2025-08-09

Foreign nationals residing in Japan must apply for naturalization and obtain permission in order to acquire Japanese citizenship. At that time, they must submit a “document outlining their relatives”. Here we will show you how to fill out this document.

What is naturalization?

Naturalization is the acquisition of Japanese nationality by a foreign national with Japanese resident status. Japan does not recognize dual citizenship, so if a person is granted Japanese citizenship, he or she loses his or her foreign citizenship.

Documents required for naturalization application

The following documents and materials must be submitted to apply for naturalization. Other documents and materials may be required depending on the applicant’s individual circumstances.

　・Application form for naturalization (applicant’s photograph 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 proving residency history

What is the Summary of Relatives?

Among the documents to be submitted, the “Summary of Relatives” is particularly important in the screening process, so you need to be very careful when writing it down. Below are some points to keep in mind.

First, the “Summary of relatives” should include information on relatives other than the applicant himself/herself. In addition to “relatives living together,” the scope of relatives to be listed includes “spouse (including former spouse),” the applicant’s “parents (including adoptive parents),” “children (including both adopted and foster children),” “brothers and sisters,” “spouse’s parents,” “common-law husband (wife),” and “fiancé(e). The list should be written in this order, from top to bottom.

Deceased persons are also included in the list of relatives. Relatives residing in Japan and those residing abroad should be listed on separate forms. If there are too many relatives to fill in on one sheet, use two or more sheets.

The following relatives must be listed regardless of whether they live together or not.

-Spouse: husband or wife
-Former spouse: former husband or wife
-Parents: father, mother

Parents: father and mother *Even if the parents are divorced, if they are related to the applicant by blood, they should be listed.
Adoptive parents: adoptive father, adoptive mother
・Children: first son, second son, first daughter, second daughter, etc. *The notation “second son” or “second daughter” is not acceptable
・Siblings: brother, sister, etc.
・Parents of spouse: husband (wife)’s father, husband (wife)’s mother, etc.
・Consummate husband (wife)
・Fiancee

In addition, the following relatives should be listed if they are living together.

Siblings of parents: uncle, aunt, etc.
・Siblings of spouse: brother-in-law, sister-in-law, etc.
・Remarried partner of parents who are not related to the applicant by blood: father, mother

Each name should be written in Chinese characters or katakana (no alphabetical characters). Simplified and traditional Chinese characters from China and Taiwan must be converted to Japanese characters.

The western calendar cannot be used when listing the respective date of birth. The date of birth should be written in the Japanese era (Showa, Heisei, 2025, etc.). When stating age, only numbers should be used, and “歳” should not be added. Leave blank for deceased relatives.

For occupation, enter “company employee,” “manager,” “unemployed,” “high school student,” “not enrolled in school (before entering elementary school),” etc. Leave blank for deceased relatives.

Addresses should be written starting with the name of the prefecture and ending with “1-2-3. Do not abbreviate the address to “1-2-3. Relatives living together should be listed as “living together. If the relative is deceased, the date of death should be entered after checking the family register or other documents.

In the “Relationship Status, etc.” section, fill in the appropriate fields for (1) “Relationship Status,” (2) “Intention to Naturalize,” (3) “Applicant’s Opinion on Naturalization,” and (4) “Other. Leave the column for deceased relatives blank.

Summary

The “Summary of Relatives” is a document that is given a lot of importance in the examination after the application for naturalization. Please fill in the “Summary of Relatives” with reference to the description method explained above.