Key Points
- Professional fees are quoted in JPY and are tax-inclusive where Japanese consumption tax applies. Third-party disbursements such as notary fees, certificate issuance fees, and shipping are stated separately.
- Pricing is not determined by destination country alone. The receiving authority, document type, issuing authority and form, and the authentication or translation steps required determine the applicable fee category.
- Office-side priority handling prioritizes work within our office and does not shorten processing times at MOFA, notary offices, the Legal Affairs Bureau, issuing authorities, receiving authorities, or delivery providers.
- For an initial quotation, please provide the destination country, receiving authority, document name, desired deadline, and whether the document has already been issued. Additional details such as copies, page count, or delivery destination are requested only where needed for pricing or handling.
How Pricing Is Structured
Professional fees, disbursements, and scope are identified before engagementThe applicable fee depends on the document, required Japan-side procedures, translation work, and receiving-authority instructions. Additional service fees and third-party costs are identified separately before engagement where they can be determined in advance.
Public-Document Package — Where Applicable
Starting Professional Fee from JPY 77,000For one eligible Japanese public document, where the receiving authority requires both MOFA apostille handling and one Certified Translation and this combination can be handled as our Public-Document Package, the professional fee starts from ¥77,000 (tax included). Applicability is not determined by destination country alone; we confirm the document, issuing authority and form, and receiving-authority requirements.
If MOFA Apostille Handling and Certified Translation are ordered separately, the combined starting amount for a typical eligible matter may be approximately ¥88,000 (tax included) and up. Where the Public-Document Package is applicable, the starting professional fee is ¥77,000 (tax included). The package and individual services differ in scope, receiving-authority review, and workflow management, so they are not compared solely by arithmetic total.
Public-Document Package — Where Applicable
Our current destination scope is the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines. However, the same destination country may involve different requirements depending on the receiving authority, document, issuing authority, and required Japan-side steps. See our Country Guide for destination-specific considerations.
The required Japan-side process depends on the issuing authority, whether the document is public or private, the authentication target, the document form, and the receiving authority's instructions.
- Document / issuing-authority / authentication eligibility review
- MOFA Apostille Handling for one eligible public document
- One Certified Translation
- Certification of Translation Accuracy
- Review of receiving-authority published instructions or written instructions provided by the client against the planned Japan-side steps
- Workflow management
- PDF copy by email
- Notary-office / Legal Affairs Bureau procedures required for private documents, and notary public fees
- Municipal or issuing-institution certificate fees
- Document procurement professional fee (where applicable)
- Domestic and international shipping (DHL / EMS, etc.)
- Additional originals or documents, and translations beyond the first
- Translation volume beyond the standard scope
- Embassy authentication / consular legalization and other foreign-side authentication
- Translation by foreign-side sworn, registered, or accredited translators, and foreign-side professional fees
Japanese police certificates are handled separately because they require personal application, fingerprinting, and preservation of the sealed original. Police Certificate Apostille Handling is shown in the individual-service table below.
Acceptance or the outcome of review by the receiving authority is not guaranteed.
“One document” means the original set of one certificate type issued by one issuing institution; it is not a page count. A multi-page certificate issued as a single unit is in principle treated as one document. Additional originals, different issuing institutions or certificate types, and work beyond the standard scope are quoted separately.
The Value of Professional Review and One-Stop Support
Japan-Side Review and Coordination Within the Agreed ScopeDocuments submitted to overseas authorities may require additional preparation or resubmission if the document type, translation, or authentication process does not meet the receiving authority's requirements.
Our services are designed to reduce avoidable procedural issues and simplify the coordination of Japan-side document preparation and authentication.
Reducing the Risk of Rework
We review published guidance from the receiving authority or written requirements provided by the client to identify the appropriate documents, authentication procedures, and Certified Translation requirements.
Where Certified Translation is included in the engagement, we prepare an English translation faithful to the source document and review how it aligns with the required Japan-side authentication steps. We aim to reduce avoidable errors and procedural rework to the extent that these matters can be verified.
One-Stop Coordination of Japan-Side Procedures
Where included in the agreed service, our office coordinates MOFA apostille applications and collection, prepares Certified Translations, and manages the overall Japan-side workflow.
One-stop support refers to our coordination of Japan-side procedures within the agreed scope of engagement. It is distinct from the notary-office one-stop authentication service.
Where notary-office or Legal Affairs Bureau procedures are required, we assess whether the matter falls within our service scope and explain the applicable procedures, professional fees, and third-party costs before engagement. These steps are not included in the Public-Document Package.
This coordinated approach reduces the need for clients to manage multiple Japan-side procedures and translation arrangements independently.
