Company Registry Certificate

What Is a Company Registry Certificate?

The Company Registry Certificate, known in Japanese as 履歴事項全部証明書 (rireki jiko zenbu shomeisho), is the official record of a company's registration maintained by Japan's Legal Affairs Bureau (法務局). It is the single most important corporate document in Japan and serves as definitive proof of a company's legal existence.

Every company registered in Japan (both kabushiki kaisha and godo kaisha) has a registry entry maintained by the Legal Affairs Bureau. The registry certificate is a certified extract of that entry, stamped with the Bureau's official seal to confirm its authenticity.

This document is roughly analogous to a Certificate of Incorporation or Company Extract in other jurisdictions, though it contains considerably more detail. It provides a complete historical record of all registered changes to the company, not just its current state.

What Information Does It Contain?

• Company name (trade name in Japanese and, if registered, in English)
• Head office address (registered address of the company)
• Stated purpose (the legally registered business activities)
• Stated capital (amount of registered capital)
• Date of incorporation
• Directors and representative directors (current and historical)
• Company auditors (if applicable)
• Method of public notice
• Full amendment history (all registered changes with dates)

Who Needs This Document?

• Banks — required when opening a corporate bank account in Japan
• Visa applicants — immigration authorities require it for business manager and investor visas
• Due diligence teams — verifying a company's legal standing and corporate history
• M&A transactions — essential for any acquisition or merger involving a Japanese company
• Real estate transactions — needed when a company buys or leases commercial property
• Government contracts — required for bidding on public procurement
• Business partnerships — counterparties often request it as part of contract negotiations

How to Obtain It

In Person

You can request a registry certificate at any Legal Affairs Bureau (法務局) office in Japan. You do not need to visit the Bureau where the company is registered; any branch can issue it. Fill out the application form, pay ¥600 per copy, and receive the certificate the same day.

Online

Japan's Ministry of Justice operates the 登記・供託オンライン申請システム (Registration and Supply Online Application System). The system is entirely in Japanese. After creating an account and submitting a request, the certificate is typically mailed within 2-3 business days.

Through JapanCompanyDocs

Order in English through our website. Provide the company name (Japanese or English), and we obtain the official certified copy from the Legal Affairs Bureau on your behalf. We deliver a scanned digital copy and can mail the original to any address worldwide.

Processing Time

When requested in person at a Legal Affairs Bureau, the certificate is issued the same day, usually within 30 minutes. Online requests through the government system take 2-3 business days for delivery by mail. Through JapanCompanyDocs, expect 3-5 business days including international delivery of the digital scan.

Pricing

The government fee is ¥600 per copy. For JapanCompanyDocs pricing including our service fee, certified translation, and delivery options, see our packages page.