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Japan to Tighten Requirements for Naturalization Starting April 1
The Japanese government will apply stricter rules on naturalization, including longer residency and tax verification periods, affecting all applicants from April 1.
- On Friday, March 27, The Japanese government announced it will double the minimum residency requirement for naturalization to 10 years, effective April 1.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi in November to tighten naturalization rules, citing concerns current conditions were too lax and aimed to ensure "Compatibility with Japanese society."
- The Justice Ministry will extend the verification period for tax payments to five years and social insurance premiums to two years, up from one year currently under the Nationality Act.
- In 2025, 14,103 people applied for naturalization, with 9,258 approved and 666 rejected according to ministry data, and these changes apply to all applicants including those already processed.
- Japan already mandates a 10-year residency period for permanent residency with public obligation requirements, while the Nationality Act previously set naturalization at five consecutive years.
12 Articles
12 Articles
New requirements will apply even to applicants who submitted documents earlier. Japan will increase the minimum period of residence in the country required for citizenship to 10 years starting April 1. According to RBC-Ukraine, this was reported by the leading news agency Kyodo News, citing the country's Ministry of Justice. Read also: Ukrainians will be able to receive free legal assistance in 28 countries: Rada passes law. Japan, considered on…
The Ministry of Justice will tighten the residency requirement for foreigners acquiring Japanese citizenship, raising it from the current "5 years or more" to "10 years or more in principle" starting April 1st. The period for verifying whether taxes and social insurance contributions are in arrears will also be extended. Hiraguchi…
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