Citizenship Through Parent (Jure Sanguinis)

For Births in Japan

When registering your birth at a municipal office within 14 days:

• Your birth certificate
• Proof of the Japanese parent's nationality — Japanese passport, family register (koseki tohon), or other official document
• Valid identification of the Japanese parent — Current passport or national ID
• Marriage certificate — If applicable, to establish the legal parent-child relationship

For Births Abroad — Notification of Birth and Nationality Retention

When reporting your birth to a Japanese embassy or consulate within three months:

• Your birth certificate — Must be apostilled (certified under the Hague Apostille Convention) and translated into Japanese by a professional translator
• Japanese parent's birth certificate or proof of citizenship — Passport, family register (koseki tohon), or other official document (apostilled and translated if issued by a foreign government)
• Valid identification of the Japanese parent — Current Japanese passport or national ID
• Marriage certificate — If applicable (apostilled and translated if issued by a foreign government)
• Notification of intention to retain Japanese nationality — Form provided by the embassy; part of the birth report

For Acquisition by Notification (Out-of-Wedlock Children)

When filing for citizenship acquisition through acknowledgment of a Japanese father:

• Duly accomplished acknowledgment report form — Available from the Japanese embassy or consulate
• Certified true copy of your birth certificate — Apostilled and translated into Japanese
• Your residence certificate — Apostilled and translated into Japanese
• Proof that you have no other nationality — Or documentation of your mother's nationality
• Original valid identification of your father — Current passport or national ID
• Your mother's certificate of non-record of marriage — Or equivalent document proving the parents were not married at the time of your birth

Apostille and Translation Requirements

All documents issued by foreign governments must be:

• Apostilled — Certified under the Hague Apostille Convention by the issuing authority in the country where the document was issued (not by the Japanese embassy)
• Translated into Japanese — By a professional translator; the translation should include the translator's name, date, and certification

The specific requirements vary by jurisdiction. Confirm with the relevant Japanese embassy or consulate before submitting documents.

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