Who this is for
- Foreign nationals who wish to acquire Japanese nationality
- People considering naturalization as the spouse or child of a Japanese national, for example
- People who live on family income or operate a business
Main application and consultation offices:The nationality section of the Legal Affairs Bureau or District Legal Affairs Bureau with jurisdiction over your place of residence. In Tokyo, this is the Nationality Division or the office responsible for nationality matters at the relevant branch. This is not an application to the Regional Immigration Services Bureau.
Naturalization Requirements and Family-Based Differences
The general requirements under the Nationality Act include having had a lawful domicile in Japan continuously for at least five years, being at least 18 years old and having reached the age of majority under the law of your country of origin, and having good conduct. Conduct is assessed not only by criminal history but also by factors such as tax payment records and whether you have caused trouble for society. Other requirements include being able to maintain a livelihood, in principle losing your former nationality through naturalization, and not having plotted to overthrow the Japanese government by violence or joined an organization that does so.
Livelihood is assessed on the basis of relatives who share living expenses. Even if you have no income of your own, you may meet the requirement if you can maintain a stable life through the assets or skills of your spouse or another family member. Certain people, including spouses and children of Japanese nationals and people born in Japan, have some requirements relaxed under Articles 6 through 8 of the Nationality Act. Eligibility for these provisions does not mean that permission is automatic.
Supporting materials:[1]
Changes to screening procedures in 2026—distinguishing five years from ten years
From April 1, 2026, the naturalization screening process for assessing integration into society has, as a general rule, required at least 10 years of residence. This does not mean that the general five-year domicile requirement in the law has been amended to 10 years. Japanese-language ability sufficient for everyday conversation, reading, and writing without difficulty is also required.
The period over which tax and social insurance premium payment records are checked has also been extended. Do not assess the prospects of an application based only on years of residence; review residence history, the foundation for your livelihood, and payment records together. Even if you are eligible for relaxed requirements, confirm with the Legal Affairs Bureau that has jurisdiction how the 10-year practice applies to you and how your case will be handled.
Organize documents according to nationality, family, and occupation
The following are examples of main documents, not a complete list of documents required from everyone. Certificates from your country of origin vary in name and how they are obtained depending on your nationality, and the required scope also varies according to your history, such as marriage, divorce, or adoption. Before obtaining documents, confirm how translations of foreign-language documents are handled, how long certificates remain valid, and the required years and number of copies.
The Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau provides guidance by nationality. Refugees and stateless persons should make a separate inquiry. Tokyo’s guidance asks applicants, as a general rule, to prepare one original and one copy. For documents whose originals cannot be submitted, such as passports, it asks for two copies and presentation of the original. Do not assume that the number of copies is uniform nationwide; follow the instructions of the office where you apply.
Application by the applicant and acquisition of nationality after permission
The application is made in writing. Applicants aged 15 or older must appear in person at the office handling the application; for applicants under 15, their legal representative must appear. Assistance with preparing documents does not replace the requirement to appear in person. Naturalization takes effect on the date the Minister of Justice’s permission is announced in the Official Gazette. After permission is granted, complete any required procedures, such as family registry procedures, in accordance with the Legal Affairs Bureau’s instructions.
Checking required documents and where to obtain them
The documents listed are representative examples. Required materials vary depending on the type of application, such as an application for a Certificate of Eligibility, change, or extension, as well as your current status of residence, affiliated organization, nationality, and family relationships. Additional materials may be requested for individual cases.
Main documents to be prepared by the applicant
Application for Permission to Naturalize
- Purpose
- Clarifies that the applicant wishes to acquire Japanese nationality and sets out the application details.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Prepare using the form prescribed by the Legal Affairs Bureau.
- Points to check
- According to the Tokyo guidance, leave the application date and signature fields blank, as they are completed when the application is received.
Supporting materials:[2]
Family Overview and Personal History
- Purpose
- Organize family relationships and personal history, including education and employment.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Complete the Legal Affairs Bureau’s forms based on the applicant’s documents.
- Points to check
- In Tokyo, prepare Personal History Forms 1 and 2. Check the details against identity documents and other records from the applicant’s home country.
Statement of Reasons for Naturalization
- Purpose
- Explain in the applicant’s own words why they wish to naturalize.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The applicant must write this document by hand.
- Points to check
- According to the Tokyo guidance, it may not be prepared on a computer or written by another person. Special Permanent Residents do not need to prepare it.
Supporting materials:[2]
Overview of Livelihood and Overview of Business
- Purpose
- Explain living expenses, assets, and the actual circumstances of any business.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Prepare using the Legal Affairs Bureau’s forms.
- Points to check
- Prepare Livelihood Overview Forms 1 and 2. The Business Overview is required for people who operate a sole proprietorship or corporation.
Supporting materials:[2]
Documents showing family and civil status in the applicant’s home country and Japan
Certificate of Nationality / Passport Copy
- Purpose
- Confirm the applicant’s current nationality and travel history, among other details.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Ask the relevant authority in the applicant’s home country, a diplomatic mission in Japan, or another appropriate office how to obtain the certificate of nationality. Provide the passports in the applicant’s possession.
- Points to check
- Obtain a certificate of nationality that has an expiry date only after receiving instructions from the person in charge. In Tokyo, the required passport documents include the pages used in all passports, including expired ones.
