【You’ll want to tell someone】 What should basketball players be aware of when applying for naturalization?
A professional basketball league has been established in Japan, and foreign nationality players are playing an active role. What procedures do these people follow to reside in Japan? Also, what are the conditions for applying for naturalization?
What is an entertainment visa?
Foreign athletes generally need an “entertainment visa” in order to perform in Japan.
An “entertainment visa” is a status of residence required for foreign nationals who wish to engage in entertainment-related activities in Japan, such as theatrical performances, performances, musical performances, sports, or other entertainment activities. Examples include actors, singers, dancers, and professional athletes. The period of stay is divided into 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, 3 months, and 30 days, depending on the applicant and the nature of the entertainment activities.
For example, a professional basketball player of foreign nationality must first obtain an “entertainment visa” in order to compete in Japan.
If the application is approved, the player will be granted one of the two periods of stay. However, unlike other visa statuses, it is difficult to obtain a “Kogyo visa” for a three-year period of stay.
When applying for a visa, some people may think that if they write “3 years” in the ‘application’ form, they will be granted a “3-year” period of stay. However, even if “3 years” is stated on the application, the Immigration Bureau may shorten the period of stay to “1 year” or “6 months” if it deems it necessary to frequently check the applicant’s status of residence.
Criteria for Naturalization
According to the revision of the “Criteria for Permission of Naturalization” in 2022, a foreign national basketball player needs to have a period of stay of “3 years” or longer in order to apply for the procedure to acquire Japanese nationality (application for naturalization).
In other words, the basketball player must have the longest period of stay (3 years) if he/she has obtained an “entertainment visa. However, as explained earlier, it is quite rare for an “entertainment visa” to be granted a 3-year period of stay.
Therefore, it is difficult for most basketball players staying in Japan with an “entertainment visa” to apply for naturalization.
How to do it with other status of residence
Most of the foreign national basketball players residing in Japan are on “entertainment visa”, but if, for example, their spouse is Japanese, they can change their status of residence to “Spouse or Child of Japanese National”.
It is said that this status grants a period of stay of “3 years” compared to the “entertainment visa”. In order to do so, the couple must have been married for at least three years after submitting the marriage certificate. In addition, the applicant must have sufficient income to live on, no tax delinquency, no criminal offenses, etc.
In addition, even if you are the “spouse or child of a Japanese national” and your period of stay is “one year,” if you have been married in Japan for at least three years after submitting your marriage notification, you will meet the requirements for naturalization permission.
Summary
If a basketball player residing in Japan applies for naturalization, he/she must have a period of stay of at least 3 years with the status of residence he/she currently has. Since it is rare that a three-year period of stay is granted for an entertainment visa, you should consider obtaining a “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” status of residence.
