Administrative Procedure Act

行政手続法（ぎょうせいてつづきほう）

The common procedure government offices must follow when they decide applications, make decisions against a person, give administrative guidance, receive notifications and make orders, so that administration is fair and open and people's rights and interests are protected.

Text in force since
Promulgated
Articles: 48
Amendments on the way: 1

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What this law does

An administrative agency (行政庁) that decides applications for a permission, licence or other approval (許認可等) must set review criteria (審査基準) and make them public — for example by keeping them at the office where applications are filed — unless there is a special administrative hindrance. For adverse dispositions it must try to set disposition standards (処分基準) and make them public. Both must be as concrete as the nature of the decision allows.(Art. 5(1), Art. 5(2), Art. 5(3), Art. 12(1), Art. 12(2)) (the provisions it rests on)

Read the full overview

The agency must try to set a standard processing period (標準処理期間) — the time a decision normally takes from the day the application arrives — and, once it has, make it public. When an application arrives, review must start without delay; one that fails a formal requirement, such as an entry missing or wrong, a required document not attached, or filing outside the period allowed, must promptly be either the subject of a request to correct it within a reasonable period the agency sets, or refused. On request, the agency must try to tell an applicant how far the review has got and when a decision can be expected, and to give anyone applying the information needed to file.(Art. 6(1), Art. 7(1), Art. 9(1), Art. 9(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
An administrative agency that refuses an application, or makes an adverse disposition (不利益処分) against a person, must tell the person its reasons at the same time as the decision, and in writing where the decision is in writing. There are two exceptions: a refusal under criteria set by a number or other objective measure that the application plainly fails, where reasons are due only on request; and an adverse disposition that must be made at once without reasons, where they are due within a reasonable period afterwards.(Art. 8(1), Art. 8(2), Art. 14(1), Art. 14(2), Art. 14(3)) (the provisions it rests on)
An adverse disposition is a decision, based on laws and regulations, that directly imposes a duty on a particular person or limits their rights; it does not include a factual act (or a disposition fixing its scope or timing), a disposition on an application addressed to the applicant (a refusal among them), one made with the addressee's consent, or one ending an approval because the holder notified that the facts it rested on no longer exist. Before making an adverse disposition, the administrative agency must give the person a hearing (聴聞) where it would revoke a permission or other approval, directly strip them of a qualification or status, or order a corporation to dismiss an officer, the person to dismiss someone working in their business, or an association to expel a member — or in any other case where it considers a hearing appropriate. In every other case it must give them an opportunity to explain (弁明の機会の付与), except in the cases Article 13(2) lists, where neither is needed.(Art. 2(1)(iv), Art. 2(1)(iv)(a), Art. 2(1)(iv)(b), Art. 2(1)(iv)(c), Art. 2(1)(iv)(d), Art. 13(1), Art. 13(1)(i), Art. 13(1)(ii), Art. 13(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
Administrative guidance (行政指導) — guidance, a recommendation, advice or the like from an administrative organ that is not a disposition — works only through the other person's voluntary cooperation, and nobody may be treated disadvantageously for not following it. Guidance asking an applicant to withdraw or change an application may not be kept up to obstruct the application once the applicant has said they will not follow it. Where the organ cannot or will not use a power to grant approvals, or to act under one, the official may not pointedly show that it could, to force a person to comply.(Art. 2(1)(vi), Art. 32(1), Art. 32(2), Art. 33(1), Art. 34(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
An official giving administrative guidance must make clear its purpose, content and who is responsible for it; and where the official points out that the organ could use a power to grant approvals, or to act under one, they must also state the legal provision for that power, its requirements, and why those requirements are met. Guidance given orally must be given in writing, with these matters, if the person asks, unless there is a special administrative hindrance. Where an organ plans guidance for several people who meet certain conditions, it must set administrative guidance guidelines (行政指導指針) in advance and publish them, unless there is a special administrative hindrance.(Art. 35(1), Art. 35(2), Art. 35(3), Art. 36(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
A notification (届出) that meets its formal requirements — no entry missing or wrong, the required documents attached, and any other formal requirement laws and regulations set — fulfils the duty to notify as soon as it arrives at the office laws and regulations name as the place to file it.(Art. 37(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
Before the Cabinet or a national administrative organ makes an order based on an Act (法律), review criteria, disposition standards or administrative guidance guidelines, it must publish the draft and related materials by electronic means and invite comments from the public for at least 30 days from the notice. It must fully consider the comments submitted within that period. When the order is promulgated — or, for one that is not promulgated, made public — it must publish the comments (or that there were none), the result of considering them including how the final text differs from the draft, and its reasons.(Art. 2(1)(viii), Art. 39(1), Art. 39(3), Art. 42(1), Art. 43(1), Art. 45(1), Art. 3(3)) (the provisions it rests on)

