Embassy of Japan Legalization Bangkok

**Japan has been an Apostille Convention member since 1970**; Thailand joins **1 January 2026**. This creates a fully bilateral Apostille corridor — the cleanest legalization flow in Asia. **Flow A (Thai docs → Japan)**: (1) Notarize by iVC's Notarial Services Attorney (THB 1,500) (2) MOFA Thailand Apostille at Chaeng Watthana (THB 400, 1-3 days) (3) Document accepted directly by Japanese government (Ministry of Justice 法務省, Immigration Bureau 入管, Ward Office 区役所, Family Court 家庭裁判所) — no Embassy attestation needed (4) Japanese translation (日本語翻訳) by iVC's certified translator (Lawyers Council member + JLPT N1) attached if Japanese authority requires it (most do — ~95% of cases). **Flow B (Japanese docs → Thailand)**: (1) Document issued in Japan (Koseki Tohon from honseki ward office, Juminhyo from current residence ward office, etc.) (2) **MOFA Japan Apostille** at Tokyo (Kasumigaseki) OR Osaka (Otemae) — fee FREE, processing 2-3 working days (3) Document accepted directly in Thailand — no Royal Thai Embassy Tokyo attestation needed (4) Thai translation by iVC's MoJ-certified translator. **Flow C (transitional/pre-2026)**: For documents already started under old flow — Notarize → MOFA Thailand → Embassy of Japan Bangkok attestation at Wireless Road. iVC handles all three flows including coordination with Japan correspondent (Tokyo office) for in-Japan apostille acquisition.

**Family register documents (戸籍)**: (1) **Koseki Tohon (戸籍謄本)** — complete family register, used for Thai marriage registration, divorce filing, inheritance, child registration (2) **Koseki Shohon (戸籍抄本)** — individual extract (3) **Joseki Tohon (除籍謄本)** — removed/closed register for inheritance proof (4) **Kaisei Genkoseki (改製原戸籍)** — pre-revision register for lineage proof. **Residence documents (住民票)**: (5) **Juminhyo (住民票)** — residence certificate (6) **Inkan Shomeisho (印鑑証明書)** — registered seal certificate, critical for property/contracts. **Civil status**: (7) **Konin Todoke Juri Shomeisho (婚姻届受理証明書)** — marriage acceptance certificate (8) **Rikon Todoke Juri Shomeisho** — divorce acceptance (9) **Birth Acceptance Certificate** — for Thai birth registration of dual-national child (10) **Death Acceptance Certificate** for inheritance. **Education**: (11) **University Diploma (卒業証明書)** + Transcript (成績証明書) — for Thai work permit / education recognition (12) **Vocational/Professional certifications**. **Criminal/Background**: (13) **Police Clearance (犯罪経歴証明書)** from prefectural Public Safety Commission — for Thai work permit, LTR, PR. **Corporate**: (14) **Tokibo Tohon (登記簿謄本)** — company registry full extract from Legal Affairs Bureau (15) **Articles of Incorporation (定款)** (16) **Board Resolution + Director POA** (17) **Tax Certificate (納税証明書)** (18) **Bank certification**. iVC has processed **3,200+ Japanese documents since 2017**; primary clients include Japanese expats marrying Thai nationals, JETRO-supported manufacturing in EEC/Rojana/Amata, Japanese restaurants/property in Phuket-Hua Hin-Pattaya, and Japanese film productions.

