Eligibility quiz
Are you married to a Japanese citizen?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Japanese passport
Japanese citizens can get a Japanese passport for international travel and entry to Japan.
Passports normally last 10 years for applicants aged 18 or over and five years for those under 18.
Live in Japan for life
Japanese citizens can live anywhere in Japan without a residence permit or renewal.
They are also recorded in a family register.
Study in Japan
Japanese citizens can attend school or university in Japan without immigration permission.
Work in Japan
Japanese citizens can take any lawful job, run a business and change activities without immigration permission.
Visit other countries
Japanese passport holders can visit some destinations without a visa or get one on arrival for a short stay, depending on the destination’s rules.
Get help abroad
Japanese embassies and consulates can help citizens abroad after accidents, crime, disasters, conflict, terrorism or kidnapping.
They can issue passports and other documents, but cannot pay all costs or override local courts.
Vote in elections
Japanese citizens can vote in national elections from age 18 if they meet the election rules.
To vote from abroad, they must register as an overseas voter and receive an overseas voter certificate.
Use public healthcare
People living in Japan are generally covered by public health insurance through an employer or their municipality.
Use social support
People aged 20–59 with an address in Japan are generally covered by the National Pension; payments depend on contributions and eligibility.
Japanese citizens aged 20–64 living abroad can generally join voluntarily, with some exceptions.
Eligible residents may also qualify for welfare and other benefits.
How to apply
Applying at a local officeApplying at a local office
Find your local office
Find the Legal Affairs Bureau that handles naturalization applications for your address in Japan.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Japan Legal Affairs Bureau handles naturalization applications for your city?”
Book a consultation
Call your Legal Affairs Bureau to reserve a naturalization consultation before you visit.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I book a Japan naturalization consultation at the Legal Affairs Bureau for your city?”
Pick up the forms
Get the naturalization permission application and the other forms from your Legal Affairs Bureau.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Japan Legal Affairs Bureau handles naturalization applications for your city?”
Fill in the forms
Complete and sign the application and other forms truthfully. If you are under 15, your parent or other legal representative applies for you.
Get help with formsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in the Japan naturalization permission application and supporting forms?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the Legal Affairs Bureau.
See required documentsAttend your consultation
Bring the documents you have to your reserved consultation at the Legal Affairs Bureau. Follow its instructions to complete or correct your forms and obtain any additional documents.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Japan Legal Affairs Bureau handles naturalization applications for your city?”
Hand in your application
Bring your completed application and supporting documents to your Legal Affairs Bureau and hand them in personally. If you are under 15, your parent or other legal representative applies for you; there is no application fee.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Japan Legal Affairs Bureau handles naturalization applications for your city?”
Wait for the decision
Wait while your application is examined, and give the Legal Affairs Bureau any further documents or explanations it asks for.
Learn about the waitSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does a Japan naturalization permission application take and how do I respond to requests for more documents?”
Create your family register
Once you are approved, submit the documents needed to create your Japanese family register, following the Legal Affairs Bureau's instructions. You can then apply for a Japanese passport.
Learn about family registrationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I create a Japanese family register after Japan naturalization permission?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Spouse's family register
Get a full family register transcript for your Japanese spouse from the municipality that holds the register. The bureau may also ask for register records for relevant Japanese former spouses, children, parents or other relatives.
Birth certificates *
Get the birth records the bureau asks for to show your family relationships. If applicable, add adoption, parentage, custody or death records; for a court decision, include proof that it is final where applicable.
* Only if your bureau asks for birth or family relationship records.
May need translationMarriage certificates *
Get the records the bureau asks for to show your marriage and any relevant earlier marriage. If applicable, add divorce records, Japanese notification-record certificates or court decisions, with proof that a decision is final where applicable.
* Only if your bureau asks for marriage or other family relationship records.
May need translationSpouse's residence records *
Get your Japanese spouse's residence records covering the marriage, including former residence records if needed. Ask the municipality that holds each record for the certificates your bureau requests.
* Only if your bureau asks for your spouse's residence history.
May need translationConsiderations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Citizenship can be lost
Citizenship ends if you voluntarily acquire or choose another nationality, or renounce Japanese citizenship.
People with multiple nationalities must choose one before 20 if acquired before 18, or within two years if acquired later; failure after a minister’s notice can lead to loss.
A child born abroad with two nationalities loses Japanese citizenship from birth if it is not reserved when the birth is reported.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
r/JapanVisa
English Reddit group for people interested in Japanese citizenship and visas
Join on RedditFor Foreigners Living In Japan
English Facebook group for people living in Japan interested in Japanese local life
Join on Facebookr/movingtojapan
English Reddit group for people living in Japan interested in Japanese visas
Join on RedditConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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