(日本語)

Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants over 16 years of age must present a certificate from the appropriate police authorities to receive a visa. This certificate should provide any information contained in police files concerning the applicant.

Police certificates must be obtained from the country of nationality, the country of present residence if the applicant has resided there for six months or more, and all countries where the applicant resided for one year or more. Generally, application for such certificates should be made directly to police authorities in the district where you resided.

Information on specific countries is available at the State Department Visa Reciprocity and Country Documents Finder website.

Note: Police certificates from the U.S. are not necessary for visa application purposes.

How to obtain a police certificate for Japan:

Applicants living in Tokyo should apply at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters ("keishi cho"). For information in Japanese, call (03) 3581-4321 extension 58114/58115.

Applicants living outside of Tokyo should apply at the Prefectural Police Headquarters ("ken keisatsu honbu").

Applicants in Tokyo must be fingerprinted at the Headquarters between Monday - Friday, 0900 - 1130 and l330 - 1630. The police certificate will be issued in duplicate, both in English and Japanese, within three weeks for no fee. Applicants residing outside of Japan must apply for a Japanese police certificate at the nearest Japanese consulate.

To request a police certificate, Japanese applicants will need:

• Passport
• Family register ("koseki shohon"), issued within the past six months
• Personal seal ("inkan" or "hanko")
• Residence certificate ("jumin hyo")
If you filed an I-130 with NVC in the U.S. and received DS-3032(Choice of Address and Agent), NVC will send an applicant or agent the instruction package. Please follow the instruction by NVC.

To request a police certificate, foreign applicants will need:

• Passport
• Alien registration ("gaikokujin toroku sho") or U.S. Forces identity card
• U.S. Embassy dated "Immigrant Visa Instructions" or request for a police certificate. If you filed an I-130 with NVC in the U.S. and received DS-3032(Choice of Address and Agent), NVC will send an applicant or agent the instruction package. Please follow the instruction by NVC.

Note: Japanese Police Certificates are sealed. If the seal is broken, the certificate is no longer valid. Do not open the certificate prior to submission to the Embassy/Consulate.

U.S. Forces Japan Applicants:

If you have lived on base for six months or more, you must submit an on-base security clearance as well as a Japanese police certificate, each covering the period from the applicant's 16th birthday. Some USFJ security offices may provide clearances covering both on-base and local Japanese police records. Other offices may cover on-base matters only and the applicant must also obtain the Japanese police certificate. Please consult the base security offices for specifics.