JAPANESE DOCUMENT TRANSLATION
Japanese Diploma Translation for USCIS
A certified translation of a Japanese diploma (Sotsugyō Shōsho (卒業証書) / Sotsugyō Shōmeisho (卒業証明書)) for USCIS costs about $15–25 and is delivered in 24–48 hours, with a signed Certificate of Accuracy that meets 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Translation HelpDesk uses native Japanese-speaking specialists, and if USCIS rejects our translation we fix it free and cover your resubmission fee.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Reviewed by Victor Luján, Founder — certified translations since 2018
WHAT WE TRANSLATE
The Japanese Diploma (Sotsugyō Shōsho (卒業証書) / Sotsugyō Shōmeisho (卒業証明書))
Japanese universities hand graduates a physical diploma, the sotsugyō shōsho (卒業証書), at the ceremony — usually a single large sheet in vertical or horizontal script bearing the university president's name and the institution's embossed red seal (角印). Because that original is rarely reissued, USCIS applicants usually order a Certificate of Graduation (卒業証明書, sotsugyō shōmeisho) from the registrar (教務課 / 学生課). Both state the degree — gakushi 学士 (Bachelor), shūshi 修士 (Master) — the faculty (学部) and major, and the graduation date in imperial-era years (令和 / 平成). Names are surname-first in kanji. USCIS nuance: many major Japanese universities will issue an official English diploma directly, which USCIS accepts without translation — but if only the Japanese sotsugyō shōsho exists, the certified translation must render the degree title exactly and note the president's seal and signature, because USCIS and credential evaluators (WES, ECE) map the Japanese degree onto a U.S. equivalent. We keep degree and faculty terminology identical across your diploma and transcript so the two documents corroborate each other.
WHO ISSUES IT
Where Your Japanese Diploma Comes From
Japanese diplomas are issued by the awarding school or university itself — the exact office and registration system are described above. Japan has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 1970, and apostilles on public documents are issued by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) — no embassy or consular legalization is required. Full Japan apostille & authentication guidance →
USCIS REQUIREMENTS
How USCIS Wants Your Japanese Diploma Translated
For your Japanese diploma, USCIS requires a complete English translation of everything on the page — the issuing office’s details, seals, and any marginal notes included — plus a signed certification of accuracy under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Machine translation cannot sign that certification. We reproduce the document's exact layout so an officer can compare it line by line against your Japanese original.
WATCH OUT FOR
Common Japanese Diploma Pitfalls
Japanese diplomas should have institution names, degree titles, and honors transliterated and labeled rather than 'converted' to a US equivalent — that judgment belongs to the credential evaluator (WES/NACES), not the translator.
Native Japanese Specialist
A native speaker of your document's language handles it — not a generalist or a machine.
Format-Matched to the Original
The original layout, seals, and stamps reproduced in position.
USCIS Acceptance Guaranteed
If USCIS rejects it citing the translation, we fix it free and cover your resubmission fee.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Japanese diploma translation cost?
A standard Japanese diploma is typically $15-25 total, certified and formatted, delivered in 24-48 hours. Pricing is $0.05 per word; longer or multi-page documents are quoted exactly before you pay.
Is your Japanese diploma translation accepted by USCIS?
Yes. Every translation includes a signed Certificate of Accuracy meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). If USCIS rejects it citing the translation, we correct it free and reimburse your resubmission fee.
My police certificate is in a sealed envelope and already in English — what do I do?
Leave the envelope sealed for the receiving authority. The 犯罪経歴証明書 is issued in English, so it usually needs no translation; if you received a Japanese-only version, we can translate a copy without you breaking the seal.
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