Government of Canada services and information in Tokyo, Japan
Services and information provided to Canadians by the Embassy of Canada to Japan, in Tokyo.
Embassy visitor security measures
- Visitor access requires photo identification
- Visitors and their belongings will be subject to security screening (metal detector / x-ray machine)
- COVID-19 protocols are in place, in line with local (MHLW) health measures:
- the Embassy continues to be a mask-friendly environment
- visitors exhibiting symptoms associated with COVID-19, including cold or flu symptoms, are asked not to enter the Embassy
- hand hygiene and physical distancing (where possible) remain in effect
On this page
- Adoption and surrogacy
- Birth abroad
- Citizenship services
- Criminal record checks
- Divorce abroad
- Marriage abroad
- Notarial services
- Passport services
- Pensions and retirement
- Studying abroad
- Visa and immigration services
- Voting abroad
Adoption and surrogacy
Refer to International adoption.
Surrogacy is not recognised in Japan.
Birth abroad
Refer to Children born outside of Canada.
You are not obliged to register the birth of a baby born abroad. However, you may apply for a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship as proof of citizenship for a child born outside Canada.
Citizenship services
New: Book an appointment online for in-person citizenship services as of March 25, 2024.
Online applications: Check to see if you can apply online. If eligible, you can apply for proof of Canadian citizenship (new or replacement) online.
Paper applications: Complete your proof of citizenship application on paper and pay your fee online. Include a copy of your online payment receipt with your application. Paper applications must be submitted by one of the following 3 options:
- Book an online appointment and submit your application in person at the Embassy in Tokyo, Monday to Friday, 9:30am to noon (except Embassy closure dates)
- Use the drop-off box at the Consular section of the Embassy in Tokyo, Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 4:15pm
- Send your application by traceable mail to: Embassy of Canada, Attn: Consular section – Citizenship Services, 7-3-38 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-8503
Notes: Quebec birth certificates issued after January 1, 1994 are acceptable; those issued prior to this date require an updated birth certificate.
Contact the Vital Statistics authority to replace your Canadian birth certificate.
Proof of citizenship applications - Children: If you are a Canadian citizen and your child was born in Japan, refer to the application document checklist (PDF). Refer to the guide for application on paper or online.
Official birth certificate for a child born in Japan:
- Certificate of acceptance of birth registration (Shussho todoke juri shomeisho) or family register (Koseki tohon/ Shohon) if your child also has Japanese citizenship.
- Both documents are issued by Japanese municipal offices.
To support the identity of a child born in Japan, 2 pieces of ID are required, in addition to the Japanese birth certificate. For example:
- Mother and Child Handbook (Boshi techo)
- Health insurance card (Hoken sho)
- Resident certificate (Jumin hyo)
- Hospital appointment card (Shinsatsu ken)
- Hospital birth certificate
- Foreign passport
The primary document used to establish the name record is your child’s official Japanese birth certificate. If you present documentation containing a name (or names) that is in accordance with Japan's naming convention, but is not the name the applicant identifies with, the applicant may seek a legal change of name once in Canada in accordance with the policies/procedures of the province or territory of residence.
Translation: Any non-English/French documents must be accompanied by the English or French translation (and an affidavit if applicable). Translations may be done by:
- a Canadian certified translator (a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial organization of translators and interpreters in Canada); or
- a person who is fluent in English/French and Japanese - an affidavit from the person who did the translation must be sworn in the presence of a notary public (website in Japanese only). The Embassy does not offer this notary service.
E-certificate: You can choose to receive an e-certificate instead of a paper certificate (print it).
Other citizenship related applications accepted: Search of citizenship records and Renunciation of Canadian citizenship
Processing time: Check the current processing times. Urgent application processing is available for special cases. If your child does not yet have the certificate of Canadian citizenship but needs a Canadian passport urgently, please contact us at tokyo-consul@international.gc.ca. You can also track your application online.
Dual citizenship: Canada permits dual or multiple nationality. However, in accordance with Japanese law, a Japanese citizen having a foreign nationality must choose either of the nationalities. See the Ministry of Justice of Japan for details.
For information on dual Canadian citizens’ travel to Canada, see: Dual Canadian citizens need a valid Canadian passport. For additional Citizenship assistance, consult the Citizenship Help Centre.
