Updated: September 8, 2026 | Author: Manas Panda
行政書士 vs 司法書士: How Foreigners in Japan Find the Right Professional
Foreigners in Japan meet two confusing titles early: 行政書士 (gyosei shoshi) and 司法書士 (shiho shoshi). This guide explains the difference, and how each firm shows up when a client searches.
Also read: Japan legal & immigration services Japan market hub
Two titles that sound alike
A 行政書士 (gyōsei shoshi) — often rendered “administrative scrivener” — prepares and files documents with government offices: visa and residence applications, permits and licences, and other administrative filings. Their national body is the Japan Federation of Administrative Scriveners’ Associations.
A 司法書士 (shihō shoshi) — “judicial scrivener” — handles registration with the Legal Affairs Bureau and simple court procedures: real-estate transfers, commercial (company) registration, and adult guardianship filings. Their national body is the Japan Federation of Shiho-shoshi Lawyers’ Associations.
The split is practical, not stylistic. If the document goes to a public agency for a permit, you usually want a gyōsei shoshi. If something must be registered or recorded, you usually want a shihō shoshi. A 弁護士 (bengoshi, lawyer) sits above both for representation in disputes.
Which one do I need?
Match the job to the professional:
- Visa, residency or naturalisation paperwork → a gyōsei shoshi (or an immigration lawyer for representation).
- Registering a company or a branch → a shihō shoshi files the registration with the Legal Affairs Bureau.
- Buying or transferring property → a shihō shoshi handles the registration.
- Permits, licences, affidavits and other government filings → a gyōsei shoshi.
If you are unsure, the professionals themselves will say so — a competent scrivener refers work outside their licence to the other profession or to a lawyer.
Can a gyosei shoshi handle my visa application?
Yes — preparing and filing visa and residence documents is core administrative scrivener work, and many focus on it. For representation before the Immigration Services Agency (appearing for you, arguing your case), you may need the scrivener’s additional qualification or an immigration lawyer. The safe question to ask is: “Can you represent me, or only prepare and file?”
How foreigners search — and how you get found
A foreigner in Japan typically searches in two languages at once: English to understand, Japanese to act. They check a professional’s credentials against the national association, read fees, and look for evidence the firm handles cases like theirs. A firm that publishes a clear English page — with its qualifications, its fee structure, and the cases it handles — is the one that survives that comparison.
That is the same logic behind our Japan legal & immigration services page: a business should be findable in the language its customer thinks in.
Should a Japanese firm publish an English page?
If it wants foreign clients, yes. Most foreign clients cannot evaluate a firm they cannot read. An English page that names the firm’s registrations, fees and typical timelines converts search interest into enquiries, and it gives AI assistants something factual to cite.
A note from us
This article is general information, not legal advice, and it is not a substitute for a licensed professional. Requirements change, and your situation is specific — confirm anything important with the association or the professional handling your case.
Quick questions
What is the difference between a gyosei shoshi and a shiho shoshi?
A gyosei shoshi prepares and files documents with government offices, like visas and permits. A shiho shoshi handles registrations with the Legal Affairs Bureau, like real-estate and company registration, plus simple court filings.
Do I need a lawyer instead?
For disputes or court representation, yes — that is a bengoshi’s role. For routine filings and registrations, a scrivener is usually the right and less expensive professional.
How do I verify a professional is licensed?
Check the national association directories — the Japan Federation of Administrative Scriveners’ Associations for gyosei shoshi, and the Japan Federation of Shiho-shoshi Lawyers’ Associations for shiho shoshi.