What Is “Administrative Scrivener Liability Insurance”?

As of October 2026 · Administrative Scrivener Yukiko Horiuchi

Hello. I’m Yukiko Horiuchi, a certified administrative scrivener at the Horiuchi Administrative Scrivener Office.

When hiring an administrative scrivener to handle applications for residence status (visas) or company formation, I imagine many people choose a provider by comparing fees and track records. For company representatives entrusted with handling visa procedures for foreign employees, deciding which firm to hire can also be a difficult decision.

Actually, there’s an important point to check that isn’t very well known. That is"Whether that administrative scrivener has liability insurance"It is.

In this article, let’s take a look at what the Administrative Scrivener Liability Compensation System is and what it means for clients.

1. What Is Administrative Scrivener Liability Insurance?

This is a system that provides insurance coverage for damages incurred by clients due to professional errors committed by administrative scriveners, in cases where the administrative scrivener is held legally liable for such damages. It is a group insurance policy administered by the Japan Federation of Administrative Scriveners’ Associations (Nihon Gyoseishoshi Renmei), which acts as the policyholder; the coverage extends not only to the administrative scrivener but also to professional negligence committed by assistants and staff members.

For example, the following scenarios are possible.

• If the deadline for applying to extend the period of stay has passed and the client has suffered adverse consequences as a result
• If an error in the preparation or submission of documents results in damage to the client

2. Are all administrative scriveners members?

This insurance is not mandatory; enrollment is voluntary. While the professional code of conduct for administrative scriveners stipulates that they should make every effort to enroll in order to protect their clients, the actual enrollment rate is said to be around 20 percent. In other words, not every administrative scrivener is covered by this insurance.

In fact, during consultations, I’ve even had clients ask me, “Do you have liability insurance?” From the client’s perspective, this is definitely a point they want to confirm.

3. What is covered?

The maximum coverage amount varies depending on the plan you choose.

For this reason, you should actually be wary of firms that advertise a “100% Approval Guarantee.” No one can guarantee the outcome of a review by the Immigration Services Agency, and the primary role of an administrative scrivener is to prepare accurate documents and handle legal procedures on your behalf.

4. Our Firm's Membership Status

Our firm is enrolled in the Administrative Scrivener Liability Compensation System administered by the Federation of Japanese Associations of Administrative Scriveners.

Just because we have insurance doesn’t mean it’s okay to make mistakes. At our firm, we place the highest priority on handling each case with precision, and we are prepared to protect our clients in the unlikely event of an incident.

5. What should you look for when choosing an administrative scrivener?

Related Articles

• What is a Permanent Resident Visa in Japan?
• Fees for Visa Changes, Renewals, and Permanent Residency Permits in Japan Set to Rise Significantly (Explanation of the October 2026 Implementation)

summary

When choosing an administrative scrivener, be sure to check not only the fee but also whether they are registered, their qualifications to handle applications, and whether they have liability insurance.

I hope this article will be of some help to you when choosing an administrative scrivener. If you have any questions regarding residence status (visas), permanent residency, naturalization, or company formation, please feel free to contact us.

[Reference Materials] ▶ Federation of Japanese Administrative Scriveners Associations