📅 最終更新日： 公開日：2026年6月3日
Naturalization (帰化) is the process by which a foreign national acquires Japanese citizenship. Unlike permanent residence, naturalization changes your nationality to Japanese — you gain voting rights and a Japanese passport, but generally must give up your original citizenship. This guide covers everything you need to know about naturalization in Japan.
Naturalization vs. Permanent Residence
| Naturalization | Permanent Residence | |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Changes to Japanese | Keeps foreign nationality |
| Voting rights | Yes | No |
| Residence card | Not needed (treated as Japanese) | Renewed every 7 years |
| Processing time | 1–2 years | 6–12 months |
Requirements for Ordinary Naturalization
- Residency: Continuously resident in Japan for 5+ years (3+ years on work/resident visa)
- Age: 18 or older (adult under home country law)
- Good conduct: No criminal record; taxes, pension, and health insurance paid on time
- Financial self-sufficiency: Stable income to support yourself (approx. ¥2.5M+/year)
- Renunciation of foreign nationality: Ability and intent to give up original citizenship
- Ideology: No membership in organizations seeking to overthrow the Japanese government
Simplified Naturalization
| Category | Relaxed Condition |
|---|---|
| Spouse of Japanese (married 3+ years, 1+ year in Japan) | 5-year rule reduced to 3+1 year |
| Child of Japanese national | Residency greatly reduced |
| Special Permanent Resident | Residency greatly relaxed |
Required Documents
- Naturalization application form
- Personal history (prescribed form)
- Motivation letter (reasons for wanting to naturalize)
- Oath of allegiance
- Photos (5cm × 5cm)
- Passport (all pages copied)
- Residence card copy
- Residence certificate (juminhyo)
- Tax payment certificates (past 3–5 years)
- Pension and health insurance payment records
- Employment certificate and withholding statements (past 3 years)
- Foreign documents: birth certificate, marriage certificate (with Japanese translation)
Processing Time
Naturalization applications typically take 1 to 2 years from initial consultation to approval. This includes document preparation (2–6 months), filing and investigation by the Legal Affairs Bureau (6–12 months), and a final decision by the Minister of Justice.
Common Reasons for Rejection
| Reason | Solution |
|---|---|
| Unpaid taxes, pension, or health insurance | Pay all arrears before applying; show on-time payment history |
| Criminal record or repeated traffic violations | Even minor violations can affect the outcome — consult an expert |
| Weak motivation letter or poor Japanese | Write a strong, genuine motivation letter; conversational Japanese is expected |
| Document errors or poor translations | Use certified translations; have an expert review all documents |
Supervised by
乾 喜満（いぬい よしみつ）
Gyoseishoshi (Administrative Scrivener) / Representative, Inui Gyoseishoshi Corporation
Registration No.: 16260979
Founded 2016. Specializes in Japan residence status and naturalization. Available in 5 languages (JA/EN/ZH/KO/VI). Based in Osaka Tenjinbashi.
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