Service components depend on the agreed scope of engagement. Acceptance by the receiving authority, the outcome of its review, and completion dates are not guaranteed.
Itemized Fee Schedule
By Document Type and ServiceThe following fees apply where individual Japan-side services are required or where the Public-Document Package is not applicable. Fees and required steps depend on the document category, issuing authority and form, and the receiving authority's requirements.
Certified Translation Only
| Document Category | Examples | Fee (JPY) |
|---|---|---|
| Civil-Status and Public Records | Family Register, Residence Certificate, Certificate of Acceptance of Birth Notification, Certificate of Acceptance of Marriage Notification, Certificate of Acceptance of Divorce Notification, Marriage Eligibility Certificate | From ¥33,000 |
| Academic Documents | Diploma, academic transcript | From ¥38,500 |
| Employment Documents | Certificate of Employment and comparable employer-issued Japanese documents | From ¥33,000 |
| Corporate Registry Documents | Corporate registry certificate, Certificate of Registered Matters | From ¥44,000 |
| Corporate Non-Standard Documents | Articles of incorporation, minutes, and other corporate documents priced according to text volume and complexity | From ¥6,600 / 400 Japanese characters |
All amounts above are starting professional fees per document. Final fees may vary according to document length, format, volume, and required certification. The fee includes our Certification of Translation Accuracy.
Where our office coordinates directly with an employer in an employment-certificate matter, and such coordination can be provided, an additional professional fee of +JPY 11,000 applies. Employer coordination is optional and is not a required step in every employment matter.
Japanese police certificates are issued in Japanese, English, French, German, and Spanish. Certified Translation is not included as a standard step. Only where the receiving authority separately confirms that an additional Certified Translation is required does the additional professional fee start from JPY 16,500 per certificate.
Our Certification of Translation Accuracy concerns the completeness and accuracy of the English translation. It does not authenticate the source document, certify the factual truth or legal effect of its contents, or automatically satisfy a foreign sworn, registered, or government-certified translator requirement.
MOFA Apostille Handling
| Service | Handling Category | Fee (JPY) |
|---|---|---|
| MOFA Apostille Handling | Standard handling — required steps and current acceptance conditions reviewed | From ¥55,000 |
| MOFA Apostille Handling — Office-Side Priority | Office-side priority — availability reviewed case by case | From ¥82,500 |
| Japanese Police Certificate Apostille Handling | Case-specific handling of the sealed original after personal application | ¥77,000 |
This category applies to eligible Japanese public documents that can be submitted directly to MOFA for an apostille. University-issued documents require case-specific review of the issuing entity, issuance date, document type, and current MOFA treatment; see the Diploma page. Private documents are addressed separately below. Office-side priority handling only prioritizes our internal work sequence, review, preparation, and communications. It does not guarantee a completion or delivery date, and actual timing depends on the original document, external authorities, delivery, and any required additional review.
Our office cannot apply for the Japanese police certificate itself on the client's behalf. The certificate must be obtained personally, including fingerprinting, and the sealed original must remain unopened. Our JPY 77,000 professional fee covers apostille handling after a properly issued sealed certificate is received. Certified Translation is not part of the standard police-certificate workflow and is provided only if separately required by the receiving authority, from JPY 16,500. See the Japanese Police Certificate Guide.
Notary + Apostille — Private Documents Where Required
| Service | Handling Category | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Notary + Apostille — Standard | Standard handling where the required authentication steps have been confirmed | From ¥66,000 |
| Notary + Apostille — Office-Side Priority | Office-side priority — availability reviewed case by case | From ¥99,000 |
This fee category applies only where notarization and further Japan-side authentication are actually required; a private document is not automatically assigned to this process merely because it is private. Typical examples include powers of attorney, affidavits, employment certificates, contracts, and university-issued documents confirmed to require a notary-route process. This table covers the authentication steps only — Japanese notary office, Legal Affairs Bureau, and MOFA apostille. Matters that also include Certified Translation, receiving-authority confirmation, and workflow management are handled as private-document notary-route matters (standard fee from ¥121,000, tax included). Notary public fees vary depending on the document type, authentication method, foreign-language surcharge, and whether oath-based authentication is required. Actual disbursements are confirmed at quotation. Office-side priority review for private documents is reviewed case by case and does not change external authority, notary-office, Legal Affairs Bureau, MOFA, courier, or receiving-authority processing times. It does not set a delivery date.
