What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is a standardized authentication certificate created under the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961). It is attached to — or stamped on — a public document to certify that the signature, seal, or stamp on that document is genuine.
Once a document carries an apostille from its country of origin, it is automatically accepted as legally valid in all other Hague Convention member countries without any further authentication. This replaced the older, multi-step consular legalization process for documents exchanged between member countries.
Japan joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 1 January 1970. In Japan, apostilles for public documents are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (外務省, Gaimusho).
Which Japanese Documents Can Be Apostilled
Only public documents — those bearing the official seal of a designated Japanese public authority — can receive an apostille. Private documents must first be notarized before the apostille can be applied to the notary's certification.
Koseki-tohon / Joseki-tohon
Family register and removed register transcripts issued by municipal offices
Juminhyo
Certificate of residence issued by the municipal office of residence
Tax / income certificates
Nōzei shōmeisho and kazei shōmeisho issued by tax offices
Court documents
Certified copies issued by court registries
Notarized translations
Translations certified before a Japanese notary public (kōshōnin)
Academic diplomas (national universities)
Diplomas issued by national university corporations bear an official seal
Academic diplomas (private universities)
Must be notarized first before the notary's seal can be apostilled
Countries That Accept Japanese Apostilles
All 125+ Hague Apostille Convention member countries accept documents apostilled by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These include:
United States
United Kingdom
Australia
Canada
Italy
France
Germany
Spain
Netherlands
Brazil
Argentina
South Korea
Mexico
India
New Zealand
For countries not in the Hague Convention (including some Southeast Asian countries), consular legalization — a multi-step process involving the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then the destination country's embassy — is required instead. Contact us if you are unsure which authentication your destination requires.
Apostille vs Consular Legalization
Apostille
- Single-step process
- Issued by MOFA Japan
- No government fee in Japan
- Accepted in 125+ countries
- Faster processing
Consular Legalization
- Multi-step process
- MOFA Japan + destination embassy
- Government fees typically apply
- Required for non-Hague countries
- Longer processing time
How We Obtain a Japanese Apostille for You
Apostille requests must be submitted in person or by post to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan — they cannot be submitted from overseas directly. As part of every engagement, we handle the apostille submission on your behalf.
Document acquisition — We first obtain the underlying public document (koseki, juminhyo, etc.) from the relevant government office, or receive your existing document if you already have the original.
MOFA submission — We submit the original document to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for apostille. Processing is typically 1–3 business days for in-person submission at the Tokyo or Osaka office.
Translation (if required) — If you also need a certified English translation, we prepare this in parallel. Note that the apostille is placed on the original Japanese document; translations are provided as separate accompanying documents.
International delivery — The apostilled original, along with the certified translation, is couriered to your address worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Japanese apostille process.
Is there a government fee for a Japanese apostille? +
No — unusually, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not charge a government fee for issuing an apostille. Our quoted fee covers the agency handling (submission, collection, and coordination), but there is no additional government stamp fee payable to MOFA.
Does the apostille go on the translation or on the original? +
The apostille is attached to the original Japanese public document — it certifies the official seal of the issuing authority (the municipal office, tax office, etc.). The certified English translation is a separate accompanying document. Some countries and authorities also require the translation itself to be notarized and then separately apostilled; let us know your destination and we can advise on what is required.
How long is a Japanese apostille valid? +
The Hague Convention does not set an expiry date for apostilles — the apostille itself does not expire. However, the underlying document may become "stale" for the purpose it is submitted: many authorities require koseki or juminhyo to have been issued within the past 3–6 months. If your documents are older than this, a fresh copy with a new apostille may be required.
What if my destination country is not in the Hague Convention? +
For countries outside the Hague Convention — including some Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern countries — consular legalization is required instead of an apostille. This involves MOFA certifying the document's seal, followed by the destination country's embassy in Japan certifying the MOFA seal. Contact us with your destination country and we will advise on the correct process and whether we can assist.
Can a diploma from a private Japanese university be apostilled? +
Not directly — private university diplomas are private documents, not public documents, so MOFA cannot apostille them directly. To apostille a private university diploma, it must first be notarized by a Japanese notary public (kōshōnin), and then the notary's certification (which is a public document) can receive the apostille. We handle this two-step process as part of our diploma and academic transcript service.
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