Japanese citizenship: everything you need to know

Do you live and work in Japan — or have Japanese heritage? You might be interested in how to get Japanese citizenship, or whether Japanese dual citizenship with the US is possible. This guide has you covered.

We’ll walk through how to get Japanese citizenship, and how that would impact your status as a US national, to help you figure out whether applying for Japanese nationality is right for you. We’ll also highlight Wise as a smart way to save money when you hold, send and spend foreign currencies — perfect if you’re planning on connecting with your Japanese roots.

📑 Table of Contents
Can you become a citizen of Japan? How to get Japanese citizenship Required documents for naturalization Is dual citizenship allowed in Japan? Alternatives to becoming a Japanese citizen

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Can you become a citizen of Japan?

Japanese citizenship is governed by the Japanese Nationality Law. Under this law, there are provisions for people to become Japanese citizens in a number of ways:

1. You can become a Japanese national by birth
2. You can become a Japanese national by acquiring citizenship as a child
3. You can become a Japanese national by naturalization

It’s also possible to be granted Japanese citizenship due to rendering meritorious service to Japan — although this is not commonly used.

The eligibility criteria for each path to Japanese citizenship are complex, so you’ll need to double check the full details for your situation. However, broadly speaking you can become a Japanese national in the following ways:

Eligibility type	Criteria
Japanese national by birth	Your parent/parents must hold Japanese citizenship at the time of your birth Children born in Japan with no known parents are also eligible for Japanese citizenship
Japanese national by acquiring citizenship as a child	People under 20 years of age with a Japanese parent or parents can ask to be granted Japanese citizenship even if they did not get it at birth. This only applies in the case that the applicant has not been a Japanese citizen previously
Japanese national by naturalization	You must have lived in Japan for 3 - 5 years depending on the situation You must be able to support yourself in Japan You must be of good conduct You must be prepared to lose or rescind your previous nationality

How to get Japanese citizenship

Let’s take a look at how to naturalize as a Japanese citizen.

To become a Japanese citizen you’ll need the permission of the Minister of Justice. However, your journey will start at your local Legal Affairs Bureau, assuming you’re in Japan already. If you’re not in Japan yet, you should contact your local Japanese embassy or consulate for advice².

🎯 Here are the basic steps you’ll need to take if you’re naturalizing as a Japanese citizen within Japan:
1. Gather the full set of documents to support your application
2. Visit your local Legal Affairs Bureau to file your application
3. The application will be checked and you’ll be invited to an interview at the Legal Affairs Bureau
4. If your application is approved locally it is passed to the Minister of Justice to confirm your permission to naturalize
5. Your naturalization is officially announced in the Gazette
6. You’ll receive a naturalization certificate and will need to hand back your alien registration card
7. Add your name to your family registration and make any changes to your legal status required by your bank and other organizations

Required documents for naturalization

Pulling together all the documents needed to start the naturalization process can take time. You’ll need the following:

Completed application and passport photo Details and documents about your relatives, including proof of your relationship to your parents or spouse if your application is based on family ties Written explanation of why you want to naturalize, in Japanese Your resume and details of how you will support yourself financially Residence certificate and proof of residence history Proof of original nationality Evidence you’ve fully paid your Japanese taxes

Note: double check the exact requirements for your situation early on in the naturalization process, as the paperwork needed can vary a little depending on the basis of your application.

Is dual citizenship allowed in Japan?

OK, so now on to one of the key questions: can a US citizen have dual citizenship with Japan?

You may already know that the US allows dual citizenship — however, this relies on the other country involved also acknowledging dual citizen status. Japan does not allow dual citizenship, and so you can not jointly hold US and Japanese nationality³.

If you’re born in the US to Japanese parents, and therefore hold US citizenship automatically, you’ll have to choose between acknowledging your Japanese nationality, or retaining your US citizenship before you’re 22 years old. If you are a Japanese citizen and you naturalize as a US citizen you’ll have to formally renounce your Japanese citizenship by notifying your local Japanese embassy of your change in status.

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Connecting with your Japanese origins? Wise can help you out

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With Wise you’ll be able to send international payments all over the world, using the real mid-market exchange rate and for just a low, transparent fee. You can also choose to open a free online Wise Multi-currency Account to hold and manage balances in 50+ currencies, spend with your linked debit card, and switch from one currency to another whenever you need to in the Wise app. You’ll get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees, every time — which can mean you save 3x compared to using your regular bank for foreign currency transactions.

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Alternatives to becoming a Japanese citizen

If you’re not ready to follow the path to Japanese citizenship you can still live and work in Japan as long as you have the correct visas and paperwork in place. The best way for you to get to Japan will depend on your personal situation, whether you’re planning on working or studying, and how long you think you’ll stay. You can get information and resources online, and from the Japanese Embassy in the US⁴.

If you’re already in Japan on a visa, and are looking to stay for the long term, it might be worth checking out if you can apply to be a Japanese permanent resident.

This status comes with a few benefits over holding a visa or work permit. You won’t need to reapply every year or two, you can work for any employer you like without needing to adjust your visa status, and you may even get favorable treatment from Japanese banks to get loans and credit more easily.

Intrigued? Learn all about becoming a Japanese permanent resident

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Unfortunately you will not be able to hold Japanese dual citizenship with the US. If you’re entitled to both US and Japanese citizenship at birth, you’ll have to choose one or the other by the time you’re 22 — and if you naturalize as a US citizen, you’ll need to renounce your Japanese nationality at the same time. Think carefully about your preferences and the options available to you — taking professional advice is often a good idea, so you’ll know the decisions you make now are right for you now and in the long term.

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Sources:

1. MOJ - The nationality law
2. MOJ - Nationality Q&A
3. MOJ - Choice of nationality
4. US Embassy - Japan

Sources checked on 08.25.2021