I am Teruyoshi Yoneda, the representative of Yoneda Legal Servives and a certified immigration procedures specialist. My office specializes in international matters such as visa and naturalization applications. Based mainly in Hiroshima Prefecture, we support foreign nationals living in Japan with various immigration procedures, including work visas, spouse visas, permanent residency applications, and naturalization.In this article, I will explain how to obtain Japanese citizenship.
1.Application for naturalization required to acquire Japanese citizenship
To obtain Japanese citizenship, you need to apply for naturalization. Naturalization is the process through which a foreign national becomes a Japanese citizen. In this process, a foreign national expresses their intention to acquire Japanese nationality to the Japanese government. If the application is reviewed and approved, Japan grants citizenship to that person. However, even if all the basic requirements are met, approval is not guaranteed because the Minister of Justice has broad discretion in making the final decision.
2.The future that opens up through acquiring Japanese citizenship
(1) There will no longer be any restrictions on your work activities.
Many foreign residents in Japan face restrictions on the types of work they are allowed to do. For example, those with a work visa must work only within the specific job category permitted by their visa. After naturalizing, however, these restrictions are removed, allowing individuals to pursue a wide range of occupations, including becoming a public servant. This is one of the major advantages of obtaining Japanese citizenship.
(2) You will be able to obtain a Japanese passport.
By obtaining Japanese citizenship, you become eligible to receive a Japanese passport. The Japanese passport offers significant advantages, as it allows visa‑free entry into many countries when traveling abroad.
(3) Voting rights and eligibility to run for public office will be granted.
Since you will become a Japanese citizen, you are naturally granted political rights, including the right to vote, as part of the rights afforded to all citizens.
3.Requirements of naturalization
Specifically, naturalization in Japan is divided into three categories: ordinary naturalization (Article 5 of the Nationality Act), simplified naturalization (Articles 6, 7, and 8), and special naturalization (Article 9).
Ordinary naturalization applies to foreign nationals who fall into the general category of residents. This typically includes people who were born abroad, came to Japan as international students, and then found employment in Japan after graduation. Simplified naturalization applies to groups such as special permanent residents, including Korean and Korean‑ethnic residents in Japan, as well as foreign nationals who are married to Japanese citizens.Special naturalization is a rare category for individuals who have made exceptional contributions to Japan. In such cases, the Minister of Justice may grant naturalization with the approval of the National Diet.
(1) Residency requirement
Having lived in Japan with a registered address for at least five consecutive years is required. “Consecutive” means that, when looking back from the time you apply for naturalization, you must have continuously resided in Japan for the past five years. This does not mean that even a single day spent abroad breaks the continuity. However, if you leave Japan for more than three months at one time, or if your total time abroad reaches roughly 100 to 150 days, there is a risk that your residency may no longer be considered “continuous.” As of January 2026, the Japanese government is considering raising the naturalization residency requirement from five years to “generally ten years,” which is the same standard used for permanent residency. This is an important development to keep an eye on.
(2)Age requirement
Applicants must be at least 18 years old. However, there are exceptional cases in which those under 18 may apply, such as when applying together with a parent. In addition, the applicant must also be considered an adult under the laws of their home country. For example, in South Korea and Taiwan, the legal age of adulthood is 20, so this requirement must be met as well.
(3) Good conduct requirement
This requirement is rather vague. In simple terms, it means that you must properly pay your taxes and pension contributions, and you must not have committed traffic violations, crimes, or other legal offenses.
(4) Financial stability requirement
The applicant must be able to support themselves through their own income or the income of family members living with them and sharing the same household finances. So how much income is actually required? As a general guideline, a household should have an annual income of at least 3 million yen. If there are many dependents living together, the required income level will be higher. At the same time, what matters most is not the amount of assets or how high the income is, but whether the household is living modestly and stably within its means.
(5) Requirement to renounce former nationality
Because Japan does not permit dual nationality, applicants must be able to renounce their original nationality when acquiring Japanese citizenship. This ability to give up one’s former nationality is a required condition for naturalization.
(6) Requirement regarding political beliefs
Applicants must not hold dangerous beliefs that aim to undermine or destroy the Japanese state. Those who plan or advocate the violent overthrow of the Japanese government, or who form or join organizations that pursue such goals, cannot be granted naturalization.
(7) Japanese‑language proficiency requirement
Although this is not a requirement set out in the Nationality Act, applicants are expected to have sufficient Japanese‑language ability. After submitting a naturalization application, there will be an interview with an immigration officer. Depending on the officer, a written Japanese test may also be administered. As a general guideline, applicants should have Japanese‑language skills roughly equivalent to the N3 to N4 levels of the Japanese‑Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).
“In recent years, the requirements for naturalization have been reviewed, and discussions are moving toward stricter standards.Our office specializes in international matters such as naturalization applications, and we stay up to date on the latest developments regarding these changes in requirements. If you are considering applying for naturalization in the Chugoku region (Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori) or elsewhere in Japan, we offer free consultations. Please feel free to contact us.
