Japanese Naturalization
Encyclopedia
Naturalization in Japan requires the applicant to renounce their current citizenship
(s) after the naturalization
takes place. Japanese government
does not have strict rules for naturalization process, even though the documents that need to be collected for application from applicant's home country might take quite some time. Basic naturalization requirements differ from person to person regardless what country the applicant is from and depending on applicant's current status in Japan. Unlike most other countries, the applicant does not have to be a Permanent Resident
to be eligible to apply for Japanese naturalization.
The basic Japanese naturalization requirement is that the applicant must have been living in Japan
for 5 years at the time of application (3 years if married to a Japanese national). The application has to be made in person to 法務局 (Houmukyoku) Ministry of Justice branch responsible from the city where the applicant lives. A booklet will be given to the applicant at the first visit to Ministry of Justice
which explains every needed document and processes explained in Japanese.
Naturalization process has three stages.
The booklet given at the beginning of the process lists every document that the applicant needs from their home country and their country's embassy
in Japan. The applicant needs to be able to speak and express himself/herself in Japanese and be able to answer the interview questions in Japanese. The interviewer will ask questions about the form applicant filled and about why applicant wants to acquire Japanese citizenship. At the end, there may be a written test at an elementary school
second grade
level.
After the documents are sent to Tokyo for processing in the Ministry of Justice headquarters, it can take from 8 to 10 months (or longer depending on applicant) from the first application. The applicant will be called by their interviewer about the decision once the interviewer gets the results from Tokyo.
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
(s) after the naturalization
Naturalization
Naturalization is the acquisition of citizenship and nationality by somebody who was not a citizen of that country at the time of birth....
takes place. Japanese government
Government of Japan
The government of Japan is a constitutional monarchy where the power of the Emperor is very limited. As a ceremonial figurehead, he is defined by the 1947 constitution as "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people". Power is held chiefly by the Prime Minister of Japan and other elected...
does not have strict rules for naturalization process, even though the documents that need to be collected for application from applicant's home country might take quite some time. Basic naturalization requirements differ from person to person regardless what country the applicant is from and depending on applicant's current status in Japan. Unlike most other countries, the applicant does not have to be a Permanent Resident
Permanent residency
Permanent residency refers to a person's visa status: the person is allowed to reside indefinitely within a country of which he or she is not a citizen. A person with such status is known as a permanent resident....
to be eligible to apply for Japanese naturalization.
The basic Japanese naturalization requirement is that the applicant must have been living in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
for 5 years at the time of application (3 years if married to a Japanese national). The application has to be made in person to 法務局 (Houmukyoku) Ministry of Justice branch responsible from the city where the applicant lives. A booklet will be given to the applicant at the first visit to Ministry of Justice
Justice Minister
A justice ministry is a ministry or other government agency charged with justice. The ministry is often headed by a minister for justice or secretary of justice or secretary for justice; sometimes the head of a department of justice is entitled attorney general.Specific duties may relate to...
which explains every needed document and processes explained in Japanese.
Naturalization process has three stages.
- First stage: Initial application in person and gathering needed documents; preparing and filling out all necessary forms in JapaneseJapanese languageis a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
; and submitting all prepared documents to Houmukyoku in person. An application number is provided to the applicant for future correspondence with the case.
- Second stage: Houmukyoku checks the submitted documents. Oral and written interview are scheduled a month or two after submitting the documents.
- Third stage: Finalization. Houmukyoku sends all documents to TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and the applicant is requested to inform any changes of address, telephone, work, marital statusMarital statusA person's marital status indicates whether the person is married. Questions about marital status appear on many polls and forms, including censuses and credit card applications.In the simplest sense, the only possible answers are "single" or "married"...
, etc. while application is being reviewed.
The booklet given at the beginning of the process lists every document that the applicant needs from their home country and their country's embassy
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
in Japan. The applicant needs to be able to speak and express himself/herself in Japanese and be able to answer the interview questions in Japanese. The interviewer will ask questions about the form applicant filled and about why applicant wants to acquire Japanese citizenship. At the end, there may be a written test at an elementary school
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
second grade
Second grade
In the United States, second grade is a year of primary education. Second grade is the second school year after kindergarten. Students are traditionally 7–8 years old, depending on when their birthday occurs....
level.
After the documents are sent to Tokyo for processing in the Ministry of Justice headquarters, it can take from 8 to 10 months (or longer depending on applicant) from the first application. The applicant will be called by their interviewer about the decision once the interviewer gets the results from Tokyo.
External links
- Japan's Ministry of Justice: The Nationality Law (in English)