Questions
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 really possible for people without Japanese "blood" (race or ethnicity) to become Japanese?
- Do you have to be married to a Japanese if you naturalize? Does divorce with a Japanese affect it?
- 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 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 Japanese nationals who were born non-Japanese 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 or should I 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 the other countries 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, exiled, or prevented from entering Japan after naturalization?
- Can your naturalization ever be revoked?
- Why are some countries required to renounce their other nationalities before naturalization and some afterwards?
- What's the difference between a U.S. renunciation and a U.S. expatriating act?
- Can those who served in foreign militaries naturalize to Japanese?
- Do the rich or famous get to skip naturalization steps?
- What happens if you renounce your other nationality and then you're rejected?
- Can Japan's Ministry of Justice or other countries find out if I have other nationalities if I don't tell them?
- How do you know if you relinquished or renounced U.S. citizenship?
- What purpose does the Choice of Nationality law have for Japanese-Americans?
- Do all the naturalized English-speaking Japanese know each other?
- Can time spent in school in Japan be used to meet the residency requirement for naturalization?
- How do Americans travel to the U.S. while being processed for CLN?
- Do you have to choose a "kanji name" when you become Japanese?
- How did your family feel about your naturalization?
- How did you friends in your home country feel about your naturalization?
- How did your friends in Japan feel about your naturalization?
- Does having a gap between status of residences affect naturalization?
- Do you get the original copies of documents back after you submit them?
- Do you need to have a registered or non-registered 印鑑／判子 (chop/seal/stamp) for submitting documents?
- How many case workers will you get? Will you know their name or get to know them well?
- Can you use your English / alphabet initials as your legal Japanese name?
- Do you have to own a home or business to qualify for naturalization?
- Are some status of residences (spouse, engineer, instructor, journalist, etc.) better or worse for naturalization?
- Can a naturalized Japanese person's family register (戸籍) use "exotic" or non-standard カタカナ (Japanese syllabet)?
- What's the longest length your Japanese name can be?
- If you are rejected for naturalization, can you reapply?
- Are there any annual quotas or limits regarding naturalization or immigration in Japan?
- Is it possible to get Japanese nationality just by being born on Japanese soil (jus soli), like the United States?
- Is there a "loophole" that allows somebody who naturalizes to keep both citizenships?
- Is there a "loophole" that allows somebody who is born with two nationalities, one being Japanese, to keep both citizenships?
- Why is the fact that Japan doesn't, for most cases, permit dual nationality a big deal for non-Japanese?
- Why doesn't the Japanese government, for most cases, like the idea of dual nationality?
- Can Japanese citizens ever make themselves stateless?
- What happens if you renounce your former nationality in preparation for Japanese citizenship and then you are rejected?
- What's the home inspection like? Does everyone get one?
- Does the application inspector ever visit or call your work?
- How long can your name be on your family register?
- Whose family register do you go onto?
- Can you travel when you're in "passport limbo"?
- Can a whole family get Japanese citizenship together?
- What if your physical residency status is borderline and you've been out of the country too long?
- Are recommendation letters or sponsors or guarantors needed?
- Do you become a "subject" of the Emperor when you naturalize?
- Does actually submitting and failing an application can ruin your chances of applying again for life?
- Are some Legal Affairs Bureaus easier or better than others?
- Are Americans dual nationals after they naturalize and before they relinquish?
- Does (not) paying taxes, insurance, bills, or receiving refunds affect naturalization?
- What are the odds and reason for your home/workplace being inspected?
- How many people drop out midway through the application process?
- Are Japanese nationals fingerprinted?
- Can Japanese/non-Japanese have a mononym or middle/multiple given names?
- Why do Americans and European pundits think Japan is "anti-immigration"?
- Is being a full-time employee better than being on a contract (or a temp) for a naturalization application?
- Do you lose your ethnic identity when you naturalize?
- Why aren't diplomats allowed to naturalize?
- Does time spent in Japan via the U.S. military's SOFA agreement count towards naturalization?
- Can a remote/telecommuting job or online business / startup qualify for the naturalization livelihood requirement?
- Does Japanese nationality or permanent residency "expire" if you're outside Japan too long?
- Do you regret changing your nationality?
- Can people with disabilities naturalize?
- Does Japan have a ceremony for new citizens?
- Can you become Japanese simply by marriage?
- Can You Bring Your Spouse, Family Member, Boy or Girlfriend, S.O., Lawyer, Friend with you to all the personal interviews?
- Are smaller Bureaus more lenient or nicer than others regarding Japanese ability?
- Do foreigners need to change their name to a Japanese name when they become Japanese citizens?
- Can one find out if somebody naturalized from their legal Japanese ID?
- Is the order of the naturalization steps the same for everybody?
