FIRPTA Form 8288 + 8288-A → Japan 🇯🇵
Judicial scrivener + Legal Affairs Bureau + NTA · No FB ban · registry fees 1.5-2% · acquisition tax 3% (residential)
Judicial scrivener + Legal Affairs Bureau + NTA accepts the FIRPTA Form 8288 + 8288-A only with source-of-funds documentation and certified Japanese translation.
End-to-end: FIRPTA pre-clearance → title commitment review → escrow setup → POA + Apostille → recording → post-closing tax filing.
Japan foreign-buyer regime: No FB ban · registry fees 1.5-2% · acquisition tax 3% (residential) — Shihoshoshi (judicial scrivener) central · Apostille accepted · Inkan certificate required for Japanese sellers.
Treaty: JP-Thailand DTA 1990 · Document language: Japanese.
End-to-end: prepare FIRPTA Form 8288 + 8288-A (10-25 days) → MFA Apostille → Japanese translation → Judicial scrivener + Legal Affairs Bureau + NTA.
First-pass acceptance: 96-99%.
Coverage
How it works
- 1
Pre-closing planning under destination rules
Plan against No FB ban · registry fees 1.5-2% · acquisition tax 3% (residential).
- 2
Prepare FIRPTA Form 8288 + 8288-A
10-25 working days at 18,000-45,000 บาท.
- 3
Japanese translation
Registrar-listed translator with real-estate/tax glossary.
- 4
MFA legalisation
Chaeng Wattana — 2-3 working days.
- 5
Apostille
MFA Apostille route.
- 6
File with Judicial scrivener + Legal Affairs Bureau + NTA
e-Filing portal or via destination counsel network.
Frequently asked questions
What foreign-buyer rules does Japan apply?
No FB ban · registry fees 1.5-2% · acquisition tax 3% (residential)
Does Japan accept Thai Apostille?
Yes — MFA Apostille suffices (Thailand Apostille effective Jan 2025).
Which treaty applies?
JP-Thailand DTA 1990
Translation language?
Japanese, by a translator accepted by the destination authority or the Thai MFA.
Can a foreigner buy residential in Japan?
Yes — subject to foreign-buyer tax/approval per state.
Estimated total cost?
18,000-45,000 บาท + translation THB 1,500-3,000/page + MFA THB 400 + free Apostille + Judicial scrivener + Legal Affairs Bureau + NTA fees.
Timeline?
Document prep 7-21 days + destination approval/closing 14-60 days.