Police Certificate Apostille
Police Certificate Apostille
The Japanese Criminal Record Certificate (Hanzai Keireki Shomeisho) is issued by the National Police Agency through prefectural police headquarters. For Japanese nationals and residents applying for UAE employment visas or residency, this certificate must be apostilled by MOFA and accompanied by a certified English translation.
The Japanese police certificate is particularly time-sensitive. It is issued in a sealed envelope that must not be opened by the applicant, and UAE authorities typically require it to be issued within 3-6 months. The apostille process must be completed while the certificate remains sealed and within its validity window.
GreenAttest manages the apostille process with urgency, submitting the sealed certificate to MOFA for apostille, arranging certified translation (performed after apostille without breaking the seal on the original), and delivering the complete package to your UAE address with maximum validity remaining.
Documents Required
- Original sealed Criminal Record Certificate from the prefectural police
- Japanese passport copy
- UAE visa or Emirates ID copy (if applicable)
- Fingerprint card (if applying from abroad through a Japanese Embassy)
- Authorization letter for representative processing
Special Requirements
- • Japanese nationals who have lived in other countries may need police clearance certificates from each country of residence in addition to the Japanese certificate.
- • The police certificate application requires fingerprints, which must be taken by the police or embassy. Self-administered fingerprint cards are not accepted.
How It Works
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1Submit the sealed police certificate to GreenAttest immediately after receipt.
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2We verify the certificate's seal integrity and confirm it is within validity.
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3The sealed certificate is submitted to MOFA for priority apostille.
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4Certified English translation is prepared alongside the apostille process.
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5The apostilled certificate and translation are express-shipped to your UAE address.
Insider Tips
Insider Tips
- If you are still in Japan and planning to move to the UAE, obtain the police certificate from your prefectural police headquarters before departing. Processing from within Japan takes 2-3 weeks versus 2-3 months from abroad.
- Do not open the sealed envelope under any circumstances. Even if you are curious about the contents, breaking the seal invalidates the certificate and you must apply again from scratch.
- Submit the sealed certificate to GreenAttest on the same day you receive it. Police certificates have the tightest validity window of any document in the attestation process.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Japanese police certificate is issued in a sealed envelope to prevent tampering. If the seal is broken by anyone other than the receiving authority, the certificate is invalidated. GreenAttest handles the certificate with the seal intact throughout the apostille process.
Japanese nationals abroad can apply through the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in the UAE. The application requires fingerprints taken at the embassy. Processing takes approximately 2-3 months through overseas embassies, compared to 2-3 weeks when applying directly in Japan.
MOFA apostille for police certificates takes 5-7 business days standard, or 1-3 business days express. GreenAttest strongly recommends express processing to preserve maximum certificate validity. Total end-to-end processing with translation is 8-12 business days.
UAE immigration authorities typically accept Japanese police certificates issued within the past 3-6 months. Given the lengthy issuance process (especially from abroad), GreenAttest prioritizes these documents to maximize the remaining validity after apostille.
Quick Facts
- Processing Time
- 7-10 business days
- Pricing From
- AED 325
- Country
- Japan
- Delivery
- Free across the UAE
Questions About This Service?
Our specialists know Japan requirements inside out — call or message for free guidance.
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