Translating transcripts and degree certificates into Japanese: graduate school, transfer admission, residence status and professional exams

Sources checked: 31 October 2026

Whether a transcript or graduation certificate from a foreign university needs a Japanese translation depends heavily on where it's going. Graduate schools often accept English certificates as they are, while residence status applications and applications to sit Japanese professional exams ask for a Japanese translation. Who may translate also differs from one office or school to the next.

Graduate school applications: English certificates are often accepted as they are

Every national and private university graduate school admission guide checked for this page (2025 to 2027 entry) accepted transcripts and graduation certificates in Japanese or English as they are. Translations are asked for only when a certificate is in neither Japanese nor English.

提出書類は日本語または英語で作成すること。日本語あるいは英語でない書類には、日本語訳あるいは英語訳を添付すること。

Kyoto University Graduate School of Informatics: master's admission guide, April 2027 entry (Japanese)

Who may translate a certificate in another language differs by university. Some allow applicants to translate it themselves (some programmes at Osaka University's Graduate School of Humanities), some accept a translation company or similar corporation (Sophia University), and some require certification by the issuer, an embassy or a notary office (Tohoku University's Graduate School of Engineering, Keio University's Graduate School of Law).

Sophia University's graduate admission guide asks applicants not to use generative AI to prepare their application documents:

出願書類の作成において、ChatGPT などの生成 AI を用いてはいけません。

Sophia University: graduate admission guide, common section, 2027 entry (Japanese)

Transfer and international student admission: some schools want a Japanese translation of English certificates too

For undergraduate transfer admission and international student admission, some guides ask for a Japanese translation of certificates from any foreign school, English included.

※③④について、外国の学校の場合は日本語訳を提出してください。

Kanto Gakuen University: transfer admission guide, 2027 entry (Japanese; ③ is the graduation certificate and ④ the transcript)

Kanda University of International Studies' special admission for international students (transfer entry) asks for a translation certificate made by a Japanese-language school or similar body and stamped with its seal, for both the graduation certificate and the transcript:

出身大学・短期大学・専門学校の卒業証明書の原本証明と翻訳証明（日本語教育機関等にて作成・公印押印のこと）

Kanda University of International Studies: international student admission guide, April 2027 entry (Japanese)

Whether a translation is needed, and whose translation is accepted, differs by school. Check the admission guide of the school you're applying to.

Residence status applications (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Highly Skilled Professional and others)

Work-related residence statuses and the highly skilled professional points system ask for university graduation or degree certificates. The Immigration Control Act's Enforcement Regulations require a translation of any material in a foreign language (the same rule as for permanent residence). The Immigration Services Agency's Q&A answers the question of who may translate:

提出資料が外国語で作成されている場合には、訳文（日本語）を添付してください（出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則第６２条）。翻訳が正確であり、翻訳者の署名があれば、どなたが翻訳しても結構です。

Immigration Services Agency Q&A, Q24 (Japanese; Article 62 became Article 66 on 1 October 2026)

Attach a Japanese translation to English certificates too, unless the page for your application says a translation isn't needed.

Eligibility for Japanese professional exams (doctors, nurses, tax accountants, architects and others)

If you graduated from a foreign university and want to sit a Japanese national exam, you may need to apply for an eligibility review with your graduation certificate and transcript translated into Japanese. What's required of the translation differs by exam.

Exam	What's required of the translation	Basis
Doctors, dentists	A Japanese translation of every foreign-language document. For the graduation certificate and others, both the document and its translation must be confirmed as true by that country's embassy, consulate, foreign ministry or similar public body	Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare guidance
Nurses, public health nurses, midwives	The Japanese translation must also be certified (公証). You may use a company or translate it yourself	Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare FAQ
Tax accountants (tax law subjects)	A Japanese translation of the graduation certificate and transcript, described as made by the applicant (申請者が和訳したもの)	National Tax Agency: tax accountant exam Q&A, question 23
First-class, second-class and wooden-structure architects	Japanese translations of the graduation certificate and transcript. Your own translation is fine	Japan Architectural Education and Information Center Q&A

(6)～(8)及び(10)の①については、公的な機関（当該国の大使館、領事館、外務省等）において、提出書類及びその日本語訳両方の記載が真実である旨の確認を受け、その証明を併せて提出すること。

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: documents for the medical licensing exam eligibility application (Japanese; (7) is the graduation certificate and (8) the record of courses and hours)

The embassy or consulate here is that of the country concerned, not a Japanese embassy or consulate abroad (the Ministry's note). For doctors, dentists, nurses and others, that country's confirmation is needed whoever makes the translation. The tax accountant guidance describes the translation as made by the applicant, so ask the National Tax Council (国税審議会) whether a translation company's translation is acceptable.

Can you use a translation company's translation and certificate?

Graduate school applications: at the graduate schools checked for this page, English certificates could be submitted as they are, with no Japanese translation
Transfer and international student admission: it depends on the school. Some don't say who must translate; others want a translation certificate from a Japanese-language school or similar body
Residence status applications: the Immigration Services Agency's Q&A says anyone may translate, if the translation is accurate and signed by the translator
Eligibility for doctors', dentists', nurses' and similar exams: as well as the translation, you need confirmation from that country's embassy, consulate, foreign ministry or similar
Eligibility for tax accountant and architect exams: the guidance assumes the applicant translates (for architects, your own translation is fine). Neither says anything about translation companies

Whether a translation is accepted is up to the office or school receiving it. If they specify who must translate or what the translation must look like, follow that, and if you're unsure, ask before you submit.

Questions

Does an English transcript need a Japanese translation for a graduate school application?

Not at the graduate schools checked for this page. They accept certificates in Japanese or English as they are and ask for translations of other languages. Check the admission guide of the programme you're applying to.

Does an English graduation certificate need a translation for a work-related residence status application?

Yes, unless the page for your application says otherwise. The Immigration Services Agency's Q&A says anyone may translate, if the translation is accurate and signed by the translator.

Is a translation company's certificate of translation enough?

It depends on where you submit it. Residence status applications set no limit on who translates, but for doctors', dentists', nurses' and similar exams you also need confirmation from that country's embassy, consulate, foreign ministry or similar. Transfer admission guides sometimes specify who must translate.

Can I translate the documents myself?

Yes for residence status applications (Immigration Services Agency Q&A) and architect exam eligibility (the Center's Q&A). The tax accountant exam guidance asks for a translation made by the applicant.

This page is general information. The documents required and the format of translations differ by country and office, and can change. Check the current guidance of the office you are submitting to before you file.