The Differences Between the Permanent Residence Visa and Naturalization

The Permanent Residence Visa and Naturalization

Once you have grown accustomed to life in Japan and begin thinking about living here for the long term, you have likely at some point considered whether to apply for Permanent Residence or to apply for Naturalization. Either choice allows you to continue living in Japan, but there are distinct differences between the two. This page explains the differences between the Permanent Residence visa and Naturalization.

Up to the Point of Approval

First, we introduce 3 major differences between Permanent Residence and Naturalization up to the point of obtaining approval.

Residence Requirements

For Permanent Residence: To apply for Permanent Residence, as a general rule, the applicant must have resided continuously in Japan for 10 years or more, and within that period, must have lived in Japan for 5 years or more on a work-related Status of Residence (such as Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services).

* In the case of a spouse of a Japanese national, a Permanent Resident, or a Special Permanent Resident, the residence requirement is satisfied if a substantive marriage has continued for 3 years or more and the applicant has resided continuously in Japan for 1 year or more.

For Naturalization: A Naturalization application generally requires continuous residence in Japan for 5 years or more, and within that period, 3 years or more of residence in Japan on a work-related Status of Residence (such as Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services).

* As with a Permanent Residence application, the residence requirement is relaxed for spouses of Japanese nationals: the requirement is satisfied if 3 years have passed since the date of marriage and the applicant has continuously held an address in Japan for 1 year or more.

For a Permanent Residence application, residence in Japan of 10 years or more is generally required, while a Naturalization application can be made after 5 years. The residence period required on a work-related Status of Residence (such as Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services) is also 5 years for Permanent Residence and 3 years for Naturalization.

Tax Payment Requirements

For a Permanent Residence application, the payment status of resident tax and pension is checked, and not only must there be no unpaid amounts, but there must also be no delays in payment. For a Naturalization application, the payment status of resident tax and pension is similarly checked, but even if there have been delays in payment, approval may still be granted as long as the amounts have ultimately been paid in full.

Income Requirements

For a Permanent Residence application, an annual income of 3 million yen or more for 5 consecutive years is required, with an additional 200,000 to 300,000 yen per dependent. For a Naturalization application, approval can be obtained even if the applicant themselves has no income, as long as a family member living with them has income. Also, there is no problem if, viewed objectively, the household has sufficient income to support a life in Japan.

Differences After Approval

So far we have explained the differences between the Permanent Residence visa and Naturalization up to the point of approval; the following sections explain the differences after approval.

Regarding Nationality

In the case of the Permanent Residence visa, nationality does not change, but in the case of Naturalization, nationality becomes Japanese. The biggest difference between the Permanent Residence visa and Naturalization is, after all, whether nationality changes.

Regarding the Residence Card

With the Permanent Residence visa, the period of stay becomes indefinite, but the Residence Card must still be renewed once every 7 years. With Naturalization, the Residence Card is returned to the Immigration Bureau after approval, so you will no longer hold a Residence Card thereafter.

Regarding the Passport

With the Permanent Residence visa, you continue to use your home country’s passport, but with Naturalization, your passport changes to a Japanese passport, and your pre-Naturalization passport can no longer be used.

Regarding Your Name

With the Permanent Residence visa, your name does not change after approval, but with Naturalization, your name changes to the one requested at the time of application. Also, even if you wish to use your pre-Naturalization name, it cannot be written in Roman letters, so most people end up changing their names.

Regarding Family Register (Koseki)

The family register is a Japanese system granted only to those holding Japanese nationality. For this reason, no family register is created even when you obtain the Permanent Residence visa, but when you naturalize, a Japanese family register is created. A certified copy of the Japanese family register is always required when obtaining a passport.

Regarding Eligibility to Become a Japanese National Public Servant

In present-day Japan, only those holding Japanese nationality can become national public servants. In other words, foreign nationals are not even eligible to take the examination for becoming a Japanese police officer or Self-Defense Forces personnel. For this reason, holders of the Permanent Residence visa cannot become Japanese national public servants, but upon Naturalization, you can become a Japanese national public servant.

Regarding Voting Rights

This is a somewhat detailed point, but there is also a difference in voting rights. Voting rights are granted only to those holding Japanese nationality, so with the Permanent Residence visa there are no voting rights, but upon Naturalization, voting rights are granted and you can go to vote.

Summary: The Differences Between the Permanent Residence Visa and Naturalization

This page has explained the differences between the Permanent Residence visa and Naturalization. The single biggest difference is, after all, whether nationality changes. If you do not wish to change nationality, the Permanent Residence visa is recommended; if you are willing to change nationality, a Naturalization application is recommended. Holding Japanese nationality brings with it advantages such as the creation of a family register and the granting of voting rights. However, since changing nationality is a major decision, one approach is to first obtain the Permanent Residence visa and then consider Naturalization afterward.