Naturalization Requirements in Japan ｜Key Conditions for Obtaining Japanese Citizenship

Under Japan’s Nationality Act, there are seven requirements for “ordinary naturalization” (standard naturalization) for foreign nationals who wish to obtain Japanese nationality.
These requirements are not approved automatically just because formal criteria are met; they are assessed comprehensively through the Legal Affairs Bureau’s review process.

On this page, we explain the details of the seven requirements for naturalization and what points are actually examined during the review, as specifically as possible.
Please use this as a guideline to check “Do I meet the conditions?” and “What should I improve or prepare?”

1. What Are the 7 Requirements for Naturalization in Japan?

Naturalization applications in Japan are broadly categorized into three types: “Ordinary Naturalization,” “Simplified Naturalization,” and “Special Naturalization.” However, in practice, most applicants are examined based on the requirements for “Ordinary Naturalization.”

The seven requirements for ordinary naturalization are as follows:

• Residence requirement: whether you have continuously resided in Japan
• Capacity requirement: whether there are any issues with age or legal capacity
• Good conduct requirement: whether you live in compliance with laws and social rules
• Livelihood requirement: whether you have a stable economic foundation
• Prevention of dual nationality: how your relationship with your home-country nationality will be resolved
• Ideology requirement: whether you do not deny Japan’s basic legal order
• Japanese language ability requirement: whether you have sufficient Japanese skills for daily life

In practice, these seven items are not examined separately in isolation. Instead, they are assessed comprehensively from the perspective of whether you can live stably in Japan over the long term and whether you can integrate into Japanese society without issues.

2. Residence Requirement: Continuous Residence in Japan

Under the residence requirement, authorities examine whether you have continuously lived in Japan and whether your actual base of daily life is truly in Japan. Under the Nationality Act, the basic guideline is “having a domicile in Japan continuously for five years or more.”

Importantly, it is not sufficient simply to hold a residence card with a validity of five years or longer. What matters is the reality of your life in Japan. For example, the following points are closely reviewed:

• Whether you have repeated long-term stays outside Japan
• Whether resident registration (moving notifications) has been properly handled
• Whether your family, workplace, and overall center of life are based in Japan

In certain cases—such as applicants married to Japanese nationals or those born and raised in Japan for many years—the requirement may be met with a shorter period than five years. However, in such cases, other requirements (such as good conduct and livelihood) tend to be examined more strictly.

3. Capacity Requirement: Age and Legal Capacity

The capacity requirement examines whether you are legally capable of taking responsibility for your own actions. In principle, you must be at least 20 years old at the time of application and also be recognized as an adult under the laws of your home country.

That said, the legal age of adulthood and rules concerning marriage differ by country. For example, some countries recognize adulthood from age 18, or have special rules for married minors. As a result, detailed exceptions may apply depending on your circumstances.

Compared to other requirements, the capacity requirement is relatively straightforward. However, since it is judged by referencing both Japan’s Nationality Act and your home-country law, applicants with multiple nationalities or complex marital histories (marriage, divorce, remarriage) should carefully organize their legal status in advance.

4. Good Conduct Requirement: Legal Compliance and Daily Behavior

The good conduct requirement is one of the most important factors in a naturalization application. It covers not only criminal matters, but also your overall attitude toward compliance with laws and rules in daily life.

For example, the following matters are subject to review:

• Whether you have any criminal record or history of prosecution
• Your record of traffic violations or accidents, and payment of fines or penalties
• Filing and payment status of taxes such as income tax, resident tax, and consumption tax
• Enrollment and payment status for social insurance, including health insurance and pension

This review applies not only to employees, but also to company directors and self-employed individuals, whose business-related tax compliance and bookkeeping are also examined.
Even minor violations do not automatically lead to rejection; instead, authorities assess the frequency and nature of violations, whether there is evidence of reflection, and your subsequent lifestyle comprehensively.

5. Livelihood Requirement: Whether You Have a Stable Living Foundation

Under the livelihood requirement, the authorities confirm whether you can continue a stable life in Japan in the future. What matters most is not only your income for a single year, but also “continuity” and the “overall balance of the household.”

Specifically, the following points are often checked:

• Whether you have continuous employment and/or a proven track record of business activities
• Whether your income is balanced with household size and living expenses
• Whether repayment of debts or loans is reasonable and not excessive
• Whether job changes or major fluctuations in income occur too frequently

In dual-income households, the spouse’s income may also be considered when evaluating the livelihood situation. Even if the income level is borderline, stability can sometimes be supported by savings or family assistance. For this reason, there is no uniform rule such as “you must earn at least X yen per year.”

