Key Points
- This page lists the main professional fees in Japanese Yen and states them as tax-inclusive where Japanese consumption tax applies. Professional fees are shown separately from disbursements such as notary public fees, municipal charges, and shipping costs.
- For eligible public documents intended for the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines, the Country-Specific Standard Package is the main fee category. Private documents requiring a Japanese notary public or Legal Affairs Bureau route are reviewed under separate fee categories.
- Certified Translation Only and public-document apostille support may be requested separately where appropriate to the document and required procedures.
- Office-side priority handling prioritizes our internal work sequence, document review, submission preparation, and communications. It does not shorten processing by external authorities or guarantee completion by a specific date.
- A final quotation is provided after confirming the destination country, receiving authority, document type, quantity, requested deadline, current document status, and shipping destination.
Pricing Principles
Main fees and disbursements are shown separatelyMain fees are listed on this page. Final quotation depends on document type, receiving authority instructions, disbursements, and shipping method. Actual disbursements are estimated in advance and reconciled upon completion, with unused balances refunded or shortfalls invoiced separately.
Country-Specific Standard Package (Public Documents)
Public-Document Package — Standard Fee ¥77,000+ Across 5 JurisdictionsThis package combines MOFA apostille procurement and Certified Translation for one eligible public document at a standard fee of ¥77,000 (tax included) and up per public 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.
Requesting Apostille Support Only and Certified Translation Only separately totals approximately ¥88,000 (tax included) and up as a reference. The Country-Specific Standard Package covers MOFA apostille procurement, one Certified Translation, and a cross-check of the receiving authority's publicly available guidance or client-provided written instructions against the planned Japan-side steps, for one eligible public document at a standard fee of ¥77,000 (tax included) and up.
Country-Specific Standard Package (Public Documents · Standard Fee)
Route A generally focuses on Certified Translation and destination-specific document preparation. Under Route B, notarisation, Legal Affairs Bureau authentication, or additional confirmation may be required depending on the receiving authority and the document involved. The final requirements are confirmed based on the receiving authority's instructions.
- Document pre-check and authentication-route review
- MOFA apostille application for eligible public documents
- One Certified Translation document
- Certification of Translation Accuracy attached
- Cross-check of the receiving authority's publicly available guidance or client-provided written instructions against the planned Japan-side procurement, translation, and authentication steps
- Standard workflow management and PDF delivery via email
- Private-document notary / Legal Affairs Bureau workflow, and notary public fees
- Municipal or issuing-institution certificate fees
- Document procurement fee (when 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 or accredited translators, and foreign-side professional fees
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.
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 Public-Document Apostille Support Only pricing is differentiated by document category and by public / private document classification.
Certified Translation Only
| Document Category | Examples | Fee (JPY) |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Status Documents | Family register, residence certificate, marriage / birth / death certificate, police clearance certificate | From ¥33,000 |
| Academic Documents | Diploma, academic transcript | From ¥38,500 |
| Identity Documents | Driver's license, passport | From ¥33,000 |
| Corporate Registry Documents | Corporate registry certificate, full historical registry | From ¥44,000 |
| Non-Standard Documents | Contracts, affidavits, powers of attorney, other text-volume-based documents | From ¥6,600 / 400 chars |
Prices shown on this page are quoted in Japanese Yen (JPY) and are tax-inclusive where Japanese consumption tax applies. Category fees are standard fees (lower bounds); documents may be quoted individually depending on volume and format. Third-party charges and shipping costs, including notary public fees and municipal issuance fees, are stated separately from our professional fees and reconciled against actual amounts. Includes an attached Certification of Translation Accuracy issued by the Gyoseishoshi / Administrative Scrivener.
Public-Document Apostille Support Only
| Service | Lead Time | Fee (JPY) |
|---|---|---|
| Public-Document Apostille Support Only — Standard | 3-5 business days | From ¥55,000 |
| Public-Document Apostille Support Only — Office-Side Priority Handling | Office-side priority handling — availability reviewed case by case | From ¥82,500 |
Applies to public documents (family register, residence certificate, police clearance certificate, and other documents eligible for a direct MOFA apostille). University-issued documents are reviewed individually according to the issuing entity's corporate form, issuance date, and document type (see the diploma page). For private documents, see the table below. Office-side priority handling is a fee for prioritizing our internal work order, document review, and communications; it does not guarantee delivery dates. Lead times are estimates counted after our office completes document review and are distinct from MOFA's processing times; they do not include two-way mailing time, receiving-authority confirmation, or time needed to resolve document deficiencies or additional checks. Police certificates (criminal record certificates / travel certificates) require confirmation of seal status, applicant-in-person procurement, and the designated receiving authority; additional confirmation or a separate written quotation may be required depending on the matter.