**Japan Legalization Pricing**: (1) **Single Doc Apostille (TH→JP)**: notarize THB 1,500 + MOFA Apostille THB 400 + Japanese translation THB 1,800/page + service fee THB 1,500 = **THB 5,200 all-in** for 1-page doc (delivery 4-6 days) (2) **Single Doc Apostille (JP→TH) with Japan-side coordination**: iVC's Tokyo correspondent handles MOFA Japan apostille (FREE govt fee) + DHL Tokyo→Bangkok + Thai translation = **THB 6,500-9,500 all-in** (delivery 8-14 days from Japan) (3) **Embassy Attestation (transitional)**: Embassy fee THB 1,150/doc + iVC service THB 2,500 + MOFA Thailand THB 1,400 = **THB 5,050/doc all-in** (delivery 5-7 days) (4) **Koseki Tohon Bundle** (Koseki + Thai translation + MOFA legalisation for Thai marriage registration): **THB 6,500-9,500** (5) **Spouse Visa (Japan) Bundle** — full document set for spouse joining Japanese husband/wife: Thai marriage cert, Thai birth cert, financial statements, employment certificates — **THB 25,500-48,500** (6) **Engineer/Specialist Visa Bundle** (在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」) — diploma + transcript + work history + sponsor company docs: **THB 32,500-65,500** (7) **Business Manager Visa Bundle** (経営・管理ビザ) — corporate docs + business plan + capital proof: **THB 65,500-145,500** (8) **Japanese Translation EN/TH↔JP** — MoJ-certified JLPT N1 translator: **THB 1,500-2,200/page**. Express same-day: +60%. **Compare to standalone Embassy queue + DIY MOFA Japan coordination**: typically **3-4x more expensive** and **3-5x longer timeline** due to language barrier with Japanese government offices.

**Embassy of Japan in Thailand**: 177 Witthayu Road (Wireless Road), Lumpini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330. **Phone**: +66-2-207-8500. **Email**: ryoji@bg.mofa.go.jp (Consular section). **Website**: th.emb-japan.go.jp. **Office hours**: Monday-Friday 08:30-12:00 + 13:30-17:15. **Consular section visiting hours**: Mon-Fri **08:30-11:30 (submission only)** and **13:30-16:00 (collection)**. Closed Saturday, Sunday, Thai public holidays, and Japanese national holidays (大型連休 May, 年末年始 late Dec-early Jan). **Appointment system**: required for visa applications via Embassy online system; document attestation is walk-in. **iVC's privileged access**: as recognised document services agent registered with Embassy Consular section, iVC submits documents directly without public appointment for attested documents from Notarial Services Attorney. **Transport to Embassy**: BTS Phloen Chit (350m, 5-min walk) — closest, MRT Lumphini (700m, 9-min walk). **JR Eastern Tokyo correspondent partnership**: iVC's Tokyo office (Akihabara) handles in-Japan Apostille acquisition, document collection from Japanese ward offices, and DHL international shipment — typical Tokyo→Bangkok 3-5 days door-to-door.

**Spouse Visa Japan** is for Thai national spouse of Japanese citizen — a Status of Residence (在留資格) granting full work rights. **Required Thai documents (all need Apostille from 2026 + Japanese translation)**: (a) **Thai Marriage Certificate (Kor Ror 3)** — from Amphur Office, Apostilled by MOFA Thailand (b) **Family Status Registration (Kor Ror 2)** — listing both spouses (c) **Thai Birth Certificate** of Thai spouse (d) **Thai Birth Certificate of any children** (if applicable) (e) **Thai Household Registration (Tabien Baan)** (f) **Thai Police Clearance Certificate** — from Royal Thai Police HQ, Apostilled (g) **Bank Statements** — last 6 months, certified by Thai bank (h) **Employment Certificate** of Thai spouse (i) **Photographs of wedding and married life** (15-30 photos showing wedding, honeymoon, daily life, family interaction — Japanese Immigration uses these to verify genuine marriage) (j) **Communication logs** — LINE/email/call records showing relationship development (k) **Japanese sponsor documents** — Koseki Tohon, Juminhyo, employment certificate, tax certificate, savings proof. **iVC's Spouse Visa Bundle**: (1) Collection + Apostille of all Thai documents (2) Japanese MoJ-certified translation (3) Compilation in Japan Immigration format (4) Submission support to Japan Embassy Bangkok OR to Japan Immigration via Tokyo correspondent for Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書 COE) (5) Pre-submission interview prep — Japanese Immigration officers may interview applicant. **Timeline**: 18-28 days for documents + 30-90 days for Immigration COE processing in Japan. **Cost**: **THB 38,500-68,500** all-inclusive. **Success rate**: iVC 97.4% (failures only when relationship evidence weak — iVC pre-screens before filing). iVC has handled **640+ Japan spouse visa cases since 2018**.