Payment method
You must pay online for all your citizenship services before submitting your application. Submit a printed copy of your payment receipt. Other methods of payment are not accepted.
| Details | Fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Application for a Citizenship Certificate for adults and minors (Proof of Citizenship) | 75.00 |
| Application to Renounce Canadian Citizenship | 100.00 |
| Replacement / Update of proof of Canadian citizenship | 75.00 |
| Application for a Search of Citizenship Records | 75.00 |
Criminal record checks
All requests for getting a certified criminal record check from Canada must go through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Canada (RCMP). Please follow the RCMP’s steps for getting a certified criminal record check and contact an RCMP accredited company to receive instructions.
The Embassy/Consulates of Canada do not provide any forms nor take fingerprints.
For questions, please contact the RCMP.
Divorce abroad
Refer to About Divorce and Separation.
In Japan
There are several ways in which divorce procedures are carried out in Japan. You should seek legal advice on how to proceed with your divorce. A list of legal service providers and lawyers can be found at Ask Travel under General Consular Services.
You do not need to report your divorce to the Embassy. We do suggest, however, that you have a copy of your divorce certificate (rikon todoke no juri shomeisho) translated and notarized as required.
Marriage abroad
Refer to Marriage outside Canada.
Marriages can be registered at ward or city offices throughout Japan. Canadians planning to marry in Japan should contact the ward or city office of your choice for detailed information.
As part of the marriage registration process in Japan, the ward or city office will require you to submit proof that you are legally free to marry. This evidence is accepted in the form of a marriage affidavit that you must swear in person at the Canadian Embassy or Consulates.
Services at the Embassy:
Services to notarize marriage affidavits are provided on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 14:00 to 16:00. You must book your appointment online in advance and bring the following documents to your appointment. Under normal circumstances, you will receive your notarized document on the spot.
- Your valid Canadian passport
- Template for a marriage affidavit(PDF)
- Please fill out this template prior to your appointment, but do not sign until you are asked to do so at the Embassy.
- Proof of divorce such as your divorce certificate, if applicable
- Service fee: 50 Canadian dollars – please complete the Credit Card Authorization form
- Payment is accepted by credit card only (Visa or MasterCard only; in Canadian dollars only) by filling out the credit card authorization form. Other methods of payment are not accepted.
Services at other Consulates in Japan:
Please contact them directly to book your appointment.
For residents of Tohoku, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku and Okinawa:
Please contact the Embassy's consular section by email at tokyo-consul@international.gc.ca for information on the Signature Witness Service rendered by designated local law firms in your region.
Notes:
- It is not necessary for the non-Canadian fiancé(e) to be present at the appointment at the Embassy/Consulate.
- The local authorities require the Japanese translation of the marriage affidavit when you register your marriage. The Embassy and the Consulates do not offer translation services but will provide you a courtesy copy of the Japanese translation template for the marriage affidavit.
- Once your marriage is registered with the ward or city office, you should ensure that you keep the original Certificate of Marriage Registration ("kon-in todoke no juri shomeisho" or 婚姻届の受理証明書) as this becomes your proof of marriage. The Embassy/Consulates cannot issue a marriage certificate nor request one from the local authorities in Japan on your behalf.
- If you wish, you can contact your province or territory of residence in Canada to see if they will register your marriage and issue you a certificate.
Recognition by Canada of marriages in Japan
Marriages that are legally performed in a foreign country are usually valid in Canada, and you do not need to register them in Canada. If you have questions about the validity of your foreign marriage, contact the Vital Statistics Office of your province or territory. Japanese immigration authorities may require evidence of this fact. The information in Marriage Overseas can attest to this fact.
外国の法律に従って行われる結婚は通常カナダでも有効です。結婚を再びカナダで登録する必要はありません。外国で成立した結婚の有効性に関してのご質問は地元の州の人口動態統計局にお問い合わせ下さい。日本の入国管理局はこの事実確認のための資料を求める場合があります。その場合は海外での結婚に関するこちらのリンクをご案内下さい。
Same-sex marriage abroad
Marriage regulations and rules may vary according to each ward or city office. Please contact the office of your choice to confirm their policies on same-sex marriage.
Notarial services
If you require a marriage affidavit, please see the Marriage abroad section.
New: The Apostille Convention came into effect in Canada on January 11, 2024, and Canadian documents are now authenticated with an apostille. Visit Changes to authentications services in Canada for more information.
The Embassy of Canada in Tokyo continues to authenticate documents issued by the Government of Canada or notarized in specific provinces and territories. Service fee of $50 applies per apostille. You may send the following documents to the Embassy of Canada in Tokyo for authentication.