Article 1 states the law's own purpose

Review criteriaStandard processing periodReasons for a refusalAdverse dispositionsHearingsAdministrative guidanceNotificationsPublic comment

48 140 104 17 35

Amendments

A Japanese law is changed by another law or order that rewrites it — an . This law has 1 amendment on the way — , but . Its amendment history is below. The amendments this site has read the changes of are on this law's amendments page, provision by provision, in Japanese and English.

Date not yet set

Not yet in force

Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts upon the Enforcement of the Act Partially Amending the Civil Code, etc.

民法等の一部を改正する法律の施行に伴う関係法律の整備等に関する法律

The whole text as it will read, on e-Gov

The date on which the Act Partially Amending the Civil Code, etc. (Act No. 45 of 2026) comes into force. The exact day is not fixed yet.

See what it changes (2 provisions)

10 amendments already in force

24 July 2026
The text on this site
Act Partially Amending the Imperial House Act, etc.
皇室典範等の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
24 June 2026
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts upon the Enforcement of the Act Partially Amending the Civil Code, etc.
民法等の一部を改正する法律の施行に伴う関係法律の整備等に関する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
21 May 2026
Act Partially Amending the Basic Act on the Formation of a Digital Society, etc. to Promote Regulatory Reform for the Formation of a Digital Society
デジタル社会の形成を図るための規制改革を推進するためのデジタル社会形成基本法等の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
26 September 2024
Act Partially Amending the Local Autonomy Act
地方自治法の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 April 2024
Act on Support for Women Facing Difficult Problems
困難な問題を抱える女性への支援に関する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 December 2023
Act Partially Amending the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and the Special Act on the Immigration Control of, Inter Alia, Those Who Have Lost Japanese Nationality Pursuant to the Treaty of Peace with Japan
出入国管理及び難民認定法及び日本国との平和条約に基づき日本の国籍を離脱した者等の出入国管理に関する特例法の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
16 June 2023
Act Partially Amending the Basic Act on the Formation of a Digital Society, etc. to Promote Regulatory Reform for the Formation of a Digital Society
デジタル社会の形成を図るための規制改革を推進するためのデジタル社会形成基本法等の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
25 May 2022
Act on Support for Women Facing Difficult Problems
困難な問題を抱える女性への支援に関する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 April 2018
Act Partially Amending the Income Tax Act, etc., and Other Matters
所得税法等の一部を改正する等の法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 April 2017
Act Partially Amending the Income Tax Act, etc., and Other Matters
所得税法等の一部を改正する等の法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov

Who it applies to

It applies to

Administrative agencies (行政庁) when they decide applications and make adverse dispositions, and the national administrative organs (行政機関) Article 2 lists — bodies placed in or under the Cabinet by an Act, the Imperial Household Agency, ministries, commissions and agencies, the Board of Audit, and officials an Act lets act independently — when they give administrative guidance. Guidance by local government organs is outside Chapters II to VI (Article 3(3)).(Art. 2(1)(ii), Art. 2(1)(v), Art. 2(1)(v)(a), Art. 2(1)(vi), Art. 5(1), Art. 13(1), Art. 3(3)) (the provisions it rests on)
The Cabinet (through the minister who drafts the order) and national administrative organs when they make orders based on an Act (法律), review criteria, disposition standards or administrative guidance guidelines. A local government organ's making of such rules is outside Chapter VI (Article 3(3)).(Art. 2(1)(viii), Art. 38(1), Art. 39(1), Art. 3(3)) (the provisions it rests on)

