Seal registration

Seal registration

Although a seal is required for signing contract or conducting legal procedures in Japan, foreign residents can use their signature in most cases. However, one's registered seal is required in certain situations, such as when purchasing a car or signing a real estate contract. To have your seal registered, file an application presenting your seal and Alien Registration Card at City Hall's Citizen's Section, regional City offices, City Hall branches, Ekimae Shiyakusho, sub-branches or service centers. Upon completing the procedure, your Inkan Torokusho (Seal Registration Card) will be issued. To have an Inkan Shomei (seal registration certificate) issued, submit a request at the above municipal offices or service centers, presenting your Seal Registration Card. City Hall also offers an automated service for issuing seal registration certificates.

It takes approximately two weeks to have your own seal created if you order it at a hanko (seal) shop. For seal registration, you must have your name indicated on the seal in Roman letters, katakana or hiragana. Contact the Seal Registration division of the Citizen's Section at City Hall for further information (221-2365). You can use unregistered seals for transactions such as opening a bank account. It is recommended that you have two seals to use for different purposes: a registered one for legal or other important procedures, and an unregistered one for daily use such as bank transactions.

Citizen's Section TEL 079-221-2365