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Japanese citizenship
How to become Japanese
Numerous requirements and strict immigration officials mean only a few hundred of over ten thousand applications for Japanese citizenship are accepted each year. Nonetheless, it is possible to obtain citizenship if you remain persistent.
Only ethnic Japanese are eligible for automatic citizenship, which means that there are ethnic minorities (Koreans, Chinese) born and raised in Japan, who speak nothing but Japanese that are still not Japanese citizens. Furthermore, Japan is one of the few countries in the world that does not allow dual-citizenship.
Japanese citizenship requirements
To become a Japanese citizen you must have lived in the country for at least five years and be over twenty years of age. Your mental health must be good and you cannot have a criminal record. As always, officials will want to see proof that you can support yourself and your family.
In addition to these basic requirements, there is an enormous amount of required documentation. This includes everything from your birth certificate to photographs of your family and home.
Ministry of Justice officials will conduct an inspection of your home to determine whether you have adequately assimilated into Japanese culture. They will take note of your furnishings, your Japanese friends and your relations with your neighbours. There is a degree of subjectivity to the evaluation, so the outcome will likely have a lot to do with the personality of your inspector. Do not be surprised if he asks some bizarre or prying questions. Some applicants have been quizzed about their personal lives and romantic relationships.
The application process is lengthy (assembling the required documents alone can take more than a year) and you are hardly guaranteed citizenship for completing it – even after passing the inspection requirement.
For these reasons, you should make sure to check with the Ministry of Justice for updated citizenship requirements and ask as many questions as necessary when dealing with Japanese officials.
How to become Japanese
Numerous requirements and strict immigration officials mean only a few hundred of over ten thousand applications for Japanese citizenship are accepted each year. Nonetheless, it is possible to obtain citizenship if you remain persistent.
Only ethnic Japanese are eligible for automatic citizenship, which means that there are ethnic minorities (Koreans, Chinese) born and raised in Japan, who speak nothing but Japanese that are still not Japanese citizens. Furthermore, Japan is one of the few countries in the world that does not allow dual-citizenship.
Japanese citizenship requirements
To become a Japanese citizen you must have lived in the country for at least five years and be over twenty years of age. Your mental health must be good and you cannot have a criminal record. As always, officials will want to see proof that you can support yourself and your family.
In addition to these basic requirements, there is an enormous amount of required documentation. This includes everything from your birth certificate to photographs of your family and home.
Ministry of Justice officials will conduct an inspection of your home to determine whether you have adequately assimilated into Japanese culture. They will take note of your furnishings, your Japanese friends and your relations with your neighbours. There is a degree of subjectivity to the evaluation, so the outcome will likely have a lot to do with the personality of your inspector. Do not be surprised if he asks some bizarre or prying questions. Some applicants have been quizzed about their personal lives and romantic relationships.
The application process is lengthy (assembling the required documents alone can take more than a year) and you are hardly guaranteed citizenship for completing it – even after passing the inspection requirement.
For these reasons, you should make sure to check with the Ministry of Justice for updated citizenship requirements and ask as many questions as necessary when dealing with Japanese officials.
