What do you need to do to obtain Japanese citizenship through simplified naturalization?

2022-09-01

There are various methods of naturalization, one of which is simplified naturalization.

Simplified naturalization is characterized by the fact that the requirements for naturalization are relaxed compared to regular naturalization (ordinary naturalization).

The advantage of simplified naturalization is that it is easier than ordinary naturalization. However, this does not change the fact that naturalization can only take place if the necessary requirements are met.

This article provides an overview of the requirements for acquiring Japanese citizenship through simple naturalization.

Child of former Japanese citizens who has lived in Japan for at least 3 years

A former Japanese citizen is a person who was originally Japanese but lost Japanese citizenship at some point.

A child of a former Japanese citizen (excluding adopted children) must have lived in Japan for at least 3 years (and meet the residency requirements).

They were born in Japan and have had an address or residence in Japan for more than 3 years

If a foreigner who wishes to naturalize was born in Japan, they must have had a residence or domicile in Japan for at least 3 years.

This applies, for example, to foreigners with American citizenship who were born in Japan.

They were born in Japan and the father or mother was also born in Japan

If the foreigner applying for naturalization was born in Japan and one of his or her parents was born in Japan, the residency requirements will be relaxed.

For example, a foreigner born in Japan whose father is an American citizen but was also born in Japan.

Continuous residence in Japan for more than 10 years

If the applicant has lived in Japan continuously for at least 10 years, they meet the residency requirement.

In the case of ordinary naturalization, they need to have worked in Japan for a certain period, but in the above case, this is not required.

The spouse is a Japanese citizen, and the applicant has lived in Japan for more than 3 years

If the husband or wife of a foreigner applying for naturalization is a Japanese citizen, it is sufficient if they have lived in Japan for at least three years.

In this case, the residency requirements are relaxed compared to ordinary naturalization.

The spouse is a Japanese citizen, they have been married for at least 3 years, and the applicant has lived in Japan for at least 1 year

If the husband or wife of a foreigner applying for naturalization is Japanese and they have been married for at least 3 years, it is sufficient that the applicant has lived in Japan for at least 1 year.

Under this system, the address requirements are further relaxed if there is a certain duration of marriage.

Child of a Japanese citizen with a residential address in Japan

If the applicant is a child of a Japanese citizen, has a foreign citizenship and has been naturalized in Japan, they only need to have an address in Japan.

With this system, the residency requirements for Japanese children are greatly relaxed.

They were adopted by a Japanese citizen who has lived in Japan for at least one year and was a minor in his or her home country at the time of adoption

This system relaxes residency requirements for Japanese adopted children who were minors under the laws of their home country at the time of adoption.

Address requirements were relaxed for foreigners adopted by a Japanese citizen when they were minors.

Former Japanese citizen with an address in Japan

For people who were originally Japanese citizens but lost their Japanese citizenship, there is a system that allows them to have an address in Japan.

If a former Japanese citizen wishes to naturalize, the residency requirements are greatly relaxed.

Born in Japan, stateless by birth and living in Japan for more than 3 years

A stateless person born in Japan meets the residency requirement if they have lived in Japan for more than three years.

This system makes it easier for persons born in Japan to acquire Japanese citizenship by relaxing the residency requirement.