Japanese Notary Office / Legal Affairs Bureau + Apostille (Private Documents)
| Service | Lead Time | Fee (JPY) |
|---|---|---|
| Notary + Apostille — Standard | 5-7 business days | From ¥66,000 |
| Notary + Apostille — Office-Side Priority Review | Office-side priority handling — availability reviewed case by case | From ¥99,000 |
Applies to private documents (powers of attorney, affidavits, employment certificates, contracts, and university-issued documents confirmed to require a notary-route process, etc.). 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 for submission, and communications. 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. Availability depends on the case details, the required steps, whether the originals have reached our office, and our current workload. Our office is located in Akasaka, Tokyo — within close proximity to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kasumigaseki, enabling flexible office-side coordination where operationally possible. 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
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 university-issued documents (with the applicable route reviewed according to the issuing entity's corporate form, issuance date, and document type), 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, a standard service fee from ¥121,000 (tax included) applies to private-document notary-route matters. This standard fee is based on one document, one authentication route, one notarial act, and one Certified Translation. Multiple originals, multiple document types, multiple signatories or deponents, multiple notarial acts, multiple authentication routes, or translation beyond the standard volume are quoted separately. The fee is not applied automatically merely because a document is private; it applies where the notary office, Legal Affairs Bureau, and MOFA steps are actually required, confirmed against the document's nature, the signing method, notary-office practice, and the receiving authority's publicly available guidance or written instructions provided by the client. In addition to the authentication steps (Japanese notary office, Legal Affairs Bureau, MOFA apostille), this package includes one Certified Translation, receiving-authority requirements confirmation, and workflow management. Where only the authentication steps are needed, Notary + Apostille (from ¥66,000, tax included) is available. 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. 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.
Disbursements and Service Fees
Third-Party Charges and Document Procurement Fees Stated SeparatelyThird-party charges and shipping costs payable to notary public offices, municipalities, and courier services are stated separately from our professional fees. Where appropriate, an estimated amount may be collected in advance or paid on the client's behalf and later reconciled against the actual amount. Document procurement, when requested, is handled as a separate service fee. Estimated amounts are communicated in advance, and itemized statements are issued upon completion.
MOFA apostille application fee: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan currently does not charge an application fee for apostille certification. 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 / doc | Service fee for mail request to municipal office of registered domicile (separate municipal issuance fees are actual disbursements) |
| Municipal Certificate Fees | approx. ¥450 | Family register (¥450), residence certificate (¥300), seal registration (¥300), etc. |
| 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 & 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.
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 HandlingNine frequently asked questions on pricing structure, payment methods, and office-side priority handling.
Why does the Country-Specific Standard Package use a standard fee of ¥77,000 (tax included) and up across all 5 jurisdictions?
All five destinations are Contracting States to the Hague Apostille Convention and 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, with a shared standard fee of ¥77,000 (tax included) and up.
Private documents requiring Japanese notary office / Legal Affairs Bureau routing are reviewed as private-document notary-route matters. Where applicable, a standard service fee from ¥121,000 (tax included) applies. 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.
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:
- Direct submission coordination to MOFA via our Akasaka office where operationally possible
- Coordination with relevant authorities where required
- Prioritized office workflow where available
- 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?
Yes. Following Certified Translation Only (from ¥33,000, tax included, by category), you may subsequently engage Public-Document Apostille Support Only (from ¥55,000, tax included). Requesting both separately totals approximately ¥88,000 (tax included) and up as a reference.
À la carte services and package fees cannot be compared by simple arithmetic alone because scope, country-specific requirements review, and workflow management differ. We can identify 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. Multiple documents can be reviewed together for consistency of names, dates, and submission routing — rather than reduced rates by quantity.
The benefits of multi-document engagement include:
- Batched MOFA submissions where the document route and authority schedule allow
- 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 university-issued diplomas?
University-issued documents are not classified as public or private — and the required authentication route is not determined — solely by whether the university is national, public, or private. We check the issuing entity's corporate form, the issuance date, the document type, and the issuer name and official seal on the original. Documents issued by national/public university corporations and private university corporations may be eligible for direct MOFA authentication by public-seal confirmation, but are in principle not eligible for a direct MOFA apostille.
Pricing structure:
- Where an apostille is required and the notary-office / Legal Affairs Bureau route is actually needed: the matter is reviewed as a private-document notary-route matter, and where applicable a standard service fee from ¥121,000 (tax included) applies
- Where a direct MOFA apostille is confirmed to be available — for example, a diploma issued by a national or public university before incorporation — the Country-Specific Standard Package (from ¥77,000, tax included) may apply
- Notary public fee: Varies depending on the document type, authentication method, foreign-language surcharge, and whether oath-based authentication is required. Actual disbursements are confirmed at quotation.
The applicable steps are confirmed against the receiving authority's publicly available guidance or written instructions provided by the client, and current MOFA and notary-office practice. See our diploma page for further detail.
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)
- Document type (family register, diploma, police clearance, etc.)
- Quantity
- Requested deadline
- Current document status
- Shipping destination (overseas / domestic)
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.