**Japanese companies establishing in Thailand** (Thailand-Japan EPA, JETRO-supported) require comprehensive corporate document legalization for: (a) **BOI Application** (Board of Investment) (b) **Branch Office Registration** (DBD Ministry of Commerce) (c) **Representative Office Registration** (d) **Subsidiary Limited Company** (e) **Joint Venture with Thai partner** (f) **EEC investment** (Eastern Economic Corridor). **iVC's Japanese Corporate Bundle**: (1) **Tokibo Tohon (登記簿謄本)** — Legal Affairs Bureau full company extract — MOFA Japan Apostille (FREE) (2) **Articles of Incorporation (定款)** — notarized by Japan notary (公証人) — MOFA Apostille (3) **Board Resolution authorising Thai entity** + appointment of Thai director/representative — notarized + Apostilled (4) **Power of Attorney to Thai counsel** — notarized + Apostilled (5) **Tax Certificate (納税証明書 その3)** showing no tax delinquency (6) **Audited Financial Statements** — last 2-3 years, certified by Japanese CPA (7) **Bank Reference Letter** from Mitsubishi UFJ, SMBC, Mizuho, or other Japanese bank certifying creditworthiness (8) **Director identification** — passport copies + Juminhyo (9) **Parent company guarantee** if applicable. **iVC end-to-end service**: Tokyo correspondent handles in-Japan document acquisition + Apostille + DHL to Bangkok; iVC Bangkok handles Thai translation (MoJ-certified) + submission to BOI/DBD/RD. **Timeline**: 18-32 working days. **Cost**: **THB 85,000-285,000** depending on entity type and document complexity. **iVC track record**: 280+ Japanese BOI/Branch establishments since 2019, primary sectors automotive parts (Toyota/Honda supply chain), electronics (Sony/Panasonic), food (Ajinomoto/Itoham), retail (FamilyMart/Lawson franchise).

**Japanese PCC for Thai use** is required for Japanese applying for Thai work permit, LTR visa, Long-stay visa, Thai PR. **Issued by**: Prefectural Public Safety Commission (都道府県公安委員会) — typically Tokyo Metropolitan Police HQ, Osaka Prefectural Police HQ, Aichi Prefectural Police HQ, etc. **Full process (iVC-managed end-to-end)**: (a) **Day 1**: Client provides scanned passport + Japanese address proof + iVC engagement letter (b) **Day 2-3**: iVC's Tokyo correspondent prepares PCC application — must be filed in person at Prefectural Police HQ by applicant OR by authorised representative with notarized POA. Application fee: FREE (Japanese government doesn't charge for PCC) (c) **Day 4-18**: Police background check by Japanese authorities — typically 10-14 working days, longer if applicant has prior addresses in multiple prefectures (d) **Day 19**: PCC issued (sealed envelope addressed to requesting embassy/foreign government — DO NOT OPEN, integrity seal critical) (e) **Day 20-21**: MOFA Japan Apostille at Kasumigaseki (Tokyo) — FREE govt fee, 2-3 days (f) **Day 22-24**: DHL Tokyo→Bangkok (g) **Day 25**: iVC delivers to client (h) **Day 26-28**: If Thai translation needed, iVC's MoJ-certified translator + MOFA Thailand legalisation of translation. **Total timeline**: **18-28 days** end-to-end. **Total cost**: **THB 12,500-18,500** including all coordination, courier, translation. **Validity**: 3-6 months for Thai immigration use. **Critical**: PCC envelope must remain sealed until submission — iVC instructs client + Thai Labour Department to open only at submission. **iVC's PCC success rate**: 99.6% (rare delays only when applicant has prior addresses in 4+ prefectures requiring multi-jurisdictional check).