Naturalization (Acquiring Japanese Nationality) After Permanent Residence: Key Points and Advantages

From Permanent Residence to Naturalization (Acquiring Japanese Nationality)

Foreign nationals who have obtained Permanent Residence no longer need to worry about periodic Status of Residence renewal procedures, making it easier for them to settle in Japan compared with other foreign nationals. However, the Permanent Residence visa is ultimately a qualification for foreign nationals to live in Japan, so it does not mean being treated by Japan in exactly the same way as a Japanese national. For this reason, many clients consider Naturalization after obtaining Permanent Residence. This page introduces the key points when applying for Naturalization from Permanent Residence and the advantages of Naturalization.

Key Points When Applying for Naturalization from Permanent Residence

When applying for Naturalization from Permanent Residence, the basic requirements are the same as for other cases, but there are some respects in which the situation is more advantageous than applying for Naturalization from other Statuses of Residence. The following sections explain the key points along the lines of the Naturalization requirements.

Requirements for Naturalization

Regarding Residence

The applicant must have continuously held an address in Japan for 5 years or more, and within those 5 years must have 3 years or more of work experience. Obtaining Permanent Residence in principle requires 10 years of residence. Therefore, if you already hold Permanent Residence, the residence requirement rarely becomes an issue. That said, caution is required if you have frequently left Japan after obtaining Permanent Residence.

Capacity Requirement

The applicant must be 20 years of age or older, and must also be 20 years of age or older under the law of their home country, which governs capacity. If you obtained Permanent Residence by satisfying the requirements on your own, you are almost certainly 20 years of age or older. In cases where Permanent Residence was obtained together with a parent, the child must be 20 years of age or older to apply for Naturalization.

Regarding Conduct

The applicant is required to be of good conduct. What qualifies someone as “of good conduct” is judged according to general social standards. A major difference from obtaining Permanent Residence is tax payment, which is one component of the good conduct requirement. As with Permanent Residence, the payment status of resident tax and pension is checked in a Naturalization application as well, but in a Naturalization application, approval may be granted even if there have been delays in payment, as long as the amounts have ultimately been paid in full. In addition, if you have repeated traffic violations or been arrested after obtaining Permanent Residence, you may run into trouble with this good conduct requirement at the time of a Naturalization application.

Regarding Livelihood

The applicant is required to be able to make a living from the assets or income of themselves, a spouse sharing the same household, or other relatives. For a Permanent Residence application, the application will not be approved if the applicant themselves has no income (excluding cases where the applicant applies together with a parent), but for a Naturalization application, approval can be obtained even if the applicant has no income, as long as a family member living with them has income. In addition, unlike for Permanent Residence, there is no problem as long as, viewed objectively, the household has sufficient income to support life in Japan.

Regarding Prevention of Dual Nationality

The prevention-of-dual-nationality requirement means that the person seeking to naturalize must either have no nationality, or must be required to lose their original nationality upon acquiring Japanese nationality. Obtaining Permanent Residence does not change your nationality, but upon Naturalization, your nationality changes to Japanese, and you must renounce your pre-Naturalization nationality.

Regarding Unlawful Organizations

The applicant must not have planned or advocated, on or after the date of enforcement of the Constitution of Japan, the destruction by violence of the Constitution of Japan or the government established under it, nor have formed or joined any political party or other organization that plans or advocates the same. If you joined an antisocial organization after obtaining Permanent Residence, Naturalization will not be approved.

Regarding Japanese Language Ability

Basic Japanese language ability is required. While there is no language requirement for a Permanent Residence application, a Naturalization application requires Japanese ability at approximately the second-grade elementary school level.

The Advantages of Naturalization

There are advantages to applying for Naturalization. The following lists the advantages that arise from naturalizing.

Advantages of Naturalization

From Permanent Residence to Naturalization (Acquiring Japanese Nationality)

This page has explained the key points and advantages of moving from Permanent Residence to Naturalization. Going from Permanent Residence to Naturalization is a major decision, as it means changing your nationality. On the other hand, the advantages gained are also numerous, and as a result, we receive many inquiries from clients who wish to move from Permanent Residence to Naturalization. Our office handles not only support for Permanent Residence applications but also Naturalization applications as a specialty, so please feel free to contact us.