Eligibility quiz
Has a biological parent who was a Japanese citizen when you were born legally acknowledged you as their child?
Benefits
Benefits for your childBenefits for your child
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 or District Legal Affairs Bureau responsible for your address in Japan. If you live abroad but have a residence in Japan, use that Japanese address.
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Arrange a consultation
You or your legal representative should call the office to reserve a consultation before visiting.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I arrange a consultation for acquisition of nationality by acknowledged child at the Legal Affairs Bureau in your city, Japan?”
Pick up the form
You or your legal representative can get the paper Notification of acquisition of nationality form from the office.
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Fill in the form
If you are 15 or older, fill in and sign the form yourself. If you are under 15, your parent with parental authority, guardian or other legal representative does this for you.
Get form helpSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in the notification for acquisition of nationality by acknowledged child in Japan?”
Gather your documents
You or your legal representative should prepare the documents required by the office.
See required documentsHand in your notification
If you are 15 or older, bring your signed form, documents and identification to the office in person; if you are under 15, your legal representative does this for you. There is no fee, and you cannot submit the notification by mail.
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Wait for the decision
Wait while the Ministry of Justice examines your notification. You or your legal representative should answer any questions and provide any extra records the office requests.
See what happens nextSearches DuckDuckGo for “What happens after I submit a notification for acquisition of nationality by acknowledged child in Japan?”
Receive your certificate
After approval, you or your legal representative will receive a certificate showing that you acquired Japanese nationality. You can then arrange to have your nationality entered in the family register before applying for a Japanese passport.
Find certificate detailsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I receive my certificate after acquisition of nationality by acknowledged child in Japan?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificate
Get a document showing your birth, such as your birth certificate, from the office that issued it.
Parent's citizenship records
Get your Japanese parent's complete family-register history from birth, including any removed family registers, or certified full-register extracts. These records show your parent's Japanese citizenship and their acknowledgment of you.
Parents' statements *
Ask your parents for statements explaining how your Japanese parent came to acknowledge you. If a statement cannot be provided for an unavoidable reason, submit a written explanation; the office may also ask for other evidence of your parents' contact and your parent-child relationship.
* Only if your Japanese parent's acknowledgment of you has not been established by a final court judgment.
May need translationParents' travel records *
Provide evidence of both parents' travel history around the time your mother became pregnant with you. If the evidence cannot be provided for an unavoidable reason, submit a written explanation.
* Only if your Japanese parent's acknowledgment of you has not been established by a final court judgment.
May need translationAcknowledgment court judgment *
Provide the final court judgment establishing your Japanese parent's acknowledgment of you. The parents' statements, travel records and other evidence of your parent-child relationship are not required when this judgment exists.
* Only if a court has made a final judgment establishing your Japanese parent's acknowledgment of you.
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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