Office-Side Priority Handling
Standard and Office-Side Priority ReviewOffice-side priority handling prioritizes our internal work order, document review, preparation, and communications. It does not shorten processing times at MOFA, notary offices, the Legal Affairs Bureau, issuing organizations, receiving authorities, or delivery services. Availability is assessed case by case and no completion or acceptance date is guaranteed. For standard processing fees, see the relevant pricing tables above.
Office-Side Priority Handling: Availability is assessed individually based on the document type, whether the original has reached our office, the required procedural steps, the requested deadline, and our current workload. It does not shorten processing times at MOFA, notary offices, the Legal Affairs Bureau, issuing institutions, receiving authorities, or courier services, and does not guarantee completion, authentication, delivery, or acceptance dates.
Private-Document Notary-Route Matters
Where Notarization and Further Authentication Are RequiredWhere a private document requires notarization and further Japan-side authentication, the necessary steps are confirmed from the document, signatory, authentication target, notary-office requirements, and receiving authority's instructions. Where the full sequence of notary-related authentication, MOFA apostille, and one Certified Translation is required, the standard professional fee starts from ¥121,000 (tax included).
Private-Document Notary-Route Support
Standard fee for applicable private-document casesWhere applicable, a standard professional fee from ¥121,000 (tax included) applies. This standard fee is based on one document, one authentication sequence, one notarial act, and one Certified Translation. Multiple originals, document types, signatories or deponents, notarial acts, or authentication sequences, and translation beyond the standard volume, are quoted separately. The fee is not applied automatically merely because a document is private; it applies where the required steps are actually confirmed from the document, notary-office practice, and the receiving authority's instructions. Where only the authentication steps are needed, Notary + Apostille (from ¥66,000, tax included) is available. Notary public fees are third-party costs confirmed at quotation based on actual amounts. Embassy authentication / consular legalization is not included.
Disbursements and Separate Professional Fees
Third-Party Charges and Document Procurement Fees Stated SeparatelyThird-party charges such as notary fees, certificate issuance fees, postage, and courier charges are separate from our professional fees. Document procurement assistance, where available, is a separate professional service. Where appropriate, an estimated amount may be collected in advance or paid on the client's behalf and later reconciled against the actual amount. Estimated amounts are communicated in advance, and itemized statements are issued upon completion.
MOFA apostille application fee: MOFA does not charge the applicant an apostille application fee. Our fees cover document review, application preparation, submission/collection handling, certified translation, and workflow management. Courier charges, notary public fees, municipal certificate issuance fees, and other third-party costs are held separately as actual disbursements where applicable.
| Item | Estimated Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Notary Public Fee | Actual amount confirmed at quotation | Varies depending on the document type, authentication method, foreign-language surcharge, and whether oath-based authentication is required. Actual disbursements are confirmed at quotation. |
| Document Procurement Fee | +¥5,500 / document + actual disbursements | Professional fee for document procurement assistance only where the document, the client's eligibility, required authorization, relationship to the record, and the issuing authority's rules allow our office to handle the request. Issuance fees and postage are separate. Japanese police certificates require personal application and are excluded. |
| Municipal Certificate Fees | approx. ¥450 | Family register (¥450), residence certificate (¥300), seal registration (¥300), etc. Amounts vary by municipality and certificate type. |
| DHL International Courier | Actual amount confirmed at quotation | Varies by destination, weight, courier service, and applicable surcharges. EMS, DHL, or another trackable shipping method will be selected based on destination and deadline. |
| EMS International Mail | Actual amount confirmed at quotation | Varies by destination, weight, courier service, and applicable surcharges. EMS, DHL, or another trackable shipping method will be selected based on destination and deadline. |
| Domestic Shipping (Letter Pack Plus) | ¥600 | For domestic delivery within Japan. Yu-Pack or another trackable domestic shipping method may be used where appropriate. |
About reference amounts: Amounts shown are reference figures. They vary by issuing institution, procurement method, certificate type, shipping method, timing of dispatch, and fee revisions. Current amounts are confirmed at quotation or at the time of payment.
Settlement: Where appropriate, an estimated amount is collected at engagement or costs are paid on the client's behalf; itemized statements are issued at completion, with any collected balance refunded or shortfalls invoiced separately. Document procurement fees are managed separately from third-party payments so each category can be reviewed clearly.
Payment Methods and Invoicing
Available Payment MethodsPayment is available by credit card through Stripe, international transfer through Wise where available, or bank transfer. Corporate clients may receive an invoice in English or Japanese.
Credit card payment via Stripe is available through a payment link sent by email. Available card brands, acceptance of cards issued outside Japan, and installment or revolving-payment options depend on the payment screen at billing and the conditions of the card issuer and payment processor.
