Comprehensive Support for Naturalization Applications in Hiroshima — Free Consultation Available
What is Naturalization?
Naturalization is the legal process by which a foreign national acquires Japanese nationality with the permission of the Minister of Justice. In simple terms, it means becoming a Japanese citizen.
Benefits of Naturalization
- You can obtain a Japanese passport
- You gain the right to vote and to be elected in Japan
- You become eligible to work as a public servant
On the other hand, those who naturalize in Japan are generally required to give up their original nationality.
Considering Naturalization?
The naturalization process involves many documents and detailed procedures, which can often take a long time. With professional support, you can proceed with peace of mind.Our office offers a free initial consultation. Please feel free to contact us.
Requirements for naturalization in Japan
The requirements for naturalization are set forth under the Japanese Nationality Act.
There are three types of naturalization: ordinary naturalization, simplified naturalization, and extraordinary naturalization. Here, we will briefly explain ordinary and simplified naturalization.
It is important to note that even if you meet all the requirements, your application is not guaranteed to be approved. This is because the final decision is made at the discretion of the Minister of Justice.
Ordinary naturalization
Article 5 of the Nationality Act sets out the general requirements for naturalization in Japan (items 1–6 below). These requirements are assessed based on the documents submitted by the applicant.
In practice, Japanese language proficiency (item 7) is also required and is evaluated during the preparation of application documents as well as in interviews with the examining officer.
- Residence Requirement
- You must have lived continuously in Japan for at least 5 years.
- Capacity Requirement
- You must be at least 18 years old and legally competent under the laws of your home country.
- Good Conduct Requirement
- You must have demonstrated good behavior and moral conduct.
- Livelihood Requirement
- You must be able to support yourself (or your household) through your own or your cohabiting family members’ income or assets.
- Nationality Requirement
- You must either be stateless or be required to lose your original nationality upon acquiring Japanese nationality.
- Constitutional Compliance Requirement
- You must respect and abide by the Constitution of Japan.
- Japanese Language Proficiency Requirement
- You must have the necessary Japanese language skills for daily life.
Simplified naturalization
Even if an applicant does not meet the general requirements under Article 5 of the Nationality Act, naturalization may still be granted. This is called simplified naturalization, which is provided for in Articles 6 to 8 of the Nationality Act.
This applies, for example, to the spouses of Japanese nationals or children with ties to Japan. For these applicants, certain requirements for ordinary naturalization—such as the residence requirement, capacity requirement, and livelihood requirement—are relaxed.
Naturalization Process in Hiroshima, Japan
The process for naturalization can vary depending on the Legal Affairs Bureau where the application is submitted. For applicants submitting to the Hiroshima Legal Affairs Bureau, the typical flow is as follows:
- Consultation with the Legal Affairs Bureau
- Collection and Preparation of Required Documents
- Submission of Application Documents (Acceptance)
- Document Review
- Interview
- Forwarding of Documents to the Ministry of Justice
- Approval Decision by the Minister of Justice
- Approval or Rejection
- (If approved) Notification for Family Registry Registration
The interview(5) will be conducted directly in Japanese with an immigration officer, and there will also be a simple paper test.
The document review(4)(6) is conducted twice: once at the Legal Affairs Bureau and again at the Ministry of Justice.
Once approval is granted, naturalization becomes effective on the date it is published in the Official Gazette (Article 10, Paragraph 2 of the Nationality Act). After that, the applicant receives a Certificate of Naturalized Status and must submit a notification to the family registry office in their local municipality for registration(9).
Fees (excluding tax)
Company employee 150,000JPY
Business owner/Executive 200,000JPY
Additional family member living in the same household +50,000JPY
FAQ
Q: What is the difference between a "permanent residence" visa and naturalization?
A: The major difference between naturalization and permanent residence is that naturalization means becoming a Japanese citizen. With a permanent residence visa, foreigners can stay in Japan while retaining their nationality, but with naturalization, they lose their nationality and acquire Japanese nationality. For more details, please check this page.
Q: Is the place to apply for naturalization the same Immigration Services Agency where I obtained or changed my residence status (visa)?
A: Naturalization is granted with the permission of the Minister of Justice, so the application should be submitted to Houmukyoku(the Legal Affairs Bureau).
Q: If I hire a specialist such as an administrative scrivener, is naturalization guaranteed? Do I not need to do anything myself?
A: As mentioned earlier, the decision to grant or deny naturalization is made at the discretion of the Minister of Justice. Therefore, even if you meet all the requirements, approval is not guaranteed.
Even if our office accepts your case and determines that you meet the requirements, the collection and translation of documents from your home country must generally be done by you. Additionally, administrative scriveners are not allowed to attend the interview with the examining officer.
However, if you retain our office, we can provide precise guidance on collecting the often complex documents from your home country, helping you complete the process with minimal burden. Wealso accompany you for consultations and the submission of application documents at the Legal Affairs Bureau to provide thorough support and follow-up.
Q: How long does it take to get permission?
A: It can take more than six months, and in some cases more than a year. The process of renouncing one’s original nationality can sometimes be complicated, and in some cases, it may take nearly two years before naturalization is granted. Obtaining naturalization is therefore a long-term process, much like running a marathon.
As a side note, the head of our office has experience completing a full marathon. We are committed to running alongside our clients, providing support and guidance throughout the entire process.
Q: What documents are required for application?
A: You will need an application for naturalization, a statement of reasons for naturalization, a resume, an affidavit, a document outlining your family relationships, a document outlining your livelihood, a document outlining your business, and a rough map of your home and workplace. In addition, there are documents that must be collected in the applicant’s home country as well as documents that need to be gathered within Japan.
Q: How much Japanese language ability is required?
A: When interviewing with a Houmukyoku(Legal Affairs Bureau) official, it is likely that Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 3(N3) or higher will be required.
For inquiries about naturalization, please contact us here
We accept inquiries about naturalization applications through this form. Please fill in the required fields and click the Submit button at the bottom left.After reviewing your submission, I will contact you within two business days.
The initial consultation is free, so please feel free to reach out.
For an overview of our visa and naturalization support services in Hiroshima, please visit our English homepage.