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Notarials
Notarial services are available for all nationalities by appointment

APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS SERVICE

Please click "Read More" for detailed information.

We can only provide notary services for U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents (i.e., green card holders), or non-U.S. citizens requiring notarization of documents for submission in the United States. However, foreign citizens submitting U.S.-related corporate affidavits or acknowledgements to the Legal Affairs Bureau in Japan may also qualify to use these services (see “Corporate Affidavits and Acknowledgements”).

For us to notarize your documents, you must …

  • Make an appointment. There are no exceptions.
  • Have a valid, government-issued photo ID and ensure name of the individual signing the document matches the name on the presented identification.
  • Understand your document, including why and where you will sign. Embassy staff are unable to explain to you the contents of your documents and may be unable to notarize the document if you do not understand its meaning or significance.
  • Complete the document with the appropriate names, places, and dates before you arrive, but do not sign the document. You will be asked to take an oath and sign the document in front of a consular officer.
  • Include all pages, information and accompanying documents. Organize all pages in order and the page(s) that requires the notary seal must be clearly flagged on the edge of the document.
  • Pay the notary fee ($50 per each seal). The notarial service fee is payable at the consular cashier on the day of your appointment.
  • If your document requires the presence of witnesses in addition to the notarization, you must supply these witnesses. Embassy staff are unable to act as witnesses.
  • If you are signing as an attorney-in-fact, you must bring the original notarized power of attorney, or court document granting you as the attorney-in-fact.
  • Your documents must be in English. We are unable to notarize any documents written in a foreign language.
  • Please refer to the U.S. State Department’s website for information on the possibility of remote notarial services.

Please also see our Frequently Asked Questions.

Often, customers include a title, or “corporate identity,” when signing these types of documents. Examples of corporate identities would be “president,” “managing director,” or “representative.” If you wish to sign with a corporate identity, please be prepared to present adequate documentation (e.g. Certificate of Incorporation, Tokibo Tohon) to prove that identity to the consul. Business cards and letterhead will not be accepted as proof of corporate identity. Alternatively, in the absence of the above types of documents, you may wish to alter the language of your document to include language such as “who acknowledged himself to be the (TITLE) of (CORPORATION NAME)” or be prepared to cross out references to corporate identities within the document to be notarized.