6. Prevention of Dual Nationality: How to Handle Your Home-Country Nationality

Japan generally does not allow dual nationality. Therefore, when you obtain Japanese nationality through naturalization, how you handle your home-country nationality becomes a critical point.

In many countries, the fact that you “naturalized in Japan” does not automatically cause you to lose your original nationality. Separate procedures—such as filing a declaration of renunciation or completing formal withdrawal steps—may be required.
Whether and how those procedures can be done varies greatly by country, for example:

• Countries where renunciation is relatively straightforward
• Countries where renunciation takes significant time and/or cost
• Countries where renunciation is difficult or effectively not recognized under the system

If there are circumstances that make renunciation difficult, a tailored approach may be considered based on those circumstances. That is why it is important to consult the Legal Affairs Bureau in advance while checking the rules and practices of your home country.

7. Ideology Requirement: Not Denying Japan’s Basic Legal Order

Under the ideology requirement, authorities confirm whether you have any ideology or history of activities that fundamentally deny Japan’s Constitution or legal order. This is not about whether you support or oppose a particular political party or policy. Rather, the concern is an attitude aimed at changing the system through violence or illegal acts.

In ordinary life, voting in elections, expressing opinions, or participating in lawful demonstrations rarely becomes an issue. If you previously belonged to an extremist group or have a history of radical activities, the authorities may review the details, timing, and your current situation on a case-by-case basis.

8. Japanese Language Ability Requirement: Reading/Writing and Conversation Needed for Daily Life

Japanese language ability is also an important requirement for naturalization. As a general guideline, applicants are expected to have reading, writing, and conversational skills roughly equivalent to a third-grade elementary school student in Japan.

In practice, many Legal Affairs Bureaus conduct a simple Japanese test and/or an interview. During the test or interview, they may check items such as:

• Reading and writing hiragana and katakana
• Reading and writing basic kanji
• Reading short sentences and answering questions about them
• Whether you can explain yourself, your family, and your work in Japanese

Even if you can converse in Japanese in daily life, many people feel less confident about reading and writing. If you are worried about the test, it is reassuring to practice basic literacy using Japanese classes, correspondence courses, or commercially available workbooks.

9. Naturalization Requirements Q&A

As a general guideline, “continuous residence in Japan for 5 years or more” is used. However, exceptions may apply for those married to Japanese nationals, those born in Japan, or those who have received long-term education in Japan, and approval may be possible with a shorter period. The review is comprehensive and does not rely on residence period alone—it is assessed in balance with the other requirements.

Changing jobs itself is not automatically a problem. However, because “income stability” and “continuity” are important, frequent job changes over short periods may require an explanation. If your most recent employment is stable, there are cases where it does not become an issue.

You can still submit an application even if there were unpaid periods. However, health insurance and pension are closely related to the “good conduct requirement,” so it is important to organize your enrollment and payment history in advance and show evidence of improvement. If the unpaid period is long, supplemental documents or a written explanation may be requested.

Japanese language ability is one of the requirements for naturalization. Generally, reading, writing, and conversational skills at about a third-grade elementary school level are expected. If you have weak areas, practicing hiragana/katakana and basic kanji often provides sufficient preparation in many cases.

Depending on the situation, a family may be able to apply at the same time, or separate applications may be required. In particular, procedures differ depending on a child’s nationality, place of birth, and residence history. It is important to choose the appropriate application method based on your family structure.

10. Summary of Naturalization Requirements: Exceptions, Common Refusal Reasons, and Preparation Tips

The seven requirements introduced above are the “general standards” under Japan’s Nationality Act. However, in actual practice, decisions are often made flexibly depending on individual circumstances, and the requirements are not always applied in a uniform manner.

■ Some requirements have exceptions and may be relaxed depending on your situation

For applicants married to Japanese nationals, those who were born and raised in Japan, or those who have received long-term education in Japan, “simplified naturalization” may apply, under which certain requirements can be relaxed.

Therefore, you do not need to jump to conclusions such as “I cannot apply because I have not reached 5 years of residence,” or “I will definitely be refused because I had unpaid pension periods.” First, accurately organize your current situation and confirm which requirements should be strengthened and how.

