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.

Learn more about Wise

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:

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.

Required documents for naturalization

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

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.

Connecting with your Japanese origins? Wise can help you out

If you need simple, low cost, easy to send international payments - or you manage your money across borders — you need Wise and the Wise Multi-currency Account.

With Wise you’ll be able to send international payments all over the world, using the mid-market exchange rate and for just a low, transparent fee. You can also choose to open an online Wise Multi-currency Account for free, 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 bank for foreign currency transactions.

💰 Start saving on international payments

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

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.

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.