Steps

To do list

While every case is different, the following are the general case steps, in order, that need to be taken to naturalize to Japanese:

  1. Find your closest 法務局 {hōmukyoku} (Bureau of Legal Affairs) that has a 国籍課 {kokusekika} (Nationality Section) that has jurisdiction where you live
  2. Call and make an initial appointment. Should take at least three to six weeks
  3. At the appointment, meet your assigned public civil servant and determine the initial paperwork to prepare
  4. Get two copies and an original of your 外国人登録原票記載事項証明書 {gaikokujin tōroku gempyō kisai jijō shōmeisho}
  5. Get two copies and an original of the paperwork proving your current nationality (not your passport or birth certificate)
  6. Get two copies and original (certified copies) of your own and your immediate family birth certificates and/or death certificates if directed
  7. Get two copies and the original of your parent's marriage and/or divorce certificates if directed
  8. Get two copies and the original certified copy of your spouse's 戸籍 {koseki} (family register) within the last six months if applicable
  9. Get two copies and the original of your spouse's 住民票 {jūminhyō} (residency registration) within the last six months if applicable
  10. Get two copies and the original of your 土地／建物登記事項証明書 {tochi/tatemonotōkijikōshōmeisho} for any real estate, home, or condo you own, if applicable.
  11. Get two copies and the original of your 源泉徴収票 {gensen chōshūhyō} within the last year
  12. Get two copies and the original of your 所得税の納税証明書 {shotokuzei no nōzei shōmeisho} within the last three months
  13. Get two copies and the original of your 法人税の納税証明書 {hōjinzei no nōzei shōmeisho} within the last three months, if applicable
  14. Get two copies and an original of your 在職証明書 {zaishoku shōmeisho} (Proof of Employment) dated within the last three months, showing proof of one (1) month's salary, if applicable
  15. Get two copies and an original of your high school and college diplomas if directed
  16. Get an original and copies, if directed, of proof of your current nationality or nationalities, if directed
  17. Get two copies and the originals of professional certifications — such as 日本語能力証明書 {nihongo nōryoku shōmeisho} (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) — if directed
  18. Get two copies and the originals of all stamped pages of your passports
  19. Get two copies and the original of your five year Japanese driving record within the last last three months, if directed
  20. Get two copies and the certified original of your record for entrances and exits to Japan
  21. Take two visa-style photos of yourself
  22. Collect some family photographs if directed
  23. Complete the 帰化許可申請書 {kika kyoka shinseisho} (naturalization permission application) form
  24. Complete the 親族の概要 {shinzoku no gaiyō} (relatives overview) forms
  25. Complete the 帰化の動機書 {kika no dōkisho} (motivation essay) — reference an actual real example as well as a template essay
  26. Complete the 履歴書 {rirekisho } (personal history) forms
  27. (if necessary) Complete the 出入国歴表 {shutsunyūkokureki-hyō} (country exits & entrances form)
  28. Complete the 生計の概要 {seikei no gaiyō} (livelihood overview) forms
  29. Complete the 事業の概要 {jigyō no gaiyō} forms, if necessary
  30. Make a second appointment. Should take at least two to four weeks
  31. Bring your updated 通帳 {tsūchō} (bank statement books) to the second appointment
  32. At the appointment, confirm that the paperwork is all in order
  33. At the appointment, sign the 宣誓書 {senseisho} (oath statement) for the Japanese Constitution and law.
  34. At the appointment, sign the 宣誓書 {senseisho} (oath statement) for the promise to renounce (if applicable)
  35. At the appointment, sign the 帰化許可申請書 {kika kyoka shinseisho} (application for naturalization permission)
  36. At the appointment, provide a contact number and address for your interview
  37. (if requested) Your spouse gets interviewed on/off site, and your home, neighbors, or work gets visited.
  38. While waiting for your interview (should take at least four to eight weeks), contact the 法務局 {hōmykyoku} (Bureau of Legal Affairs) at the number they provided you with your case number anytime you leave or enter Japan (including temporary vacations or business trips) or if anything major in your life changes (marriage, divorce, loss/change of job, etc)
  39. Be available (either via phone and/or postal mail) to followup with any missing or need-to-be-revised paperwork
  40. Interview with either the same or a different case officer, either at your home or at the 法務局 {hōmykyoku} (Bureau of Legal Affairs), with your spouse (if applicable)
  41. Be available (either via phone and/or postal mail) to followup with any missing or need-to-be-revised paperwork
  42. While waiting for the results (should take at least six months), contact the 法務局 {hōmykyoku} (Bureau of Legal Affairs) at the number they provided you with your case number anytime you leave or enter Japan (including temporary vacations or business trips) or if anything major in your life changes (marriage, divorce, loss/change of job, etc)
  43. Get a call or postal mail from the 法務局 {hōmykyoku} (Bureau of Legal Affairs) regarding your successful (hopefully not unsuccessful!) naturalization
  44. Go to the 法務局 {hōmykyoku} (Bureau of Legal Affairs) to receive your 帰化者の身分証明書 {kikasha no mibun shōmeisho} (proof of naturalization) and possibly/optionally participate in a small ceremony
  45. Bring your completed 帰化届 {kika todoke} to the 区役所 {kuyakusho} or 市役所 {shiyakusho} along with your 外国人登録証明書 {gaikokujin tōroku shōmeisho} (Alien Registration Card) and/or another 帰化者の身分証明書 {kikasha no mibun shōmeisho} (proof of naturalization) to convert your records from foreigner to citizen, getting a 戸籍 {koseki} (family register) and a 住民票 {jūminhyō} (resident registration). Bring your spouse if necessary
  46. (optional) Apply for a 住基カード {jūki kādo} (Residency Registration identification card).
  47. Go to the embassy or consulate to renounce/relinquish your previous citizenship. Depending on the instructions you receive which depend on your nationality, you may need to:
  48. (U.S. citizens): make an appointment to meet with a consular officer. Meet with a consular officer. Turn in your passport. This will require either one or two appointments. Wait anywhere from four to nine months on average.
  49. (U.S. citizens) Receive a Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN) probably by mail with your cancelled passport book and possibly passport card.
  50. (for those who renounce/relinquish after naturalization) Note your Loss of Foreign Nationality (外国国籍喪失届 {gaikoku kokuseki sōshitsu todoke}) on your family register (戸籍 {koseki}) at your local city hall or ward office (市役所／区役所 {shiyakusho/kuyakusho}).
  51. (former U.S. citizens) File a 8854 with your last 1040 and 1040NR Income Tax Statement
  52. (optional) Apply for your 日本国の旅券 {nipponkoku no ryoken} (Japanese passport) and optionally register for use of the automated gates at immigration as a Japanese citizen.
  53. Change your name on your Japanese driver's licenses, bank, loan and credit accounts, utilities and services, membership cards, etc.
  54. (optional) Apply for a new 実印 {jitsuin} (registered seal) with your new name and register it at the 区役所 {kuyakusho} or 市役所 {shiyakusho}.
  55. (may be optional) Change your name on your overseas identification, bank, loan and credit accounts, membership cards, etc.
  56. (optional) Get a copy (digital or real) of the 官報 {kanpō} (Diet's Official Gazette) with a copy of your name in it showing you've naturalized as a souvenir.

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