I need to have my documents certified

Certified Copy / Solicitor Certification Service

If you need "Certified Copy" of document, such as your passport, proof of address, or corporate documents, APP Administrative Scrivener Corporation is here to help!

5,500 JPY per document!

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Shipping Fees

When dealing with overseas financial institutions, educational establishments, or government authorities, you may often be asked to provide a certified copy of your identity documents, such as your passport or proof of address.

The terminology varies by destination: organisations in the UK and Commonwealth countries typically request a "solicitor certification", while those in the US and other jurisdictions may ask for an "attorney certification", both of which involve a qualified legal professional directly verifying the copy against the original.

Here in Japan, Administrative Scriveners (Gyoseishoshi Lawyers) can provide this exact service, and our certifications are globally accepted!

As qualified legal professionals registered under Japanese law, we perform the exact same professional function as a UK Solicitor or a US Attorney in this capacity.

We will directly examine your original documents, compare them with the photocopies, and issue an official English certificate confirming that the copy is a true and complete copy of the original.

Additionally, we can provide a signature certificate (formally witnessing and authenticating your signature on official forms) to meet international compliance standards.

We certify a wide range of documents, including passports, proof of address, and corporate or legal paperwork.
Unless you specify otherwise, we certify documents using our standard professional format. Please be assured that none of our clients has ever had a document rejected due to our certification format.

While our certification services are non-refundable, in the highly unlikely event that a receiving institution rejects your document solely due to our certificate's format, we will amend and reissue the document free of charge so you can proceed with confidence.

If the requesting institution specifically requests a "notarised" document, this often indicates that certification by Notary Public is required. In particular, if an "apostille" or consular legalisation is requested, notarisation at a notary office is almost always mandatory.

In such cases, we can handle the entire process on your behalf, including notary procedures, apostilles, and consular authentication. Please feel free to consult us regarding these delegation services.

Please note, however, that some overseas institutions use the term "notarise" loosely and may not strictly distinguish between a Notary Public and other authorised legal certifiers like us. We highly recommend checking with the receiving organisation beforehand to verify whether a certified copy issued by a qualified professional other than a Notary Public is acceptable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1：What methods of certification do you offer?

A1：We offer document certification through three methods: in person, by post, or by email. In all cases, please send us a scan or photocopy of the document to be certified, along with your proof of identity, in advance.

In Person: You meet with our certifier at our office or a designated location. Certified documents are handed over to you on the same day.
By Post: We verify the original document sent to our office. The original and the certified copy will be returned to your address via Letter Pack Plus (Secure domestic post. Extra 600 JPY).
By Email: If the original is a digital data (such as a PDF or high-quality image), you can email it to us. The certified hard copies will be sent to your address via Letter Pack Plus (Secure domestic post. Extra 600 JPY). Digitally certified PDF is also availtable.

Please note that certain documents may be restricted to a specific certification method due to their legal nature.

Q2：Which documents are restricted to specific certification methods?

A2：Signature certification strictly requires an in-person meeting. The certifier must personally witness you signing the document to verify its authenticity. We cannot certify signatures remotely (e.g., via video link or post), as it is impossible for us to verify that the physical paper arriving at our office is the exact same sheet we saw on screen.

Additionally, passports generally require in-person verification. Most receiving institutions require us to certify that we have met the applicant in person and confirmed that the photograph is a true likeness. However, please consult us if visiting our office is genuinely difficult.

Q3：Are there any documents you cannot certify?

A3：We cannot certify any documents if their authenticity is in doubt, or if the original is severely damaged, defaced, or illegible.

Q4：Can an agent request this service on my behalf?

A4：The initial application must be made by the applicant themselves.
While an agent may visit our office to drop off or collect documents, you must inform us of their full name in advance. Please note that we cannot proceed if an agent arrives without prior notice, if we cannot confirm their authorization with you, or if the agent fails to present valid identification.

Furthermore, certifications that inherently require in-person verification (such as signature certification or passport) cannot be handled by an agent; you must visit us in person.

Q5：Can I get a refund if the certified document is rejected by the receiving institution?

A5：Our certification services are non-refundable.
To avoid issues, please verify with the receiving institution in advance whether certification by a Certified Administrative Scrivener (rather than a Notary Public) is acceptable, whether the document's issue date is still valid, and if they have any specific formatting requirements.

However, if a document is rejected solely due to a minor formatting issue that can be easily amended, we will correct and reissue it free of charge.

Q6：I live overseas but need the physical certified document. Can you send it to me?

A6：Yes, we offer international shipping. We ship via EMS (Express Mail Service) and will provide you with a postage quote once you share your delivery address.

Q7：What payment methods do you accept?

A7：We accept local bank transfers as well as PayPal (which supports major credit and debit cards). For clients applying from outside Japan, we kindly request payment via PayPal.