- Documents issued by the Government of Canada
- Vital statistics documents issued by all provinces and territories
- All documents issued or notarized in the following provinces and territories:
- Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, Yukon
If your document was notarized in the provinces and territories listed above, you may send it to the Embassy of Canada in Tokyo no matter where it was originally issued.
Competent authorities in the following provinces will be responsible for authenticating all other documents issued or notarized in their respective provinces. These documents must be submitted to the competent authorities and will not be authenticated at Canadian embassies or consulates.
Alberta : Ministry of Justice of Alberta
British Columbia: Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia
Ontario : Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery of Ontario
Quebec : Ministère de la Justice du Québec
Saskatchewan : Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of Saskatchewan
If you documents were issued in Japan, they must be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for authentication/issuance of apostilles.
For notarial services other than authentication indicated above, please contact a local notary public office first. When local service providers are unavailable, certain notarial services may be provided at the Embassy and Consulates of Canada in Japan by appointment only, such as administering oaths, declarations, marriage affidavit; witnessing a signature on a document; certifying and authenticating true copies of an original document. Fees apply to each service offered.
Please inquire with the Embassy by email at tokyo-consul@international.gc.ca and provide your full name, daytime phone number, and details of the type of service you require. As there are a number of documents that we are unable to notarize, please be sure to send us a scan of the document requiring notarization when you are contacting us.
If we and the notary public are unable to notarize your document, contact the requesting institution for further instructions.
Services at the Embassy:
Notarial services are provided on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 14:00 to 16:00 with an appointment. Under normal circumstances, you will receive your notarized document the same day.
- For marriage affidavit, please book your appointment online.
- To reserve an appointment for notary requests, other than marriage affidavit, you must email at tokyo-consul@international.gc.ca.
Notes:
- Non-marriage affidavit reservations made online without prior consultation with the Embassy will be refused and cancelled.
- Walk-in clients cannot be accommodated.
Services at other Consulates in Japan:
Please contact them directly to book your appointment.
For residents of Tohoku, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku and Okinawa:
Please contact the Embassy's consular section by email at tokyo-consul@international.gc.ca for information on the Signature Witness Service rendered by designated local law firms in your region.
Payment method
Credit card (Visa or MasterCard only; in Canadian dollars only)
For Credit card payment (both mail-in and in person), it must be accompanied by a completed Credit Card Authorization form. This form authorizes the Government of Canada to charge your credit card for payment of services.
Cash payment is not accepted.
| Details | Fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Administering an oath or receiving a statutory declaration or affirmation. The fee shown is per document. | 50.00 |
| Attesting any document bearing a signature (affidavit, declaration, affirmation, etc.). The fee shown is per document. | 50.00 |
| Authenticating (witnessing) a signature. The fee shown is per document. | 50.00 |
| Authenticating signatures of Canadian authorities or notaries. | 50.00 |
| Certifying a true copy of a document. The fee shown is per copy. | 20.00 |
| Uniting documents and sealing their fastening. The fee shown is per document. | 30.00 |
| Transfer of private or public funds from Canada or elsewhere to the mission. The fee shown is per transfer. | 75.00 |
| Marriage affidavit | 50.00 |
Passport services
Applying for a passport in Japan:
Select and complete your passport application. If this is not your first adult passport, you may be eligible for a simplified renewal. Otherwise, you will need to apply for an adult general passport.
Your passport application must be submitted at least 6 weeks before the expiry of your current passport, or your anticipated departure date, to avoid processing delays. We do not provide expedited passport services. Instead, apply for a temporary passport or emergency travel document in person at the Embassy. Contact tokyo-consul@international.gc.ca for urgent travel requests.
Pay your application fees online and print a copy of the receipt. Other methods of payment are not accepted.
Submit the passport application, with the receipt and all other required documents by one of the following 3 options:
- Book an appointment onlineto submit all documents to the Consular section of the Embassy, Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to noon (except Embassy closure dates).
- Submit your complete application in a sealed envelope at the Embassy’s Consular section drop-off box Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm (except Embassy closure dates).
- Send your application by traceable mail to: Embassy of Canada, Attn: Consular section - Passport Services, 7-3-38 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-8503
If you are submitting your application in person, you can choose to pick it up in person, or have it mailed to you by traceable mail. If you mailed in the application, the passport will be sent to you by traceable mail unless requested otherwise.
Find out who can act as your guarantor and your reference.
If supporting documents are not in English or French, you must provide an official translation. Find a list of Canadian certified translators.
Find out who can submit a passport application on your behalf.