4 more

On the other side of each procedure: a person applying for a permission or other approval, the person an adverse disposition would be addressed to, a person given administrative guidance, a person filing a notification (届出) that laws and regulations require, and — for a request that an office act — any person.(Art. 2(1)(iii), Art. 2(1)(iv), Art. 2(1)(vii), Art. 32(2), Art. 36-3(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
Article 3(3) takes a local government office's dispositions out of the Act only where their basis is in a local ordinance (条例) or a local rule (規則); a disposition by that office resting on an Act (法律) or an order based on one stays within the Act's procedures, unless another exclusion applies.(Art. 3(3), Art. 2(1)(i)) (the provisions it rests on)
Local governments must try to take their own measures, in keeping with the aims of this Act, to make fair and open the procedures Article 3(3) takes out of it.(Art. 46(1), Art. 3(3)) (the provisions it rests on)
In a hearing on an order to dismiss a corporation's officer or someone working in the business, or to expel a member, the person to be dismissed or expelled is treated as having received the hearing notice, and so takes part as a party. If the addressee does not comply and that officer or worker is then dismissed by a further disposition the law provides for, no second hearing is needed.(Art. 28(1), Art. 28(2)) (the provisions it rests on)

It does not apply to

Dispositions and administrative guidance on foreign nationals' immigration and emigration, on recognition of refugee status or of eligibility for complementary protection under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, and on naturalisation (帰化): Chapters II to IV-2 — applications, adverse dispositions, administrative guidance and requests for action — do not apply.(Art. 3(1), Art. 3(1)(x)) (the provisions it rests on)
Dispositions and administrative guidance by public prosecutors, their assistant officers and judicial police officials under laws on criminal cases; by tax and customs officials under laws on criminal cases of national or local tax offences; and by the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission and Local Finance Bureau heads on financial-instruments offences: Chapters II to IV-2 do not apply.(Art. 3(1), Art. 3(1)(v), Art. 3(1)(vi)) (the provisions it rests on)

7 more

Dispositions and administrative guidance in schools, training schools and training institutes toward students, pupils, children and their guardians, or trainees, to achieve the purpose of the education or training; and those in prisons, detention houses, police and coast guard holding facilities, juvenile training schools and juvenile classification homes to achieve the purpose of detention: Chapters II to IV-2 do not apply.(Art. 3(1), Art. 3(1)(vii), Art. 3(1)(viii)) (the provisions it rests on)
Dispositions and administrative guidance toward national and local public servants, or former ones, concerning their duties or status: Chapters II to IV-2 do not apply.(Art. 3(1), Art. 3(1)(ix)) (the provisions it rests on)
Dispositions made by resolution of the Diet or a local assembly, or with its consent or approval; by the judgment of a court or judge, or in enforcing one; or decided by the Audit Commission (検査官会議), and guidance given during an audit of accounts; dispositions on the results of examinations purely of knowledge or skill; and rulings and other dispositions made under laws and regulations to adjust conflicting interests and addressed to both sides, with guidance for that purpose: Chapters II to IV-2 do not apply.(Art. 3(1), Art. 3(1)(i), Art. 3(1)(ii), Art. 3(1)(iii), Art. 3(1)(iv), Art. 3(1)(xi), Art. 3(1)(xii)) (the provisions it rests on)
Dispositions and administrative guidance by police officers, coast guard officers or other officials given direct legal power, at the scene where an event affecting public health, the environment, safety or another public interest has happened or may happen; and dispositions and guidance whose direct purpose is to gather information, such as an order to report or to submit materials: Chapters II to IV-2 do not apply.(Art. 3(1), Art. 3(1)(xiii), Art. 3(1)(xiv)) (the provisions it rests on)
An administrative agency's ruling on a request for review (審査請求), a request for re-investigation (再調査の請求) or another appeal against an administrative decision, and dispositions and guidance made within such an appeal procedure or within a hearing or other procedure for stating opinions: Chapters II to IV-2 do not apply.(Art. 3(1), Art. 3(1)(xv), Art. 3(1)(xvi)) (the provisions it rests on)
Dispositions by local government organs whose basis is in a local ordinance (条例) or a local rule (規則), all administrative guidance by local government organs, notifications to them whose basis is in a local ordinance or rule, and their making of orders: Chapters II to VI do not apply.(Art. 3(3)) (the provisions it rests on)
Dispositions addressed to national bodies, local governments or their organs in their distinct capacity as public bodies, all administrative guidance directed at them, and notifications those bodies must make in that capacity: the Act does not apply at all.(Art. 4(1)) (the provisions it rests on)

