Japan
Apostille in Japan
At a glance
Who issues apostilles in Japan, and what does it cost?
| Uses apostilles? | Uses apostilles1 |
|---|---|
| Member since | 1 |
| How it joined | Ratified (signed and confirmed), 1 |
| Who issues apostilles | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Certification Section of the Center for Consular Services in Tokyo, and the Osaka Liaison Office, public documents of government agencies and notarial documents, subject to the lists on the Ministry's certifiable documents page2 |
| Fee | No fee, according to the office (applications by post and at the service desk)3checked 18 October 2026 |
| Processing time | If nothing is missing or unclear, certified documents are posted back after 3 business days3checked 18 October 2026 |
| Online register to check apostilles | Available (check an apostille)2 |
| Documents covered | 5 kinds of document listed by the office |
| What the receiving side decides | Whether it accepts the document: for example how recent it must be and whether it needs a translation. |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get an apostille in Japan
Check that the document is a public document issued within the last three months, showing the issuer's name and title and the seal of the issuing office, because copies and documents with only a signature or private seal cannot be certified.4
For a private document, first have a notary public notarise it and have the director of the district legal affairs bureau certify the notary's seal.4
Fill in the apostille application form, which differs from the form for an authentication of seals.5
Apply by post to the Tokyo headquarters or the Osaka Liaison Office with the original document, the form and a trackable return envelope such as a Japan Post Letter Pack; applications by international post are not accepted.3
Or apply at the service desk with photo ID; in Tokyo, from 5 October 2026, an online appointment is needed and there is no walk-in service, while Osaka needs no appointment.3
The Ministry returns the certified document by post to the applicant's address in Japan and does not send it to foreign embassies or consulates.3
Documents
Common documents
As listed by the office:
- Documents of national institutions, such as a certified copy of the commercial register, a criminal record certificate or a certificate of residence4
- Documents of local governments, such as an extract of the family register, a residence certificate or a tax certificate4
- Notarial documents with a certificate of the notary's seal from the district legal affairs bureau4
- Documents of public high schools, junior high schools and elementary schools4
- Documents of national or public hospitals and Red Cross hospitals (for Red Cross hospitals only health certificates)4
More about these documents: criminal record certificate, academic transcript, company registration certificate, certified copy of a document.
Contacts
Who to contact in Japan
- Apostille officeMinistry of Foreign Affairs, Certification Section of the Center for Consular Services in Tokyo, and the Osaka Liaison Office2Public documents of government agencies and notarial documents, subject to the lists on the Ministry's certifiable documents page
- The office that will receive your documentAsk it before you start what it needs: an apostille, a translation, or a document issued recently.
Common situations
Using a document from or in Japan
A document issued in Japan
The apostille comes from Japan, from the office named above. It works in any other country where the Convention applies with Japan.
Check where it can be usedA document for use in Japan
Get the apostille in the country that issued the document, not in Japan. Japan accepts it if that country is also a member and the Convention applies between the two.
Check your countryGood to know
Good to know
Note: Rule
An apostille is not issued for documents of special corporations, incorporated administrative agencies, incorporated foundations and associations, chambers of commerce, private schools and universities, or private hospitals; a notarisation route is used for private documents.4
Note: Rule
Certificates of national and public universities are generally not given an apostille, except those of universities that were not yet incorporated or diplomas issued before incorporation.4
Note: Rule
The Ministry does not accept applications for spare documents and asks applicants to check with the destination agency how many documents it needs.4
Before the apostille
Private documents
A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
Questions
Questions about apostilles in Japan
Does Japan accept apostilles?
Yes. Japan has been a member of the Apostille Convention since 27 July 1970, so it issues and accepts apostilles for documents exchanged with other member countries.
Who issues apostilles in Japan?
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Certification Section of the Center for Consular Services in Tokyo, and the Osaka Liaison Office (public documents of government agencies and notarial documents, subject to the lists on the Ministry's certifiable documents page).
How much does an apostille cost in Japan?
No fee, according to the office (applications by post and at the service desk). Fees can change, so check the office’s own page before you apply.
How long does an apostille take in Japan?
The office says: If nothing is missing or unclear, certified documents are posted back after 3 business days.
Do I need to notarise a private document first?
Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public. The apostille is then added to the notary’s certificate, not to the private document itself.
Is an apostille valid in countries that are not Convention members?
No. An apostille only works in other member countries. Countries outside the Convention use a different process, usually called legalisation. The office that receives your document decides what it accepts.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- Certification
- Application Procedure Guide 3 Application Procedure and Required Documents
- Application Procedure Guide 1 Certifiable Documents
- Download Application Form / Power of Attorney
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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