2025-07-09

Application for naturalization is a procedure for foreign nationals living in Japan to acquire Japanese citizenship. If the application is approved, you can live as a Japanese citizen. How much Japanese language ability is required for this application? We will explain this point in detail.

Application for Naturalization

Application for naturalization is a procedure for foreigners residing in Japan to acquire Japanese nationality in place of their current foreign nationality. Since Japan does not allow so-called “dual nationality,” if the acquisition of Japanese nationality is approved, the foreign nationality will be lost.

Requirements for naturalization application

In order to apply for and be approved for naturalization, the following six requirements must be met.

First, the applicant must have a continuous domicile in Japan by the time of application. However, even if the applicant has a resident card in Japan, it may be disadvantageous if the applicant has stayed in a foreign country for a long period of time during the five years prior to the application.

Second, the applicant must be at least 18 years old and an adult according to the laws of his/her current nationality. This means that the applicant must be an adult not only under Japanese law, but also under the law of his/her home country.

Third, the applicant must have no delinquent taxes, no criminal record, and no serious traffic violations.

Fourth, the applicant must be able to support himself/herself or his/her spouse or other relatives who share the same livelihood through their assets and skills.

Fifth, the applicant must agree that he/she does not currently have nationality or that he/she will lose his/her current nationality by acquiring Japanese nationality through naturalization.

Sixth, the applicant will not attempt or advocate the use of violence against the Constitution of Japan or the government established under the Constitution. In other words, they are willing to abide by the Constitution of Japan.

Japanese Language Requirements

As explained above, there are no Japanese language requirements for naturalization applications. Therefore, the applicant’s Japanese language ability will not affect whether or not the application is approved.

However, if the application for naturalization is approved, the applicant will be living in Japanese society as a “Japanese national.” Therefore, even if the applicant does not understand difficult Japanese, the ability to read and write Japanese is necessary to the extent that he/she will have no trouble in daily life.

When applying for naturalization, you must first go to the Immigration Bureau that has jurisdiction over your place of residence for consultation. In addition, the applicant’s Japanese language ability will be tested throughout the process, including the preparation of documents to be submitted and the interview to be conducted by the person in charge after the application has been filed.

Therefore, even if there is no “Japanese language proficiency requirement” in the application for naturalization, the applicant must have at least second- or third-grade Japanese language skills.

Summary

“Japanese language proficiency” is not included in the requirements for naturalization application. However, after your application is approved, you will be living in Japanese society, so you will need to have Japanese language skills at the level of second or third grade elementary school. This point will be checked in the documents you submit and in the interview after the application is approved.