Procedure for Apostille of Japan Birth Certificate

A Japanese birth certificate is a document issued by a government authority in Japan. Government departments in other countries cannot directly verify the authenticity of foreign documents. As Japan is a member of the Hague Convention, when a child born in Japan is involved in immigration or studying in another Hague member country, the relevant authorities require the provision of the Japan birth certificate with a Hague Apostille.

Applicants are required to go through the formalities of “birth registration” (shussho todoke) after the baby is born and report the information of the baby to government authorities. After the baby is born, the parents obtain the Birth Certificate from the hospital and must register the birth within 14 days of the birth (including the baby’s birthday).

Steps for Apostille on the Japan Birth Certificate:

Steps: The Japan birth certificate needs to be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for Hague Apostille. The authentication page from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is used to certify the authenticity of the official’s signature and seal on the birth certificate, and it includes the signature and seal of a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official.”

Processing time: The processing time is 10 business days, excluding shipping time.

The files for Apostille on Japan Birth Certificate:

1. Original Japan Birth Certificate
2. Scanned Copies of Both Parents’ Passport Photo Pages

Option 1. Send your original document.

Send your original certificate to us. Please be advised that the apostille will be attached to your original document.

Option 2. Send us a copy of your document.

Documents to be apostilled need to be issued within 3 months. If issue date of the birth certificate is over 3 months, a new hard copy needs to be requested and provided to us. Or you have the option to appoint us to request a new hard copy on your behalf.