2025-10-09

Naturalization is the process by which foreign nationals acquire Japanese nationality. To complete this process, you must submit an application and required documents to the relevant administrative agency. Is this agency the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Let me explain in detail.

Where to Submit Naturalization Applications?

The consultation and application offices for naturalization applications, as well as matters concerning the acquisition or loss of Japanese nationality, are as follows:

Notification of Nationality Acquisition or Renunciation
If you have an address in Japan
The Legal Affairs Bureau or Regional Legal Affairs Bureau with jurisdiction over your address

If you have an address abroad
Japanese embassies or consulates abroad

Naturalization Applications
The Legal Affairs Bureau or Regional Legal Affairs Bureau with jurisdiction over your address

In other words, all procedures related to nationality are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Incidentally, procedures for foreigners to obtain residence status are handled by the Immigration Services Agency, which is also under the Ministry of Justice.

Where can I go for family register matters?

In Japan, if either parent holds Japanese nationality, a child born in Japan or abroad acquires Japanese nationality.

Under Japanese law, the rule is that if either parent is Japanese, the child acquires Japanese nationality (jus sanguinis).

However, in the United States, the rule is that a child born in the U.S. acquires U.S. nationality regardless of the parents’ nationality (jus soli).

Following the rules of both Japan and the U.S., a child born to Japanese parents residing in the U.S. would hold dual nationality: U.S. and Japanese. In this case, unless a “Declaration of Reservation of Nationality” is submitted to the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in the U.S. within three months of birth, the child cannot actually hold dual nationality. Failure to submit this declaration results in the child holding only U.S. nationality.

This system exists so that the child, upon returning to Japan, can live as a Japanese citizen. However, if the child does return to Japan, they must choose one nationality.

Where do I apply for a passport?

In the above example, if no nationality has been chosen, the family register will be recorded as follows:

【Date of Declaration of Nationality Retention】Reiwa Year ○ Month ○ Day

【Date Received】Reiwa Year ○ Month ○ Day

【Recipient】Ambassador to ○○ Country

During the period of nationality retention, since the child holds dual nationality, they can possess passports from both countries.

Passport applications fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You must visit the application window in your prefecture to submit the application form, a passport photo, and the required fee.

Summary

Procedures related to nationality, such as naturalization applications, and procedures related to family registers fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice. However, passport applications and similar matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.