2025-05-06

Naturalization is the process of acquiring Japanese nationality. Since dual nationality is not allowed in Japan, once a person acquires Japanese nationality, he/she loses his/her foreign nationality. Here, we will explain the required documents and points to note, especially for Chinese nationals who wish to naturalize.

What are the requirements to apply for naturalization?

Naturalization is a system under which a foreign national who lives in Japan and has a status of residence can acquire Japanese nationality. Since dual citizenship is not allowed in Japan, upon acquiring Japanese citizenship, the foreign nationality is lost.

In order for an application for naturalization to be approved, the following requirements must be met.

First, the applicant must have been continuously domiciled in Japan up to the time of application; second, the applicant must be at least 20 years old and of legal capacity to act under the laws of his/her nationality at the time of application.

Third, the applicant must be of good conduct. Fourth, the applicant must be able to support himself/herself or his/her spouse/relatives with whom he/she lives on the basis of their assets and skills.

Fifth, the applicant must have no nationality of his/her own or be able to accept the loss of his/her current nationality by acquiring Japanese citizenship. Sixth, the applicant has not attempted or advocated violence against the Constitution of Japan or the government established under the Constitution.

What are the required documents?

The documents required for naturalization application are as follows. However, the required documents may differ depending on the applicant’s individual circumstances.

・Application form for naturalization (a photograph of the applicant is required)

・Documents outlining the applicant’s relatives

・Statement of reasons for naturalization

・Resume

・Documents outlining the applicant’s livelihood

・Documents describing the outline of the applicant’s business

・Copy of certificate of residence

・Documents proving nationality

・Documents proving kinship

・Documents proving tax payment

・Documents proving income

・Documents certifying the applicant’s history of residence

What are the points to keep in mind?

Here, we would like to explain some points to be noted especially for Chinese nationals applying for naturalization.

The first is to obtain a notarized document. If you were born or married in China, you must obtain a notarized document (certificate) in China.

The most reliable way to obtain a notarized document is to return to China yourself, but if it is difficult for you to leave Japan due to work or other reasons, you can ask a family member or acquaintance in your home country to do this for you. It takes some time to obtain the permit, so make sure to obtain it well in advance of applying for naturalization.

Second, there is a difference between a permanent residence permit and an application for naturalization. In order to apply for a permanent residence permit, it is usually necessary to reside in Japan for at least 10 years. On the other hand, to apply for naturalization, you must have lived in Japan for at least five years.

Because of this difference in requirements, many people think that it is difficult to apply for a permanent residence permit, so they decide to apply for naturalization. However, the application for permanent residence permit and the application for naturalization are completely different procedures.

Also, as explained earlier, Japan does not recognize dual citizenship, so applying for naturalization means abandoning your current Chinese nationality. You should consider applying for naturalization with this point fully in mind.

Summary

When a Chinese citizen applies for naturalization, a notarized document (certificate) may be required. If it is difficult for the applicant to obtain one in person, he/she should ask a relative or acquaintance in his/her home country to do so.