House · UKVI Route ASingapore
ACRA · CSP Route BNew Zealand
Immigration New Zealand · Department of Internal Affairs Route BPhilippines
SEC Route BRoute A and Route B indicate typical workflows only. The final route is not determined solely by the destination country. It is reviewed case by case based on the document, the receiving authority's publicly available guidance or written instructions provided by the client, and current practice at MOFA, notary offices, and other relevant Japanese authorities.
Seal Registration Certificate Process
Individual or Corporate Seal, Procurement Method, and Authentication WorkflowA Japanese Seal Registration Certificate is a public document certifying the registered details of an individual seal or corporate seal. It may be used for overseas company incorporation, Director registration, overseas real estate transactions, international banking account openings, and corporate contracts. Requirements vary depending on the receiving authority, including whether an individual seal certificate or corporate seal certificate is needed, whether accompanying documents such as a Certificate of Residence, corporate registry certificate, or passport copy must be submitted together, the issuing authority, procurement method, apostille requirements, and certified translation format. We confirm the destination country, receiving authority, intended use, and certificate type before organizing the required procedure sequence.
* Requirements for individual or corporate seal certificates, accompanying documents such as Certificate of Residence or corporate registry certificates, procurement method, documents required for proxy procurement, translation certification format, and original document submission vary depending on the receiving authority.
Pricing for Seal Registration Certificate
Three Plans, Including Convenience Store Procurement SupportWe offer three pricing plans for Seal Registration Certificate apostille and certified translation. For clients with My Number cards seeking to procure the certificate via convenience store kiosks, the Convenience Store Procurement Support add-on (+¥3,300) — which provides remote guidance on compatible store identification, operational steps, and document quality verification — is a conditional support option. Availability depends on the municipality, certificate type, issuance status, and the receiving authority's instructions. For corporate transactions, simultaneous procurement and authentication of multiple documents (seal certificate + corporate registry + Certificate of Residence) may be requested, and a combined quotation is available.
Seal Certificate FAQ
Personal Seal Certificates, Corporate Seal Certificates, Apostille Route, Translation, and Written ReviewHow should I request a written Seal Certificate review or quotation?
Email is recommended for written Seal Certificate document review and quotation requests. Please include your destination country, receiving authority, document purpose, whether the document is a personal seal certificate or corporate seal certificate, issuing municipality or Legal Affairs Bureau if known, certificate holder or company name, representative name if corporate, whether the certificate has already been issued, whether the original certificate and registered seal impression are required, certificate format if known, requested deadline, and shipping destination.
WhatsApp Business may be used for initial overseas inquiries, but formal quotation, document scope, certificate type review, issuing authority review, related signed document review, translation requirement review, apostille route review, shipping instructions, and written instructions may be handled by email.
What is the difference between a personal seal certificate and a corporate seal certificate?
A personal seal certificate is generally issued by a municipality and confirms a registered personal seal. A corporate seal certificate is generally issued through the Legal Affairs Bureau system and confirms a company's registered representative seal information.
The required route and wording depend on the receiving authority's written instructions, the document purpose, whether a related signed document is being submitted, and whether the receiving authority asks for the seal certificate itself, the registered seal impression, or both.
Should the original certificate and registered seal impression be submitted together?
It depends on the receiving authority's written instructions. Some filings ask for the seal certificate itself. Others ask for a signed or sealed document together with proof that the seal is registered. For corporate matters, the receiving authority may also ask for company name, representative name, registered address, or related corporate documents.
Because the correct document set depends on the destination country and receiving authority, the original certificate, related signed document, and translation route should be reviewed together by email before apostille and translation arrangements.
Can a seal certificate be obtained by proxy?
Proxy procurement may be possible depending on the certificate type, issuing municipality or Legal Affairs Bureau procedure, applicant status, company status, required authorization documents, and identity-document requirements. The requirements differ between personal seal certificates and corporate seal certificates.
We confirm the certificate type, issuing authority, power of attorney or authorization requirements, identity-document requirements, certificate holder or company information, representative information where applicable, delivery method, and shipping destination by email.
Is notarization required for a Seal Certificate translation?
It depends on the receiving authority's written instructions, destination country, document purpose, related signed document, and translation certification format. For some U.S. or U.K. submissions, a translator-certified English translation may be sufficient. For Singapore, New Zealand, the Philippines, or other authority-specific contexts within our supported scope, notary verification may be requested.
Where a related private signed document must be apostilled, the notary-office, Legal Affairs Bureau, and MOFA sequence may be required. The route should be checked by email before quotation, notarization, apostille, translation, and shipping arrangements.
How long is a Japanese Seal Certificate valid for overseas submission?
The certificate itself has no uniform statutory expiration. However, for MOFA apostille applications, the official document is generally expected to be an original issued within three months. Receiving authorities may set their own validity windows or require a recently issued seal certificate. The issuance date, apostille date, translation date, related signed document date where applicable, receiving authority requirement, and final submission deadline should be checked together.
This is a document review item, not a statement that the receiving authority will accept a specific issuance date. Plan the schedule backwards from the final submission date, accounting for certificate issuance, notarization where applicable, apostille, translation, and domestic or international shipping. We review the expected schedule by email at engagement.
Which route applies by country?
Route A and Route B depend on the receiving authority's written instructions, document purpose, translation certification format, whether a related private signed document is included, and whether notary verification is requested. Written instructions should be checked before quotation, document sequencing, apostille, and translation arrangements.
| Country | Common Route | Notary Review | Typical Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | Route A may apply | Often not requested for translator-certified English translations, unless written instructions require it | Immigration, banking, corporate, real estate, inheritance, or administrative filings |
| the United Kingdom | Route A may apply | Often not requested unless written instructions require it | UKVI, banking, corporate, school, inheritance, or administrative filings |
| Singapore | Route B may apply | May be requested depending on ACRA, CSP, bank, corporate, or other receiving authority instructions | Corporate, banking, financial, or administrative filings |
| New Zealand | Route B may apply | May be requested depending on document purpose and receiving authority | Immigration, banking, corporate, inheritance, or administrative filings |
| the Philippines | Route B may apply | May be requested for SEC, consular, banking, or corporate processes | Consular, banking, corporate, real estate, inheritance, or administrative filings |
Do you handle countries outside the five supported countries?
Our service scope is limited to the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines. We do not handle destinations outside this scope.
Some destination countries outside our service scope may involve sworn-translator or locally qualified translator systems, or embassy or consular authentication routes, in addition to or instead of a Japanese MOFA apostille. In those cases, please confirm the applicable authentication and translation route with the destination country's embassy, consulate, local qualified professional, or a specialist familiar with that jurisdiction.