Assistance for New Zealanders overseas
If you’re a New Zealand citizen, staff at New Zealand embassies can help you in several ways if you get into difficulties overseas – see https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/our-services(external link)
Consular staff at Embassies can:
- provide advice re lost or stolen passports(external link) if you need to travel urgently
- help you contact family or friends to request emergency funds(external link)
- provide a list of English-speaking lawyers, and contact family and friends on your behalf, if you are detained or arrested(external link)
- provide advice on local medical facilities, help contact your family and or insurance provider if you are ill or injured(external link)
- help with arrangements following a death overseas(external link)
- in certain circumstances, provide notarial services such as witnessing affidavits, statutory declarations and other documents for use under New Zealand law
- account for New Zealanders who may have been affected by a major overseas crises, such as civil unrest and natural disasters.
For more information please visit www.safetravel.govt.nz(external link) and https://www.facebook.com/SafeTravel.govt.nz(external link)
Notarial Services
Consular staff at the Embassy in Tokyo, and Honorary Consulates in some regional centres, are able to carry out notarial services.
Services and fees:
- Issuing a certified copy of an original document ¥3,000
- Witnessing a signature on a land transfer deed, will etc; taking an affidavit, statutory declaration ¥6,000
Notarial services are by appointment. Regardless of your location in Japan, please contact the Embassy’s Consular Section in the first instance via email nzemb.tky.cons@mfat.govt.nz setting out your requirements. The Consular Section will determine whether the Embassy or an Honorary Consulate is best placed to assist you and will respond to you accordingly with next steps.
The issuing of certified copies can be done via postal mail with the Embassy. Please send your document original(s) and the fee in yen cash by cash registered mail (genkin kakitome), enclosing a pre-stamped self-addressed return envelope and a cover note setting out your requirements. Please include a contact telephone number and email address. Processing time is 2-3 working days. The postal address is:
Consular Section
New Zealand Embassy
20-40 Kamiyama-cho
Shibuya-ku
Tokyo 150-0047
New Zealand Honorary Consulates
| Location | Honorary Consulate |
|---|---|
| Osaka | New Zealand Honorary Consulate c/o Kubota Corporation 1-2-47 Shikitsuhigashi, Naniwa-ku Osaka 556-8601 Tel (06) 6648-3131 |
| Sapporo | New Zealand Honorary Consulate c/o Kinotoya Co Ltd Room 601, Wall Bldg 10-2-7 Kita 2-Jo Nishi, Chuo-ku Sapporo 060-0002 Tel 090-7400-6358 |
| Nagoya | New Zealand Honorary Consulate c/o Rinnai Corporation 2-26 Fukuzumi-cho, Nakagawa-ku Nagoya 454-0802 Tel (052) 361-8211 |
| Fukuoka | New Zealand Honorary Consulate c/o Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co Ltd Hakata Centre Bldg 3-5-7 Hakata Ekimae Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-city Fukuoka 812-0011 Tel (092) 734-1554 |
Independent Notary Publics
Some notary services can also be obtained from independent Japanese notary publics. The following Japanese notary publics are able to provide services in English. Provision of this listing does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement of the entities listed or their services.
| Location | Notary office |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | Kasumigaseki Notary Office Fukoku Seimei Bldg Underground 2-1-2 Uchisaiwai-cho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0011 Tel (03) 3502-0745, Fax (03) 3502-0745 kasumigaseki4315@proof.con.ne.jp |
| Tokyo | Ginza Notary Office Dai 2 DK Bldg 5F 2-2-6 Ginza Chuo-ku, Tokyo Tel (03) 3561-1051, Fax (03) 3561-1053 office@ginza-notary.jp |
| Yokohama | Yokohama Station West Exit Notary Office Tokyo Tatemono Bldg 4F 1-5-10 Kitasaiwai Nishi-ku, Yokohama 220-0004 Tel (045) 311-6907, Fax (045) 311-0660 yokohamanotary@sunny.ocn.ne.jp |
| Osaka | Honmachi Notary Office Keihanshin Azuchimachi Bldg 3F 3-4-10 Azuchi-machi Chuo-ku, Osaka Tel (06) 6271-6266, Fax (06) 6266-4069 |
| Osaka | Edobori Notary Office Echigobashi TS Bldg 5F 1-10-8 Edobori Nishi-ku, Osaka Tel (06) 6443-9488, Fax (06) 6449-0527 |
| Osaka | Namba Notary Office Nankai Nomura Bldg 6F 1-10-4 Nambanaka Naniwa-ku, Osaka Tel (06) 6633-0425, Fax (06) 6643-5020 namba-notary-geshi@w5.dion.ne.jp |
| Kochi | Kochi Godo Notary Office Asahi Seimei Kouchi Honmachi Bldg 3 1-1-3 Honmachi Kochi Tel (088) 823-8601, Fax (088) 872-4736 |
| Fukuoka | Fukuoka Notary Office Daizen Bldg 2F 3-7-13 Maizuru Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810-0073 Tel (092) 741-0310, Fax (092) 741-0540 z1400ike@d7.dion.ne.jp |
| Okinawa | Naha Notary Office 176-4 Yasuzato aza Naha 902-0067 Tel (098) 862-3161, Fax (098) 862-4211 |
| Okinawa | Okinawa Notary Office 1-2-3 Misato Okinawa 904-2153 Tel (098) 938-9380, Fax (098) 862-5131 |