FAQ: How old do you have to be to naturalize?

You have to be an adult in Japan...
You have to be an adult in both of your countries, unless your parent(s) or legal guardian is naturalizing with you (a family naturalization).

This means you have to be twenty (20) years old. However, if your original country has a higher age for the recognition of adulthood, you have to clear that hurdle too. So if in your home country, you're not an adult until you're 22, you have to wait until you're 22 to naturalize.

There are certain parts of the naturalization procedure that are different if you're under fifteen (15) years old:

  • You don't sign the 垰化蚱可申請曞 {kika kyoka shinseisho} (Permission to naturalize application form); your parent / legal guardian does
  • You don't need to fill out the 履歎曞 {rirekisho} (Personal History Form)
  • You don't need to write the 動機曞 {dōkisho} (Motivational Essay)
  • You don't need to sign the 宣誓曞 {senseisho} (Oath Statement)
  • Your photo on the application needs to be with your parent(s) or legal guardian, with you, the child applicant, in the center

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