Three Principles of Our Pricing
Transparency, Fairness, and PredictabilityOur fee structure is designed for a discerning international clientele who value transparency, fairness, and predictability. The total amount is finalized at quotation, with no additional invoicing after work completion.
Country-Specific Standard Package (Public Documents)
Public-Document Package — ¥77,000 Across 5 JurisdictionsThis package combines MOFA apostille procurement and Certified Translation for one eligible public document at ¥77,000 per document. It covers public documents such as family registers, residence certificates, civil status certificates, tax certificates, police certificates, and other documents that can be apostilled directly by MOFA.
Country-Specific Standard Package (Public Documents)
- MOFA apostille procurement for eligible public documents
- One Certified Translation document
- Certification of Translation Accuracy attached
- Country-specific submission requirements check
- 30-day re-processing for formal defects
- PDF delivery via email
- Private-document notary / Legal Affairs Bureau workflow
- Notary public fees (private documents)
- Municipal certificate issuance fees
- Document procurement service (when applicable)
- International courier (DHL / EMS)
- Additional translations beyond the first
- Embassy authentication / consular legalization
Itemized Fee Schedule
By Document Type and ServiceFor clients who do not select the Country-Specific Standard Package, or who require only individual services, the following à la carte fees apply. Certified Translation Only and Apostille Only pricing is differentiated by document category and by public / private document classification.
Certified Translation Only
| Document Category | Examples | Fee (tax-excluded) |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Status Documents | Family register, residence certificate, marriage / birth / death certificate, police clearance certificate | ¥16,500 |
| Academic Documents | Diploma, academic transcript | ¥19,800 |
| Identity Documents | Driver's license, passport | ¥13,200 |
| Corporate Registry Documents | Corporate registry certificate, full historical registry | ¥24,200 |
| Non-Standard Documents | Contracts, affidavits, powers of attorney, other text-volume-based documents | ¥4,400 / 400 chars |
All prices per document, tax-excluded. Includes an attached Certification of Translation Accuracy issued by the Gyoseishoshi (Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist).
Apostille Only (Public Documents)
| Service | Lead Time | Fee (tax-excluded) |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille Only — Standard | 3-5 business days | ¥33,000 |
| Apostille Only — Express | Next-business-day | ¥49,500 |
| Apostille Only — Same-Day | Same-day completion | ¥82,500 |
Applies to public documents (family register, residence certificate, police clearance certificate, national / public university diplomas, etc.). For private documents, see the table below.
Japanese Notary Office / Legal Affairs Bureau + Apostille (Private Documents)
| Service | Lead Time | Fee (tax-excluded) |
|---|---|---|
| Notary + Apostille — Standard | 5-7 business days | ¥66,000 |
| Notary + Apostille — Express | 3 business days | ¥99,000 |
Applies to private documents (private university diplomas, powers of attorney, affidavits, employment certificates, contracts, etc.). Notary public fees (approximately ¥11,500) are separately held as actual disbursements. Private documents requiring Japanese notary office / Legal Affairs Bureau routing are not eligible for same-day rush.
Express Options & Lead Times
Standard, Express, and Same-Day RushFor clients with comfortable timelines, our standard rate applies. For deadline-driven matters, Express (+50%) or Same-Day Rush (+150%) services are available. Our office is located in Akasaka, Tokyo — within close proximity to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kasumigaseki, enabling agile response to time-critical cases.
Same-Day Rush Conditions: Requires inquiry submitted by 11:00 AM and the document must already be at our office. Private documents requiring Japanese notary office / Legal Affairs Bureau routing, including private university diplomas, and additional-authentication matters for Singapore, New Zealand, or the Philippines are not eligible for same-day processing. Please confirm same-day eligibility at the time of engagement.
Private-Document Notary-Route Matters
Japanese Notary Office / Legal Affairs Bureau RoutingWhere required by the receiving authority for private document submission, related steps — Japanese notary office / Legal Affairs Bureau routing, MOFA apostille, and one Certified Translation — are reviewed as private-document notary-route matters. This route may apply to private university diplomas, powers of attorney, affidavits, employment certificates, contracts, and similar private documents where the receiving authority requires Japanese notary office authentication, Legal Affairs Bureau certification, and MOFA apostille.
Private-Document Notary-Route Support
Standard fee for applicable private-document casesWhere applicable, ¥121,000 is used as the standard professional fee for private-document notary-route matters. Notary public fees (approximately ¥11,500) are separately held as actual disbursements. Required steps vary by document type and receiving authority instructions, so the applicable workflow is confirmed before we proceed. Embassy authentication / consular legalization is not included.
Actual Disbursements
Third-Party Payments Held SeparatelyApart from professional fees, third-party payments to notary public offices, municipalities, and courier services are clearly classified as actual disbursements. Estimated amounts are communicated in advance, and itemized statements are issued upon completion.
| Item | Estimated Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Notary Public Fee | approx. ¥11,500 | For private document notarization (private university diplomas, powers of attorney, affidavits, etc.) |
| Document Procurement Service | ¥5,500 / doc | Mail request to municipal office of registered domicile (separate municipal fees apply) |
| Municipal Certificate Fees | approx. ¥450 | Family register (¥450), residence certificate (¥300), seal registration (¥300), etc. |
| DHL International Courier | ¥4,500-¥7,500 | Varies by region and weight. North America / Europe from ¥4,500; Asia from ¥4,000 |
| EMS International Mail | ¥3,000-¥5,000 | Varies by region and weight. Asia / Oceania from ¥3,000; North America / Europe from ¥4,000 |
| Domestic Courier (Letter Pack) | approx. ¥600 | For domestic delivery within Japan. Yu-Pack and other options available on request |
Disbursement Handling: Estimated disbursements are received at engagement; itemized statements are issued at completion, with unused balances refunded or shortfalls invoiced separately. Disbursements are managed separately from professional fees so third-party payments can be reviewed clearly.
