Where to get an apostille in Japan: competent authority and Apostille Convention status
Japan is a party to the Apostille Convention, in force since 27 July 1970 (ratification). HCCH lists as competent authority: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo.
- Convention
- Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (HCCH Convention No. 12)
- Status
- Contracting Party in the HCCH status table
- Type
- Ratification (R)
- Signature (S), as printed
- 12-III-1970
- Ratification, accession or succession, as printed
- 28-V-1970
- Entry into force (EIF), as printed
- 27-VII-1970 (27 July 1970)
- Competent authority (Art. 6), as printed by HCCH
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo
- HCCH competent authority page
- Japan - Competent Authority (Art. 6) (page last updated 04 February 2020)
- Region (UN M49)
- Asia, Eastern Asia
- Sources
- HCCH status table, Convention 12, retrieved 5 November 2026; HCCH competent authorities of Japan, retrieved 5 November 2026; UN M49 regions
What this page does not say
Which authority handles your document can depend on the type of document and, in some countries, on the place. Open the HCCH page linked above and check there. We do not say which authority you need, and this is not legal advice.
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