Special rules and exceptions (8)

Where another Act (法律) makes special provision on any matter this Act governs in these procedures, that provision applies instead.(Art. 1(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
Where the requirements for an approval, or the published review criteria, are set clearly by a number or other objective measure, and the application plainly fails them on its face, the reasons for a refusal need be given only if the applicant asks.(Art. 8(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
No hearing or opportunity to explain is needed where the urgent need in the public interest to make an adverse disposition makes the procedure impossible; where a disposition the law requires follows from the absence or loss of a qualification proved directly by a court judgment or other objective document; where it only orders compliance with a technical standard the law sets out clearly for installing, maintaining or managing facilities or equipment, or for making, selling or otherwise handling goods, whose breach was confirmed by measurement, test or another objective method; where it fixes or orders payment of money, or revokes or limits a payment; or where a Cabinet Order (政令) lists it as imposing only a very light duty.(Art. 13(2), Art. 13(2)(i), Art. 13(2)(ii), Art. 13(2)(iii), Art. 13(2)(iv), Art. 13(2)(v)) (the provisions it rests on)
Where there is a pressing need to make an adverse disposition without stating reasons, the reasons may be given afterwards, within a reasonable period — unless the person's whereabouts have become unknown or other circumstances make it difficult.(Art. 14(1), Art. 14(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
Oral administrative guidance need not be put in writing where it asks for something to be done then and there, or asks for the same thing the person has already been told in a document or electronic record.(Art. 35(4)) (the provisions it rests on)
Public comment is not required in eight cases the Act lists, among them where the urgent need in the public interest for the order makes public comment difficult, an order setting the amounts and rates of money owed under a new or amended Act, one substantially the same as an order another organ made after public comment, and a minor change a Cabinet Order (政令) describes; an order made without it on such a ground is published at promulgation (or, if it is not promulgated, when it is made public) with its title, in some cases its purpose, and why public comment was not held. For an unavoidable reason the comment period may be shorter than 30 days, with the reason stated when the draft is published. An organ need not run the procedure itself where the council or committee (委員会等) whose deliberation the order needs has run an equivalent one.(Art. 39(4), Art. 39(4)(i), Art. 39(4)(ii), Art. 39(4)(v), Art. 39(4)(viii), Art. 43(1), Art. 43(5), Art. 40(1), Art. 40(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
Chapter VI on public comment does not apply to some orders, among them a Cabinet Order (政令) setting the day an Act comes into force, orders on amnesty, orders on public servants' pay, working hours and other conditions, and orders on the organisation of national or local government bodies.(Art. 3(2), Art. 3(2)(i), Art. 3(2)(ii), Art. 3(2)(v), Art. 4(4), Art. 4(4)(i)) (the provisions it rests on)
Chapters II and III do not apply to supervisory dispositions, under the specific Act that supervises them, against corporations set up directly by an Act (法律) or by a special act of establishment under a special Act, or named by a Cabinet Order (政令) among those set up under a special Act with an agency's approval; and to supervisory dispositions against a body an agency designates to carry out examinations, inspections, registration or similar work on its behalf, where those doing the work are deemed public officials. The exception does not reach a disposition ordering dissolution, revoking the approval of establishment or the designation, or ordering an officer or worker dismissed.(Art. 4(2), Art. 4(2)(i), Art. 4(2)(ii), Art. 4(3)) (the provisions it rests on)

How it is enforced (10)

