2025-03-20

Although there are more foreigners living in Japan than before, discrimination against foreign residents in Japan still remains. Therefore, many foreigners who will be living in Japan in the future are considering applying for naturalization in order to acquire Japanese citizenship. Here, we will explain the issue of naturalization and discrimination.

Marriage and Nationality

In order to acquire Japanese nationality, a foreigner residing in Japan must prepare a vast amount of necessary documents and file an application with the Immigration Bureau. This is the application for naturalization.
　
If the application is approved, the foreign national loses his/her current foreign nationality and is granted Japanese citizenship. You can then live as a Japanese citizen. Some people say that even if you acquire Japanese citizenship, you will be called a “new Japanese” or a “naturalized citizen” and will be discriminated against, but this is a so-called “urban legend.

Some people think that a foreigner can become a Japanese citizen by marrying a Japanese national and joining the family register of that Japanese national. Therefore, the only way for a foreign national to acquire Japanese nationality is to apply for naturalization.

Advantages of Naturalization

The advantages of acquiring Japanese nationality through naturalization for foreign nationals are as follows
　
　Since they can have a Japanese name, they are less likely to be subjected to discriminatory treatment.
　If they marry a Japanese national, they will be registered in the same family register.
　The Japanese government will endorse the applicant when he/she travels abroad, which will increase his/her credibility.
　The Japanese government will endorse the passport when they travel abroad, which will increase their credibility.
　The right to vote and to be elected, and thus to participate in Japanese politics.
You can get a mortgage or a loan from a bank.

What are the requirements for naturalization?

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

First, the person applying for naturalization must be continuously domiciled (living) in Japan by the date of application. However, even if the applicant has a domicile in Japan, this requirement may not be met if the applicant has been living in a foreign country for a long period of time, such as five years prior to the application.

Second, the person applying for naturalization must be at least 18 years old. They must also have reached the age of majority under the laws of the country of their current nationality.

Third, the applicant must be in good standing in Japan, with no delinquent taxes, no criminal record, no serious traffic violations, etc.

Fourth, the applicant must be able to continue to live in Japan due to the assets and skills of the applicant or a relative (spouse, etc.) who shares the applicant’s livelihood.

Fifth, the person applying for naturalization must have no nationality at the time of application, or must agree to lose his/her current nationality if naturalization is approved and the applicant acquires Japanese nationality.

Sixth, the applicant must be in compliance with the Constitution of Japan and the government established under the Constitution, and must not attempt or advocate the destruction of the Constitution by violence.

Conclusion

Discrimination against foreign residents in Japan has decreased considerably, but unfortunately, it is still not completely eliminated. Many foreigners who wish to live permanently in Japan may be considering acquiring Japanese citizenship, but the documentation required to apply for naturalization is voluminous and the requirements to be approved are quite strict.