Supporting materials:[3]
Certificates of Birth, Marriage, Divorce, and Family Relationships
- Purpose
- Substantiate the applicant’s civil status and that of their parents, siblings, and other relatives.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The issuing authority specified in the guidance for the applicant’s nationality, such as the civil registration authority in their home country.
- Points to check
- If the applicant has never been married, their own marriage certificate is not required. Documents relating to parents or children, and certificates of adoption or similar matters, may also be required.
Supporting materials:[3]
Copies of family register and removed family register records, certificates of matters recorded in filed notifications, and similar documents
- Purpose
- Show relationships with Japanese relatives and civil-status matters reported in Japan.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Obtain family register documents from the municipal office for the registered domicile, and certificates relating to filed notifications from the municipal office where the notification was submitted.
- Points to check
- Check these if the applicant has a Japanese spouse, a relative who has naturalized, or similar circumstances. If a filed notification is no longer kept, consult about alternative documents.
Supporting materials:[3]
Documents concerning livelihood and payments to be obtained from employers, government offices, and other organizations
Employment Certificates and Pay Slips; Business and Asset Documents
- Purpose
- Show the actual income and assets available to support the applicant’s livelihood.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Employers, financial institutions, Legal Affairs Bureaus handling registrations, government offices responsible for business permits and licenses, and other relevant organizations.
- Points to check
- For employees, documents include an employment certificate and pay records for the most recent month. For company officers and business owners, registration and permit documents are also checked. Prepare documents for people who share the applicant’s livelihood as well.
Supporting materials:[3]
Taxation and Tax Payment Certificates, Withholding Tax Statements, Income Tax Returns, and similar documents
- Purpose
- Confirm income and tax payment status.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Municipal offices, prefectural tax offices, tax offices, and employers. Provide copies of tax returns retained by the applicant.
- Points to check
- The Tokyo guidance requests multiple years of documents relating to resident tax and other taxes. The applicable tax years depend on the application date, and documents relating to income tax, corporate tax, and other taxes may also be required depending on filing obligations and the form of business.
Health Insurance Eligibility Information and Documents Showing Pension and Other Payments
- Purpose
- Confirm enrollment in insurance and proper payment of social insurance premiums.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The relevant insurer, municipal office, pension office, Nenkin Net, receipts kept by the applicant, and other sources.
- Points to check
- According to the Tokyo guidance, the applicable payment documents cover the most recent two years. Requirements vary depending on the insurance system, head of household, and dependent status. Follow instructions on masking identification numbers as well.
Supporting materials:[3]
Consultation and application preparation process
- 1
1. Confirm the responsible office and how to consult it
Find the nationality-related office responsible for the applicant’s address and ask what to prepare for the initial consultation. In Tokyo, consultations are by telephone appointment, and a questionnaire and other materials must be prepared in advance.
Supporting materials:[2]
- 2
2. Confirm the requirements and scope of documents to collect
Organize information about residence history, family relationships, work, livelihood, and payment status. Check current review practices and the documents required for the applicant’s nationality. Time the acquisition of certificates with expiry dates appropriately.
- 3
3. Prepare the documents and submit the application in person
Check the application documents against the certificates and prepare the required number of copies in the specified order. In Tokyo, the applicant signs the oath when the application is received. For applicants under 15, the legal representative submits the application.
- 4
4. Respond to inquiries during review and follow guidance after approval
We respond to requests from the Legal Affairs Bureau for confirmation, such as requests for additional documents. We check the approval notice and the official gazette announcement, then proceed with procedures related to the family register and other matters in accordance with the instructions of the responsible office.
Points to check before applying
- Meeting the general requirements and assembling the documents does not guarantee approval. Do not decide for yourself whether the general 10-year practice or an applicable relaxation of the requirements applies to you; check your individual circumstances with the Legal Affairs Bureau.
- Rules on loss of original nationality vary by country. Because there is a risk of becoming stateless, do not decide for yourself whether or when to renounce your nationality; check with the Legal Affairs Bureau and the relevant authority in your home country.
This page provides general information about the system and does not determine individual cases or guarantee permission or approval. Required documents and requirements vary depending on individual circumstances. When applying, check the latest official information and consult an administrative scrivener about the procedures suited to your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I naturalize if I have lived in Japan for five years?
Five years is the general residence requirement under the Nationality Act. From April 2026, operational practice for reviewing integration into society requires, as a general rule, at least 10 years of residence. Each case is assessed individually, taking other requirements into account as well.
Can I apply even if I have no income of my own?
The livelihood requirement is assessed based on the household of relatives who share living expenses. If you can live stably on the income or assets of a spouse or other family member, you may meet the requirement. We also review that person's income and payment records.
If my family member naturalizes, do I not need to apply myself?
If family members also wish to acquire Japanese nationality, we check each person's requirements and application. Even when preparing applications for several people together, the Tokyo guidance calls for preparing and organizing a separate application form for each person.
Official Immigration and Legal Affairs Sources
Check the following official pages for application forms and the latest required submission materials. Official materials are displayed in Japanese or other languages provided by each organization.
- [1] Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau: Naturalization
- [2] Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau: For those wishing to consult about naturalization (initial consultation)
- [3] Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau: Documents to attach to an application for permission to naturalize (nationals of other countries and regions)
- [4] Ministry of Justice: Summary of the Minister of Justice's press conference after the Cabinet meeting (March 27, 2026 — stricter naturalization screening)