Register a personal seal as your legal signature. Needed for big contracts.
Not verified yet
Drafted from general knowledge of national procedure. Not yet checked against the official source — confirm details with your city hall before relying on them.
Why it matters
Not needed for daily life, and increasingly not needed for banking. But when you buy a car or property, or sign certain contracts, you will be asked for a registered seal and its certificate — and you cannot get one on the same day you need it.
- Deadline
- No legal deadline
- Cost
- Set by your city
- Time
- 30–60 minutes
Do these first
What to bring
- Personal seal実印·jitsuin
There are rules about size and what may be engraved. A cheap ready-made stamp is often rejected — ask before buying.
- Residence Card在留カード·zairyū kādo
How it goes
- 1
Have a seal made
Shops will carve one with your name in the script of your choice. Foreign names can usually be rendered in katakana or the Latin alphabet, but rules vary by municipality — confirm first.
- 2
Register it at city hall
You receive a seal registration card, which you use to request certificates later.