【Questions Answered】 What is the loss of Japanese nationality and its disadvantages?
In Japan, it is not legal to have more than one nationality. Therefore, one nationality must be selected by the time one reaches a certain age. In this case, what are the disadvantages of choosing a non-Japanese nationality and losing Japanese citizenship?
What is the case of losing Japanese nationality?
In Japan, having more than one nationality, or dual nationality, is not allowed.
If you have more than one nationality by the age of 18, you must choose only one nationality within two years of reaching adulthood, i.e., by the time you turn 20 years old. Also, if you acquire two or more nationalities after the age of 18, you must select only one nationality within two years thereafter.
There are three patterns of losing Japanese nationality.
The first is when a Japanese citizen or a parent of a minor acquires a foreign nationality of their own volition. For example, naturalization to a foreign nationality, application for acquisition of a foreign nationality, or restoration of a foreign nationality once lost.
The second is when a “birth notification,” which entitles the child to Japanese nationality, is not submitted within three months of the birth. In Japan, a child born in Japan can have Japanese nationality if he or she expresses the wish to remain a Japanese citizen. This declaration of intent is the “birth notification.
The third is when two years have passed since the child became an adult and has dual nationality. As explained earlier, one nationality must be selected within two years of coming of age. However, if that procedure is neglected and two years have passed since a Japanese person acquired foreign nationality, or two years have passed since a foreigner acquired Japanese nationality, or two years have passed since a child with dual nationality including Japanese nationality came of age, he or she will lose Japanese nationality.
Demerits of Loss of Japanese Nationality
There are four demerits of losing Japanese nationality.
The first is that you cannot have a Japanese passport, which is highly credible. The Japanese passport is highly credible internationally, and many countries do not require visas when traveling abroad. However, by losing your Japanese citizenship, you will naturally lose the ability to hold a Japanese passport and therefore will not be able to enjoy its benefits.
Second, you will lose your rights as a Japanese citizen. For example, you will lose the right to vote and to join a pension plan. However, even though you will no longer be able to participate in the pension system, if you have paid pension premiums for more than 10 years, you will still have the right to receive them even after losing your Japanese citizenship.
Third, contracts in Japan will become more difficult. It is expected that there will be an increase in difficult situations such as house and car loans, school enrollment, and employment.
Fourth, it will be difficult to return to Japan after retirement. If you acquire foreign citizenship and live in a foreign country as is, there is no problem. However, if you are planning to live in Japan in your old age, a high hurdle awaits you. Even if you want to go through some legal procedures in Japan, you may not be able to rely on your parents or siblings because of your advanced age. Also, if you are in a foreign country and try to proceed with the procedures to reside in Japan, you will have to find a proxy, or face the time and financial burden as well.
summary
There is no particular disadvantage if you lose your Japanese nationality but intend to live permanently in the country of your acquired foreign nationality. However, there are significant disadvantages if you choose a foreign nationality and continue to live in Japan or return to Japan in the future.