Payment Methods & Invoicing
Designed for International ClienteleOur payment infrastructure is built for both domestic and international clients. Stripe for card payments and Wise for multi-currency transfers form the backbone of our payment options, complemented by traditional bank transfer. Corporate clients may receive itemized invoices in English or Japanese upon request.
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club International, and Discover are accepted. PCI DSS compliant payment is processed via a secure link sent to your email. Cards issued outside Japan are supported. Installment and revolving payment configurations are available through your card issuer.
For overseas clients, Wise multi-currency transfer is available. Wise states that it uses the mid-market exchange rate and shows fees upfront, making it a practical payment option for overseas clients. Direct transfer from your local currency to our Wise account is supported.
Domestic Japanese 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 Express ServiceTen frequently asked questions on pricing structure, payment methods, express service, and rejection policy.
Why is the Country-Specific Standard Package uniformly priced at ¥77,000 across all 5 jurisdictions?
All five destinations are Hague Convention member states that share MOFA apostille as the final authentication step. The Country-Specific Standard Package is designed for public documents that can be apostilled directly by MOFA, such as family registers, residence certificates, civil status certificates, tax certificates, and police certificates.
Private documents requiring Japanese notary office / Legal Affairs Bureau routing are reviewed as private-document notary-route matters. Where applicable, ¥121,000 is used as the standard professional fee. Notary public fees are separately held as actual disbursements.
What is included in the difference between standard and express pricing?
Express pricing (+50% for next-business-day) and same-day rush (+150%) reflect priority processing services:
- Same-day window submission to MOFA via direct visit from our Akasaka office
- Coordination with relevant authorities where required
- Escalated work prioritization
- Express courier handling for document exchange
Same-day rush requires submission by 11:00 AM and the document must already be at our office.
What are the conditions for same-day rush service?
Same-day rush (+150%) is available for cases meeting all of the following conditions:
- Inquiry submitted by 11:00 AM (via email, phone, or messaging)
- Document already received at our office
- Public document classification only (family register, police clearance certificate, etc.)
Not eligible for same-day rush: Private documents requiring Japanese notary office / Legal Affairs Bureau routing, including private university diplomas, and additional-authentication matters for Singapore, New Zealand, or the Philippines. Please confirm same-day eligibility at engagement.
Can I add the apostille later after ordering Certified Translation only?
Yes. Following Certified Translation Only (¥13,200-¥24,200 by category), you may subsequently engage Apostille Only (¥33,000+).
À la carte services and package fees cannot be compared by simple arithmetic alone because scope, country-specific requirements review, workflow management, and post-delivery support differ. We recommend the appropriate option based on your document type, destination country, and receiving authority instructions.
Are there discounts for multiple documents ordered together?
We do not offer explicit volume discounts. Our service is built around a high-quality, premium-pricing model that values efficient scheduling, deadline-driven reverse planning, and integrated quality management across multiple documents — rather than reduced rates by quantity.
The benefits of multi-document engagement include:
- Batched MOFA submissions for shorter total turnaround
- Coordinated workflow management where notary public and Legal Affairs Bureau routing may be required
- Country-specific consistency checks (e.g., name representation alignment across documents)
- Bundled document delivery for unified submission to receiving authorities
What additional cost applies for private university diplomas?
Private university diplomas are private documents and may require Japanese notary office authentication, Legal Affairs Bureau certification, and MOFA apostille where required by the receiving authority.
Pricing structure:
- Private-document notary-route matters: Where applicable, ¥121,000 is used as the standard professional fee for private university diplomas that fall under this route
- Notary public fee (approximately ¥11,500): Held separately as actual disbursement
The applicable route is subject to document type and receiving authority instructions. See our diploma page for further detail.
What happens if my document is rejected after delivery?
If a formal defect attributable to our office is identified within 30 days of delivery, we re-process the work at our expense. Specifically, this covers:
- Translation errors
- Formatting issues with the Certification of Translation Accuracy
- Apostille procedure errors
- Overlooked country-specific formal requirements
Not covered: Rejections based on receiving authority's independent criteria — such as expired validity periods, additional document requests, or operational policy changes. This is a re-processing policy for formal defects attributable to our office, not a commitment regarding the receiving authority's decision.
Are credit card installments available?
Through Stripe, you may 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, but you can change settings later through your card issuer's website or app.
Cards accepted:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- JCB
- Diners Club International
- Discover
Cards issued outside Japan are supported where accepted by Stripe and the card issuer. A secure payment link is sent via email, and the transaction is processed through 3D Secure authentication.
What are the fees for international transfers?
Overseas clients may use Wise multi-currency transfer. Wise states that it uses the mid-market exchange rate and shows fees upfront, making it a practical payment option for overseas clients.
Supported currencies:
- USD (United States Dollar)
- GBP (British Pound Sterling)
- SGD (Singapore Dollar)
- NZD (New Zealand Dollar)
- PHP (Philippine Peso)
- Other major currencies upon request
Direct transfer to our Wise account is supported. Upon Wise's automated transfer notification, we confirm engagement and commence work.
What information is required for a quotation?
Please provide the following information. We will review whether notarization, apostille certification, certified translation, and international delivery are required, and then provide total pricing and an estimated delivery schedule:
- Destination country (the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, or the Philippines)
- Document type (family register, diploma, police clearance, etc.)
- Quantity
- Requested deadline
- Current document status
- Shipping destination (overseas / domestic)
For overseas clients, we accommodate time-zone differences via WhatsApp Business and email.