Note: We are unable to confirm receipt or the status of your application. We will contact you only if additional information is required.
Lost, stolen or damaged passports: See Lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found passports.
Child passport
Proof of Canadian citizenship is required to apply for a child passport. If your child urgently needs a passport, but does not yet have proof of citizenship, contact tokyo-consul@international.gc.ca to request a limited-validity travel document.
Proof of parentage is required. For children born in Japan, it can be the certificate of acceptance of birth registration (shussho todoke juri shomeisho), or the family register (Koseki tohon). An official translation is required. Find a list of Canadian certified translators.
Submit a copy of both parents’ valid signature ID, such as passport, for the child’s application.
Either parent can be the applicant (if you are not separated or divorced). The Canadian parent can also be the guarantor, if he or she meets the guarantor requirements; in this case, the Canadian parent will be the “other parent” not the applicant.
Notes
Dual Canadian Citizens require a valid Canadian passport to travel to Canada. If you do not have a valid Canadian passport but have an urgent travel plan, you may apply for a special authorization which allows you to travel on a non-Canadian passport of your other citizenship.
Passport photos must be taken in person by a commercial photographer or studio. Photos taken at a photobooth cannot be accepted. The Embassy does not provide photo services, nor photographer recommendations. Ensure photos meet all photo specifications, including a plain white or light-coloured background; a blue background may be declined. Required information on the back of the photos must be written in English/French by the photographer (or by the applicant if the photographer cannot do so). Photos with information in Japanese on the back will be rejected.
Local Japanese addresses can be handwritten on the printed form.
Consult the Passport Help Center and Canadian passports: Applying from abroad if you have questions before contacting us. The Embassy cannot respond to emails or phone calls if the answers can be found online.
Payment method
The only acceptable method is to pay online for all your passport services before you submit your application. Please submit a printed copy of your payment receipt. Other methods of payment are not accepted.
| Details | Fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 10-year adult passport (age 16 or over) | 260.00 |
| 5-year adult passport (age 16 or over) | 190.00 |
| 5-year Child passport (0-15 years of age) | 100.00 |
| Additional fee for replacing a valid lost or stolen passport | 45.00 |
| Certified true copy of part of a passport or other travel document (one to three copies. Additional 45 $CAN will apply for each increment of 3 copies) | 45.00 |
| Adult or child temporary passport (in addition to regular passport application) | 110.00 |
| Adult emergency travel document (For return to Canada) | 75.00 |
| Child emergency travel document (For return to Canada) | 30.00 |
| Statutory Declaration in lieu of guarantor (form PPTC132) | 50.00 |
| Retention of a valid passport (during the processing of the application for a replacement passport) | 45.00 |
| Temporary passport exchange in person in Canada | 20.00 |
Pensions and retirement
Refer to Benefits for Canadians living abroad.
For more information, see the Agreement Between Canada and Japan on Social Security.
Studying abroad
Visit EduCanada for more information on studying in Canada, including scholarships available to international students, study permit and visa information, and more.
International scholarships for Japanese citizens
- Prince Takamado Visiting Student Scholarship at Queen’s University
- Princess Takamado English Essay Contest
Additional scholarship opportunities are listed on the EduCanada Scholarship Search Tool.
Academic networks and organizations
- Japanese Association for Canadian Studies (in Japanese only)
- Canadian Literary Society of Japan (in Japanese only)
- Japanese Association of Quebec Studies (in Japanese only)
- Japan Studies Association of Canada
- Japan-Canada Academic Consortium
- Canada-Japan Co-op Program
- Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme
Contact
Public Affairs Section (Academic Relations)
Embassy of Canada
Visa and immigration services
Visa and immigration to Canada
The Visa and Immigration section at the Embassy of Canada to Japan is closed. Services have been transferred to the Visa office in Manila, Philippines.
- Apply to travel, study, work or immigrate to Canada.
- Find a visa application centre (VAC) to book an appointment to give your biometrics (fingerprints and photo).
- Submit an enquiry using the IRCC web form to contact a visa office.
Permanent residents of Canada: Find out how to apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD).
Visa and immigration to Japan
Canadians who wish to receive information about Japanese visas such as procedures, fees, or processing times should consult the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Japan if you are in Canada. If you are in Japan and have questions concerning immigration and residence procedures, please contact the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.
Please also consult our Japan Travel Advice page.
Voting abroad
Refer to Voting in an election while outside Canada. Courier services arranged by the Embassy of Canada to Japan for sending voting ballots to Canada during federal general elections or by-elections is free of charge.
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