When we answer them in blog posts, we will link the question on this page to the appropriate blog post containing the answer.
Do you have a question about naturalization that isn't listed here? Please email it to us!
- I want to live and/or work in Japan! Do I need to be legally Japanese?
- What kind of visa is naturalization?
- What visa should I first get before naturalization?
- Are you recommending or encouraging people to naturalize?
- Is it possible for people without Japanese blood to become Japanese?
- Do you have to be married to a Japanese if you naturalize?
- Which is more difficult: permanent residency or naturalization?
- Do natural born / Japanese-at-birth / Japanese blood people have any additional rights that naturalized people do not?
- Can people discriminate against my race if I have Japanese nationality?
- I heard about people (i.e. Korean and Chinese) that were born in Japan and lived their whole lives in Japan and can only speak Japanese that don't have Japanese citizenship. Are certain nationalities not permitted to naturalize into Japanese citizens?
- Is it easier to get a job in Japan if I naturalize?
- Can I keep my other passports and nationalities if I naturalize to Japanese?
- What's the difference between naturalizing and becoming a permanent resident?
- Is there a difference between a Japanese "national" and a Japanese "citizen?"
- Can a Japanese tell, on paper, the difference between a naturalized Japanese citizen and a non-naturalized Japanese citizen?
- Why would anybody want to become Japanese?
- Do you get a "green card" if you naturalize?
- Do you get a Japanese passport if you naturalize?
- What advantages does a Japanese passport give you?
- Do you have to take a Japanese name if you naturalize?
- Are all legally Japanese people naturalized?
- Do all people with non-Japanese blood have to naturalize to become legally Japanese?
- Is it easier for people from some countries to naturalize than others?
- Can I have an official Japanese name even if I don't naturalize?
- Are naturalized citizens discriminated against less or more than foreigners?
- How come you don't write about all the problems that people of non-Japanese race and/or nationality have in Japan?
- By writing about naturalization, are you taking a stance regarding more or less rights to long-term, special, and permanent non-Japanese residents of Japan?
- How do Japanese-Americans end up with both nationalities?
- How does obtaining Japanese citizenship affect your Japan taxes?
- How does obtaining Japanese citizenship affect your non-Japan taxes?
- Do you have to renounce your other citizenships? When do you have to do this?
- How does renouncing your citizenship affect your non-Japan taxes?
- Do you have any advice specific to people with certain nationalities?
- How much paperwork is involved?
- Do I have to use a lawyer to naturalize?
- How much does it cost to naturalize?
- How old do you have to be to naturalize?
- How long do you have to live in Japan to naturalize?
- How long does it take to prepare the paperwork?
- How long do you have to wait once you submit the paperwork?
- I attempted to naturalize but was rejected. What should I do?
- Is naturalization the only way for people with non-Japanese roots to become Japanese?
- Do you have to be rich or famous or powerful to naturalize?
- Do you have to speak perfect Japanese to naturalize?
- Do you have to look Japanese or Asian to naturalize?
- Do I have to like everything about Japan to naturalize?
- Do I need a high school or college degree to naturalize?
- Do you have to be a permanent resident or special permanent resident to naturalize?
- What percentage of people that apply for naturalization succeed?
- Why is the success rate for naturalization applications so high?
- Why are people's naturalization applications rejected?
- If becoming legally Japanese is so easy, how come so few people do it?
- What happens if you don't renounce your other citizenships?
- What happens if you try to renounce your other citizenships but they don't let you?
- Can you renounce your Japanese citizenship after you get it?
- Do people with dual citizenship ever get caught? What happens?
- Do people who naturalize experience discrimination that is unique to naturalized Japanese?
- Does some type of discrimination go away when you naturalize?
- Do you feel different regarding your identity after you naturalize?
- Is naturalization necessary?
- What happens when Japanese police ask naturalized Japanese for their ID?
- What happens when Japanese airport custom officers look at a naturalized Japanese's passport?
- What happens when non-Japanese airport custom officers look at a naturalized Japanese's passport?
- Do Japanese treat you differently when they find out you're naturalized?
- Do non-Japanese Japan residents treat you differently when they find out you're naturalized?
- Do non-Japanese in your home country treat you differently when they find out you're naturalized?
- Do non-Japanese Asians in your home country treat you differently when they find out you're naturalized?
- Do non-Japanese permanent residents of Japan treat you differently when they find out you're naturalized?
- Does the name on your Japanese passport have to be the same as your new Japanese name?
- Do people feel awkward or funny calling you by your new Japanese name? Or do they use nicknames?
- Why did you naturalize?
- What if you're missing some of the paperwork (for example, it's impossible for you to obtain your parent's birth certificates)? Can you still naturalize to Japanese?
- What if you committed some transgression in your past? Such as a speeding ticket or a parking fine? What about something more serious? Can you still naturalize?
- Do you have to have a lot of money, make a lot of money, or have a really good job to naturalize?
- Can you not renounce your original citizenship and hide this from the government(s)?
- Why can't your passport be proof of citizenship?
- Do you need to be in good health to naturalize?
- Are their any legal penalties regarding nationality or naturalization?
- Can you be deported, extradited, or prevented from entering Japan after naturalization?
- Can your naturalization ever be revoked?
