Naturalization

What is naturalization?

"Naturalization" means that a foreigner who does not have Japanese nationality acquires Japanese nationality.
In order to "Naturalize", it is necessary to apply to the Legal Affairs Bureau or the Regional Legal Affairs Bureau and get permission.
By "Naturalize", you will acquire Japanese nationality, become Japanese, acquire a family register, and be issued a Japanese passport.
As a matter of course, there is no need for foreigners to carry out residence-related procedures in Japan.
The difference between "Naturalization" and "Permanent Resident" is that "Naturalization" acquires Japanese nationality, whereas "Permanent Resident" remains a foreign national, so depending on the activity situation in Japan, "deportation" You may also be subject to "compulsory disposal".

Conditions for "Naturalization"

Usually naturalization

Generally, the conditions for naturalization of foreigners are as follows.

1. Address conditions (Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 1 of the Nationality Law)
   You must continue to live in Japan for at least 5 years before applying for naturalization. It is necessary to have a proper status of residence.
   ※　A working period of 3 years or more is also required.
2. Ability conditions (Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Nationality Law)
   You must be at least 18 years old (changed from April 1, 2022) and have reached the age of majority under the laws of your home country.
   ※　If you are a minor, you can apply if you do it with either your parents or your parents.
3. Conditions of conduct (Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the Nationality Law)
   It is necessary that the behavior is good.
4. Livelihood conditions (Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 4 of the Nationality Law)
   It is necessary to be able to live in Japan without any financial problems. If you can lead a stable life with the assets or skills of your spouse or other relatives who make a living, you will meet this condition.
5. Conditions for preventing dual citizenship (Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 5 of the Nationality Law)
   It is necessary that you do not have nationality or that you lose your previous nationality due to naturalization. As an exception, naturalization may be permitted if the nationality of the country cannot be lost at the will of the person (Article 5, Paragraph 2 of the Nationality Law).
6. Constitutional compliance conditions (Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 6 of the Nationality Law)
   Naturalization is not permitted to anyone who attempts or claims to violently destroy the Japanese government, or who has formed or joined such an organization.

　

In addition, it is necessary to have Japanese proficiency (conversation and reading and writing) that does not interfere with daily life.
Note that the above are the minimum conditions, so even if the above conditions are met, naturalization may not be permitted.

Naturalization with relaxed requirements

For foreigners who have a special relationship with Japan (those born in Japan, spouses of Japanese people, children of Japanese people, people who were once Japanese, etc.), the conditions for normalization are usually relaxed as follows.

1. Children of Japanese nationals (excluding adopted children) who have an address or residence in Japan for 3 years or more (Article 6, Item 1 of the Nationality Law)
   ・If a Japanese gives birth to a child after losing Japanese nationality due to marriage with a foreigner, the address requirement imposed on the child is that the child has an address or residence in Japan for at least 3 years.
2. A child born in Japan who has an address or residence in Japan for three years or more, or is born to a father or mother (excluding adoptive parents) born in Japan (Article 6, Item 2 of the Nationality Act).
   ・The address requirement for a person born in Japan is to have an address or residence in Japan for at least 3 years.
   ・If the father or mother, excluding the adoptive parents, was born in Japan (so-called third-generation in Japan), the address conditions will be met if there is an address in Japan.
3. Those who have been in Japan for 10 years or more (Article 6, Item 3 of the Nationality Law)
   ・If you have a place of residence in Japan for 10 years or more, you do not need to have work experience.
4. Foreigners who are spouses of Japanese nationals (Article 7 of the Nationality Law)
   ・If you are a spouse of a Japanese national and have an address or residence in Japan for 3 years or more, and if you actually have an address in Japan, the address and ability conditions will be relaxed.
   ・If you are a spouse of a Japanese national and have been married for 3 years and have an address in Japan for 1 year or more, the address and ability requirements will be relaxed as well.
5. A child of a Japanese national (excluding an adopted child) who has an address in Japan, a person who was adopted by a Japanese national when he was a minor under the law of his home country and who has an address in Japan for one year or more. Persons who have lost Japanese nationality but have an address in Japan (excluding those who have lost Japanese nationality after being naturalized in Japan) (Article 8 of the Nationality Law)
   ・In these cases, address requirements, ability requirements, and livelihood requirements will be relaxed.

Naturalization application procedure

　

To apply for naturalization, if the person who is going to naturalize is 15 years old or older, he / she must go to the Legal Affairs Bureau or the Regional Legal Affairs Bureau and submit a document.
If the person to be naturalized is under the age of 15, a legal representative such as a parent or guardian must go to the Legal Affairs Bureau or the District Legal Affairs Bureau to submit a document.
Unlike the application for status of residence, it is necessary to consult with the Legal Affairs Bureau or the Regional Legal Affairs Bureau in advance.
In addition, there will be an interview at the Legal Affairs Bureau after the application is accepted.

Documents required for naturalization application

The main documents required for naturalization application are as follows, but it depends on the situation of the applicant.

1. Naturalization permit application documents
2. Documents outlining relatives
3. Documents describing the motives for naturalization
4. a personal history
5. Documents outlining the livelihood
6. Documents outlining the business
7. a certified copy of resident register
8. Documents certifying nationality
9. Documents certifying kinship
10. Documents certifying tax payment
11. Documents certifying income

The application for naturalization must be done by the person himself, but it is quite difficult to prepare the documents. Our office will help you to ensure that your naturalization application is successfully approved. Please feel free to contact us.