The Act has no penalties. It places procedural duties on administrative agencies and organs and gives the people they deal with rights in the procedure: to reasons, to a hearing or a chance to explain, to published criteria, and to ask an office to stop or to act.(Art. 1(1), Art. 8(1), Art. 13(1), Art. 5(3), Art. 36-2(1), Art. 36-3(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
A reasonable period before a hearing (聴聞), the administrative agency must notify the person in writing of the proposed adverse disposition and the legal provisions it rests on, the facts behind it, the date and place, and the office handling the hearing. The notice must tell them they may attend, state their opinion and submit evidence, or send a written statement and evidence instead, and ask to see the materials behind the disposition. Where the person's whereabouts are unknown, the notice may be given publicly, by a method an Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (総務省令) sets together with posting or display at the office, and it counts as received two weeks after that begins.(Art. 15(1), Art. 15(2), Art. 15(3), Art. 15(4)) (the provisions it rests on)
The person notified may appoint an agent, who can take any step in the hearing for them. From the notice until the hearing ends, they may ask to inspect the investigation records and other materials proving the facts behind the proposed disposition, and the agency may refuse only where a third party's interests could be harmed or there is another legitimate reason. The presiding official may ask or permit someone with an interest in the disposition under the law it rests on to take part as a participant (参加人), who may likewise appoint an agent, attend and speak, and, if the disposition would harm their interests, inspect the materials.(Art. 16(1), Art. 16(2), Art. 17(1), Art. 17(2), Art. 17(3), Art. 18(1), Art. 20(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
A hearing is presided over by an official the administrative agency nominates, or by another person a Cabinet Order (政令) names. At the first session the presiding official must have the agency's officials explain the proposed disposition, its legal basis and the facts behind it; the person may then state their opinion and submit evidence, and, with the presiding official's permission, question the officials and attend with an assistant (補佐人), or they may send a written statement and evidence instead of attending. The hearing is not open to the public unless the agency considers it appropriate.(Art. 19(1), Art. 20(1), Art. 20(2), Art. 20(3), Art. 20(6), Art. 21(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
If the person fails to attend without a legitimate reason and sends no written statement or evidence, the presiding official may end the hearing without giving them another chance. If they do not attend or send anything and cannot be expected to attend for a considerable time, the presiding official may set a deadline for a written statement and evidence and end the hearing when it passes.(Art. 23(1), Art. 23(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
After the hearing the presiding official sends the administrative agency a record of it and a report giving their opinion on whether the person's arguments have merit, and the person may ask to inspect both. The agency must decide on the adverse disposition after fully taking into account the record and the presiding official's opinion.(Art. 24(1), Art. 24(3), Art. 24(4), Art. 26(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
No request for review (審査請求) may be made against a disposition made under the hearing provisions themselves (Chapter III, Section 2), such as a refusal to let the person inspect the materials, or against a failure to act under them.(Art. 27(1), Art. 18(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
Where the person is given an opportunity to explain (弁明の機会の付与) instead of a hearing, the agency must notify them in writing, a reasonable period before the deadline, of the proposed disposition and its legal basis, the facts behind it, and where and by when to submit. The explanation is made in a written statement (弁明書), with evidence if they wish, unless the agency allows it to be made orally. The person may appoint an agent, and where their whereabouts are unknown the notice may be given publicly, as for a hearing.(Art. 29(1), Art. 29(2), Art. 30(1), Art. 31(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
A person given administrative guidance to correct a breach of laws and regulations, where the guidance rests on an Act (法律), may ask the administrative organ in writing to stop it or take other measures if they think it does not meet the Act's requirements. The organ must investigate and, if it finds the guidance does not meet them, stop it or take other necessary measures. This does not apply where the guidance was given after the person had an opportunity to explain or state their opinion.(Art. 36-2(1), Art. 36-2(2), Art. 36-2(3)) (the provisions it rests on)
Any person (何人も) who thinks laws and regulations are being breached, and that a disposition or administrative guidance to correct it — one resting on an Act (法律) — is not being made, may ask the office with that power in writing to make it. The office must investigate and, if it finds it necessary on the results, make the disposition or give the guidance.(Art. 36-3(1), Art. 36-3(2), Art. 36-3(3)) (the provisions it rests on)

How it connects to other laws

Cites this lawLawThis law cites it

It also names 11 laws not yet held here.

Where the translation comes from

263
73
8not translated

The Ministry of Justice's translation is shown only where the Japanese it translates matches the law in force today. Everywhere else the English is a machine translation, marked on the paragraph itself.

Only the Japanese is the law, and no lawyer has reviewed the machine translation.

Sources

Everything this page rests on

e-Gov (Digital Agency)行政手続法 — the text in force from 2026-07-24Original
e-Gov (Digital Agency)行政手続法 — revision historyOriginal
Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of JusticeAdministrative Procedure Act — Ministry of Justice translationOriginal
Machine translation, not official
Written for this site with AIEnglish titles of amending laws, written for this site
Written for this site with AIDescriptions of each law, written for this site
Written for this site with AICorrections to the Ministry of Justice's English of paragraphs
Worked out by this site from e-Gov's text

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