Apostille for Japan
ApostilleUsing US documents in Japan · Asia
Japan is a Hague Apostille Convention member, so US documents only need an apostille — no embassy legalization. State-issued documents (birth certificates, diplomas, notarized papers) are apostilled by the issuing state; federal documents (FBI checks, IRS letters) by the U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications. Fees run $1–$40 by state, $20 federally.
| Hague status | Member since July 27, 1970 |
|---|---|
| Embassy legalization needed? | No — apostille only |
| State documents go to | The issuing state's competent authority |
| Federal documents go to | U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications ($20/doc) |
Your exact steps for Japan
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Which documents does Japan usually ask for
- Birth certificate (state example: California)
- Marriage certificate (state example: California)
- Single status affidavit (state example: California)
- FBI background check (Identity History Summary) (federal)
- Power of attorney (state example: California)
State documents vs federal documents
The routing never depends on Japan — it depends on who issued your document. A birth certificate, diploma, or notarized paper is a state document, apostilled or certified by the issuing state. An FBI background check, IRS letter, or naturalization certificate is federal and goes only to the U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications.
Special notes for Japan
Japanese authorities commonly require a Japanese translation of the apostilled document.
Frequently asked questions
＋Does Japan accept an apostille?
Yes. Japan is a Hague Apostille Convention member (in force since July 27, 1970), so a US document needs only an apostille — no embassy legalization. State documents are apostilled by the issuing state; federal documents by the US Department of State.
＋Do I still need to legalize documents at the Japan embassy?
No. Because Japan accepts apostilles, the embassy legalization step is skipped entirely. That is the whole point of the Convention — one certificate replaces the old multi-step chain.
＋Does Japan require a translation?
Japanese authorities commonly require a Japanese translation of the apostilled document.
＋Which US office issues the apostille for Japan?
It depends on the document, not on Japan. State documents (birth certificates, diplomas, notarized papers) go to the issuing state's authority. Federal documents (FBI checks, IRS letters) go to the US Department of State.
More country requirements
Sources
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor
Last verified: July 13, 2026 against the HCCH status table(official page). See how we verify and how often on ourmethodology page.
This is informational, not legal advice. The receiving authority sets the final requirements — confirm with them and the office named above before you send anything.