2022-08-222025-11-13

Applying for a naturalization permit is not a guarantee that you will pass the application review. In some cases, the permit will not be granted. What is the likelihood that the naturalization permit application will be approved? This article provides an overview of the approval rate for naturalization and the naturalization requirements.

Naturalization procedures in Japan emphasize “overall credibility,” meaning that tax payment records, employment stability, family relationships, and daily life circumstances are reviewed cumulatively. Because of this, many applicants spend several months preparing documents and consulting with the Legal Affairs Bureau before they are even allowed to apply.

In practice, the screening is extremely detailed, and the approval rate looks high partly because people with a low chance of success are discouraged from applying during the consultation stage at the Legal Affairs Bureau.

Approval rate for naturalization

According to the Civil Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, the trends in the number of naturalization applicants, the number of people whose naturalization applications were approved, and the number of people whose applications were not approved are as follows.

Year	Number of naturalization applicants	Number of approved applicants	Number of rejected applicants
2011年	11,008	10,359	279
2012年	9,940	10,622	457
2013	10,119	8,646	332
2014	11,337	9,277	509
2015	12,442	9,469	603
2016	11,477	9,554	608
2017	11,063	10,315	625
2018	9,942	9,074	670
2019	10,455	8,453	596
2020	8,673	9,079	900

(Reference: Ministry of Justice “Trends in the Number of Naturalization Permit Applicants")

https://www.moj.go.jp/content/001342633.pdf

Although the numerical approval rate remains high, the review process itself is known to be time-consuming and requires strict verification of income stability, residence history, identity documents, and tax compliance. It is common for the Legal Affairs Bureau to request additional documentation multiple times before the screening is complete.

As shown above, the number of naturalization applicants exceeds about 10,000 each year, and 80 to 90% of them had their application approved.

This relatively high approval rate can give the impression that naturalization is easy, but in reality most applicants go through several rounds of document checks and interviews before they even formally submit the application.

Requirements for naturalization

There are two types of naturalization: ordinary naturalization and extraordinary naturalization.

Ordinary naturalization

This is the method of naturalization granted to most foreigners.

The requirements for ordinary naturalization are as follows.

• You have lived in Japan for more than 5 years.
• You are 18 years old or older and have reached the age of majority according to the law of your home country.
• Good behavior
• You are able to support yourself from your own assets or those of your spouse or other relatives.
• You do not have citizenship or should lose it by acquiring Japanese citizenship.
• You have never attempted or advocated to violently destroy the Japanese Constitution or the government established under it, or founded/joined any political party or other organization that attempts or advocates to do so.

Extraordinary Naturalization (Simplified Naturalization)

The application review is less strict than regular naturalization if certain conditions are met, such as having a spouse or child who is a Japanese citizen.

The requirements for extraordinary naturalization (simplified naturalization) are as follows.

• The applicant is the spouse of a Japanese citizen and has had an address in Japan for at least 3 years.
• Three years have passed since marriage to a Japanese citizen and the applicant has been a resident of Japan for at least one year.
• Natural child (excludes adopted children) of a Japanese citizen residing in Japan.
• Child adopted by a Japanese citizen who has resided in Japan for at least one year and is a minor (under the law of the home country) at the time of adoption.
• The applicant was born in Japan, has been stateless since birth, and has resided in Japan for at least 3 years.

Simplified naturalization reduces some of the residency requirements but does not eliminate the need for stable income, good conduct, and adequate documentation. Applicants often underestimate the documentation burden, and the Bureau may still require evidence of cohabitation, marital stability, and long-term plans for living in Japan.

Approval of the naturalization application is decided by the Minister of Justice and announced in the Official Gazette. Naturalization becomes effective on the date of the announcement.

Summary

The number of naturalization applicants exceeds 10,000 every year, and 80 to 90% of them are granted naturalization.

It is important to note that the final approval is not automatic; the Minister of Justice has discretion, and the decision is formally announced in the Official Gazette as the legal confirmation of naturalization.

One of the reasons for the low rejection rate is the cases in which the Legal Affairs Bureau indicates the possibility of rejection even before the application is submitted, as well as the applicants’ decision to withdraw the application the recommendation of the Legal Affairs Bureau.

In practice, early consultation with the Legal Affairs Bureau is crucial, as the officer’s guidance often determines whether an application proceeds or is discouraged. Preparing tax records, employment documents, and proof of residence consistency in advance can significantly improve the likelihood of a smooth review.