U.S. citizens in Japan
Online notary for U.S. citizens in Japan
Japan is far ahead of New Jersey, so we schedule around both clocks. A New Jersey notary can meet you by secure video from Japan, for the documents the law allows. Sessions start at $40 plus the state notarial fee.
Local facts
Japan at a glance
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Official languages
- Japanese
- Currency
- Japanese yen (JPY)
- Time zones
- JST, UTC+9, with no daylight saving time stated
- Population
- 122,950,000 (January 2026 estimate)
- U.S. Embassy
- Tokyo
- Apostille Convention
- Party since 27 July 1970
- U.S. consulates
- Naha, Osaka and Sapporo (consulates general) and Fukuoka and Nagoya (consulates)
Sources: Wikipedia and its list of U.S. diplomatic missions, read October 2026.
Scheduling
New Jersey time and Tokyo time
| In New Jersey | Tokyo in winter | Tokyo in summer |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. | 11:00 p.m. | 10:00 p.m. |
| 1:00 p.m. | 3:00 a.m. next day | 2:00 a.m. next day |
| 5:00 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. next day | 6:00 a.m. next day |
The winter column uses a January date and the summer column a July date, worked out from the IANA time zone database for Tokyo. Daylight saving starts and ends on different weeks around the world, so we double-check the time with you when booking.
Documents for use in Japan
Apostille or remote notary?
Wikipedia's table of Apostille Convention parties lists Japan as a party, with the convention in force there since 27 July 1970. A U.S. public document meant for use in Japan is normally authenticated with an apostille rather than by embassy legalization. The receiving office has the last word on what it accepts.
A document you sign from Japan and file in the U.S. is the remote notary case. A U.S. document going to an office in Japan is the apostille case. See apostille services.
How it works
From Tokyo to a New Jersey notary
- Tell us the document and where you are. We check that it fits New Jersey's rules for a signer outside the United States.
- Book a video session. Bring an unexpired government photo ID and a device with a camera, a microphone and a stable connection.
- Sign on camera. We verify your identity online, you sign electronically in front of the notary, and the notary applies an electronic seal.
- Receive the notarized document. The session is recorded and kept as the law requires.
Embassy option
The U.S. embassy in Tokyo
The U.S. Embassy is in Tokyo. Wikipedia's list of U.S. missions also shows consulates in Naha, Osaka and Sapporo (consulates general) and Fukuoka and Nagoya (consulates).
The U.S. State Department says embassies and consulates charge $50 for each consular seal, that you must appear in person, that you should not sign before your appointment, and that they do not offer remote or virtual services. Check the embassy's own page for current rules and availability.
Who qualifies
Does this work from Japan?
Usually, if the record is for a U.S. matter and the act is not prohibited where you sit. The conditions and the common documents are the same for every country, so we keep them in one place: the full rules and document list. Send us the document and your location, and we confirm before you book. This is general information, not legal advice, and we do not know Japan's local law, so ask the office that will receive your document what it accepts.
FAQ
Japan notary questions
Can I get a document notarized online from Japan?
Often, yes. A New Jersey notary can notarize for a signer outside the United States when the record is to be filed with or relates to a matter under U.S. jurisdiction or involves U.S. property, and when the act is not prohibited where the signer is. Tell us the document and we confirm before booking.
Does the U.S. embassy in Tokyo notarize documents?
The U.S. Embassy is in Tokyo. Wikipedia's list of U.S. missions also shows consulates in Naha, Osaka and Sapporo (consulates general) and Fukuoka and Nagoya (consulates). The embassy section above covers the State Department's rules, and a video session is the alternative when you cannot get to a post.
What time are sessions for someone in Japan?
Japan uses JST, UTC+9, with no daylight saving time stated. A 9:00 a.m. session in New Jersey is 11:00 p.m. in Tokyo in winter and 10:00 p.m. in summer. We book by appointment and confirm the time in both zones.
What if my document is in Japanese or for use in Japan?
Documents in another language may need a translation, and the notary must be able to review the document and the ID. A document meant to be used inside Japan usually needs a local notary or the embassy, and often an apostille, instead of a New Jersey remote notarization. Japan has been an Apostille Convention party since 27 July 1970. Ask us before booking and we say plainly whether we can help.
What does it cost?
Remote online notarization starts at $40 plus the New Jersey notarial fee set by the state, and we quote the total before the session is confirmed.
All countries · Remote online notarization · Apostilles for documents used abroad