■ Cases where an application may be refused or take a long time even if the requirements appear to be met

Even when the seven requirements seem to be met on the surface, an application may be refused or become a long-term review due to reasons such as:

• Inconsistencies between what is declared and the actual living situation
• Frequent job changes or income fluctuations that make stability difficult to evaluate
• Insufficient explanation regarding tax or social insurance payment status
• Discrepancies in certificates related to family relationships (marriage history, children)
• Past issues where resident registration or immigration status was not properly handled

Because many of these issues can be resolved through advance organization and improvement, preparation before filing is extremely important.

■ If you have concerns, consult a professional early

Naturalization is not just about submitting documents. The outcome often depends on how you prove each of the seven requirements and how you supplement or explain disadvantages—i.e., how you structure your “explanation.”

Our office provides individualized advice by organizing each client’s residence history, tax and insurance status, family structure, and employment history, identifying which requirements may become issues and how to prepare. If you are considering naturalization, consulting a professional to confirm whether you meet the requirements can help you proceed more reliably and efficiently with your preparation.

11.Related Pages Often Read Together with Naturalization Applications

[2025 Edition] Japan Naturalization Guide | Requirements, Documents & Application Process

A clear and comprehensive guide covering the latest 2025 requirements, required documents, key review points, application flow, and interview preparation. Also explains nationality renunciation considerations, FAQs, and three service plans.

Naturalization Guide for Spouses of Japanese Nationals

Naturalization through marriage generally requires 3+ years of marriage history and 1+ year of residence in Japan (as a rule). Learn key review points such as the “genuineness of marriage,” “financial stability,” and “Japanese language ability,” plus how cases with children are assessed and common refusal patterns.

Naturalization from a Work Visa (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services)

Detailed explanation for foreign employees: requirements, required years, income standards, and how changing jobs affects screening. Covers differences based on employment style and tax status, the latest trends in review timelines, and practical strategies to avoid refusal.

Naturalization Guide for Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa Holders

For applicants considering naturalization from HSP (Type 1 / Type 2). Explains situations where screening may be relatively favorable, and factors that require extra caution (e.g., research-track roles, job stability, and continuity of activities).

Naturalization Guide for Business Manager Visa Holders

Experts explain common stumbling points for business owners: business stability, tax compliance, executive compensation design, and social insurance handling. Includes review tendencies reflected from 2025 onward.

Naturalization Guide for Permanent Residents

The final step for permanent residents to become Japanese nationals. Organizes required documents, review timelines, and how decisions differ by family structure, plus preparation to avoid refusal and a clear comparison of “Permanent Residence vs Naturalization.”

Naturalization Guide for Long-Term Resident Visa Holders

For Long-Term Residents (spouse-based long-term, child of a Japanese national, stepchild, Nikkei-related statuses, etc.). Explains key requirements, documents, what examiners focus on, and Japanese language expectations by typical case type.

Naturalization Guide for Special Permanent Residents

Covers background of the制度, screening characteristics, how to write the reason statement for naturalization, and important notes about nationality choices within the family—tailored for Special Permanent Residents.

More In-Depth Questions About Japan Naturalization

Naturalization vs Permanent Residence in Japan: A Complete Comparison (2025)
Can You Apply for Naturalization with Less Than 3 Years of Work? Latest Standards & Approval Points
Naturalization and Time Outside Japan: Guidelines for “5+ Continuous Years” and Key Cautions
Naturalization Required Documents List: 2025 Latest Checklist by Case Type
Naturalization Requirements (7 Conditions): Expert Guide to Obtaining Japanese Nationality
My child has dual nationality (Japan & the U.S.). Are any procedures required?
Should You Hire an Administrative Scrivener for Naturalization? Benefits, Fees, and How to Choose
Income Requirements for Naturalization: How Much Is Needed and How “Ability to Support a Living” Is Judged
Traffic Violations & Minor Offenses in Naturalization: Do Parking Tickets or Criminal Records Matter?
Required Japanese Level for Naturalization: Speaking, Reading/Writing, and Interview Benchmarks
Are Taxes, Insurance, and Pension Critical for Naturalization? Does Non-Payment Lead to Refusal?
Renunciation of Prior Nationality: Country-by-Country Guidance (China, Korea, U.S., and More)
Residence Years & Time Abroad for Naturalization: 5-Year / 3-Year Rules and Key Judgment Points
Reasons for Naturalization Refusal: Common “Rejected at Intake” Cases and Timing to Reapply

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