JAPANESE DOCUMENT TRANSLATION
Japanese Police Record Translation for USCIS
A certified translation of a Japanese police record (Hanzai Keireki Shōmeisho (犯罪経歴証明書) / Tokō Shōmei) 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 Police Record (Hanzai Keireki Shōmeisho (犯罪経歴証明書) / Tokō Shōmei)
Japan's police clearance is the Criminal Record Certificate (犯罪経歴証明書, hanzai keireki shōmeisho), also called tokō shōmei. Unlike most countries you cannot get it online or by mail: you must appear in person at the Prefectural Police Headquarters — the Tokyo Metropolitan Police (警視庁, Keishichō) for Tokyo residents, or the prefecture's keisatsu honbu elsewhere — where officers ink-print your fingerprints. It is issued strictly for overseas use (visa/immigration) and cannot be obtained for domestic purposes. The certificate is a folded sheet printed in Japanese with parallel English, French, Spanish, and German headings, delivered inside a sealed, tamper-evident envelope marked 'confidential — to be opened by the addressee/authority only.' USCIS nuance: submit it with the seal unbroken, since opening the envelope can void it. Because the form is already partly multilingual and typically states 'no criminal record,' the certified translation renders the Japanese entries, the issuing prefectural police name, and the era-format date — we translate from a photo you send so your sealed envelope reaches USCIS fully intact.
WHO ISSUES IT
Where Your Japanese Police Record Comes From
Japanese police and criminal-record certificates are issued by the national or state police and justice authorities described above — not the civil registry. 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 Police Record Translated
For your Japanese police record, 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 Police Record Pitfalls
Japanese police and criminal-record certificates must show exact coverage dates and the issuing authority, and because they often expire quickly, the translation should be scheduled close to your filing date.
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 police record translation cost?
A standard Japanese police record 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 police record 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 koseki uses Reiwa, Heisei, or Shōwa years — is that a problem?
No, as long as the translator converts each Japanese imperial-era date to its Gregorian equivalent. We convert every era date accurately and can show the original era year alongside it so nothing is lost.
MORE JAPAN DOCUMENTS