Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

Certified Documents and Translation
Your documents, once submitted to APU, will NOT be returned.
Therefore, if you wish to retain certain documents that can only be issued once, such as
diplomas and academic transcripts, be sure to submit certified copies* in place of theoriginal documents.
NOTE: APU does NOT accept certified copies of the following documents:a) Financial proof documents (such as bank account balance statements and incomestatements)b) Language proficiency test scores: we only accept the original language test score
documents. For details on how to properly submit language test scores, please check theApplication Handbook relevant to your admissions category.

Certified Document:
What is the difference between a certified document and an original document?
A certified document is a copy of the original document that has been deemed equivalent
to the original with an official seal from the issuing institution (e.g. a school or testcenter) or another institution (e.g. a notary public). The official seal proves and certifies
the validity of the copy.

Which institutions can issue a certified document?
z The institution issuing the original document (Preferred)(e.g. your high school, if the document is a high school diploma or transcript)
z Notary publicz Government organization responsible for education（e.g. a Ministry of Education）*Please note that translation agencies are not authorized to certify your documents. APU
will not accept a copy of a certificate with the official seal of a translation agency as acertified document.

Translation:
What should I do if the original document/certified document isnot written in English or Japanese?
If your documents are NOT written in English or Japanese, please also attach their official
English or Japanese translation by following Step 4 below.

Who can create an official translation?
z A licensed translator
z A
Antranslationtranslationcompany
company*Please note that documents translated by the applicants themselves or theirfriends/acquaintances will not be accepted.

(Ver. 3)

Please follow the steps below to create a certified document.

Getting a Document Certified
1. Prepare the original document.
OriginalDocument
2. Have one of the institutions mentioned above make a copy of the original certificate.
Copy ofOriginalNot acceptable as an official certified document

Document

Just copying a certificate is insufficient and will not be accepted byAPU.

3. The institution will add a comment along with their official seal in the margin or on theback of the document certifying that the copy is equivalent to the original document.
Copy ofOriginal
Document
Comment
SealAcceptable as an official certified document[Example]I hereby attest that this is a true copy of the original document.
Day/Month/Year
Name of institution
Official Seal

Note: Applicants are required to submit the original version of the certified document (thedocument that has been stamped with the official seal of the institution). A copy of a certified
document is NOT acceptable.
Copy ofCertified

NOT acceptable as an official certified document

Document

4. If an original document/certified document is not written in English or Japanese, attach anofficial English or Japanese translation of the original document, translated by a licensed
translator or a translation company. Please include the translator’s name, address,
telephone number or email address, and signature or official seal of the translator.
Original Document
orCertified Document*Written in theoriginal language

OfficialTranslation
in Englishor JapaneseRequired Information:
1. Translator’s name/Name of the translation
Company
2. Address
3. Telephone number/Email address
4. Signature/Official Seal

If you have followed all of the necessary steps above, you will now have a certified documentthat is ready to be submitted to APU.

(Ver. 3)