Where available, international transfer via Wise is also supported. Supported currencies, exchange rates, transfer fees, and settlement timing depend on Wise's conditions at the time of transfer.
Japanese domestic bank transfers are accepted. Upon receipt of payment to our designated account, we confirm engagement and commence work. Transfer fees are borne by the remitter; this option is favored by corporate clients for accounting reliability and audit trail.
- Advance Payment Policy: Payment is required prior to commencement of work. Confirmation of payment triggers engagement.
- Invoicing: Invoices and receipts are issued in a format appropriate to the engagement, payment method, and client type.
- Disbursement Settlement: Itemized disbursement statements are issued at completion, with unused balances refunded or shortfalls invoiced separately.
- Receipts: Issued in paper or PDF form upon request. Invoice-based settlement is preferred for corporate engagements.
- Cancellation Policy: Full refund for cancellations prior to commencement; pro-rated settlement based on progress for cancellations after work has begun. Details provided at engagement.
Pricing FAQ
Common Questions on Fees, Payment, and Office-Side Priority HandlingCommon questions about fees, payment, and office-side priority handling.
When does the Public-Document Package apply?
The Public-Document Package starts from ¥77,000 (tax included) and may apply where one eligible Japanese public document requires both MOFA apostille handling and one Certified Translation. Applicability is confirmed from the document, issuing authority and form, and the actual receiving authority's requirements; the destination country alone does not determine whether the package applies.
Private documents requiring notarization or further authentication are priced under the applicable private-document category. Japanese police certificates use separate pricing because the certificate must be personally obtained and Certified Translation is not included by default.
What is included in the difference between standard and office-side priority pricing?
Office-side priority handling may reflect additional office-side coordination where operationally possible:
- Prioritized internal work order and document review
- Submission preparation
- Communications and necessary scheduling or coordination
- Courier coordination for document exchange
Office-side priority handling depends on prior document review, document status, authority availability, courier schedule, and operational capacity. It does not change external authority, courier, or receiving-authority processing times and availability is reviewed case by case.
When may office-side priority handling be available?
Availability is assessed individually based on the document type, whether the original has reached our office, the required procedural steps, the requested deadline, and our current workload. Priority handling concerns the order of work, document review, and communications within our office; it does not guarantee completion, delivery, or acceptance by a specified date.
Can I add the apostille later after ordering Certified Translation only?
It may be possible. If the original Japanese public document remains eligible for direct MOFA apostille, MOFA Apostille Handling (from ¥55,000, tax included) may be added after Certified Translation (from ¥33,000, tax included, depending on category). Where both services are ordered separately, the combined starting amount for a typical eligible matter may be approximately ¥88,000 (tax included) and up.
The Public-Document Package, where applicable, and separately ordered services differ in scope, receiving-authority review, and workflow management, so the applicable structure is confirmed before additional work begins. A translation should not automatically be attached to a public document before the authentication method is confirmed.
Are there discounts for multiple documents ordered together?
We do not apply a uniform volume discount. Multiple documents are quoted based on the required procedures, translation work, document combinations, and workflow. Where several documents belong to the same matter, they may be reviewed together for consistency and coordinated handling.
What additional cost applies for university-issued diplomas?
University-issued documents are reviewed individually based on the issuing entity, issuance date, document type, and current MOFA requirements. If the Japanese document itself is eligible for direct MOFA apostille and the receiving authority requires both apostille and Certified Translation, the Public-Document Package may apply from ¥77,000 (tax included). Where notarization and further Japan-side authentication are actually required, the applicable private-document fee category is used.
Certified Translation for academic documents starts from JPY 38,500. See our diploma page for document-specific guidance.
Are credit card installments available?
Through Stripe, you may be able to configure installment or revolving payments per your card issuer's terms after payment is processed. We do not pre-configure installment plans on our side.
Available card brands, acceptance of cards issued outside Japan, and installment or revolving-payment options depend on the payment screen at billing and the conditions of the card issuer and payment processor. A payment link is sent by email.
What are the fees for international transfers?
Where available, international transfer via Wise is also supported. Supported currencies, exchange rates, transfer fees, and settlement timing depend on Wise's conditions at the time of transfer.
Upon confirming receipt in our Wise account, we confirm engagement and commence work.
What information is required for a quotation?
Please provide the following information:
- Destination country (the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, or the Philippines)
- Receiving authority
- Document name
- Desired deadline
- Whether the document has already been issued
Email is the clearest channel for written quotation requests because document scope, pricing, disbursements, delivery method, and written instructions can be confirmed in writing. WhatsApp Business may be used for initial overseas inquiries, but formal quotation and document review may be handled by email.