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.
Foreigners who are "naturalized" will acquire Japanese nationality, become Japanese, acquire a family register, and be issued a Japanese passport.
As a matter of course, a person who has been "naturalized" does not need to carry out the procedures related to residence in Japan by a foreigner.
The difference between "Naturalization" and "Permanent Residence" is that "Naturalization" acquires Japanese nationality, whereas "Permanent Residence" remains a foreign nationality.
Depending on the living conditions in Japan, a person with a status of residence of "Permanent Residence" may be subject to "deportation".

Requirements for naturalization to be recognized

Normal naturalization

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

1. Address requirements (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.
   ※　It is also necessary to have been working in Japan for at least 3 years.
2. Ability requirements (Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Nationality Law)
   Applicants must be at least 18 years old (changed from April 1, 2022) and have reached the age of majority under the laws of their home country.
   ※　If the applicant is a minor, he / she can apply only if he / she applies with either parents or parents.
3. Behavior requirements (Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the Nationality Law)
   It is necessary that the behavior of the applicant is good.
4. Livelihood requirements (Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 4 of the Nationality Law)
   The applicant must have the necessary income to live in Japan. Applicants will meet this requirement if they can live a stable life with the help of a spouse or other relatives who make a living.
5. Requirements for prevention of dual citizenship (Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 5 of the Nationality Law)
   Applicants must either not have nationality or lose their previous nationality due to naturalization. As an exception, if the applicant cannot lose the nationality of the country at his / her will, naturalization may be permitted (Article 5, Paragraph 2 of the Nationality Law).
6. Constitutional compliance requirements (Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 6 of the Nationality Law)
   Naturalization is not permitted if the applicant is a person who attempts or claims to destroy the Japanese government by violence, or who has formed or joined such an organization.

　

In addition, the applicant must have Japanese proficiency (conversation and reading / writing) that does not interfere with daily life.
Note that the above is the minimum requirement, so even if the above is met, naturalization may not be permitted.

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 requirements for "Normal naturalization" have been relaxed as follows. increase.

1. Children of Japanese nationals (excluding adopted children) who have an address or residence in Japan for 3 years or more (Article 6.1 of the Nationality Law)
   ・If the applicant is a child born after the Japanese have lost Japanese nationality due to marriage with a foreigner, etc., the address requirement when applying for naturalization is "have an address or residence in Japan for at least 3 years", It will be.
2. A person who was born in Japan and has an address or residence in Japan for 3 years or more, or whose father or mother (excluding adoptive parents) was born in Japan (Article 6.2 of the Nationality Law).
   ・If the applicant was born in Japan, the address condition is "have an address or residence in Japan for 3 years or more".
   ・If the applicant's father or mother (excluding adoptive parents) was born in Japan (so-called third-generation resident in Japan), the address conditions will be met if the applicant has an address in Japan.
3. Those who have been in Japan for 10 years or more (Article 6.3 of the Nationality Law)
   ・If the applicant has been in Japan for 10 years or more, the working period in Japan is not always necessary.
4. Foreigners who are spouses of Japanese nationals (Article 7 of the Nationality Law)
   ・If the spouse of a Japanese citizen has an address or residence in Japan for three years or more and actually has an address in Japan, the address requirement and ability requirement will be relaxed.
   ・Similarly, spouses of Japanese nationals who have been married for three years and who have been in Japan for more than one year will also have their address and ability requirements relaxed.
5. (1) Children of Japanese nationals (excluding adopted children) who have an address in Japan (2) Those who were adopted by Japanese nationals when they were underage and who have an address in Japan for one year or more (3) Japanese nationality Those who have lost their address in Japan (excluding those who have lost Japanese nationality after acquiring Japanese nationality) (Article 8 of the Nationality Law)
   ・If these are applicants, address requirements, competence requirements, and livelihood requirements will be relaxed.

Naturalization application procedure

When submitting naturalization application documents, the applicant must go to the Legal Affairs Bureau or the Regional Legal Affairs Bureau. However, if the applicant 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.
Unlike the application for status of residence, the applicant for naturalization must consult with the Legal Affairs Bureau or the Regional Legal Affairs Bureau in advance.
In addition, after the application has been accepted, the applicant must be interviewed by the Legal Affairs Bureau.

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
2. Documents outlining relatives
3. Documents stating why you wanted to naturalize
4. Resume
5. Documents outlining the livelihood
6. Documents outlining the business
7. A copy of the document certifying your address
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 all the documents by himself. Please feel free to contact us so that your application for naturalization will be approved.