Part of Nationality law reverted New Year's Eve

This post isn't about naturalization to Japan. It's about the acquisition of nationality by birth to unmarried parents, one of whom has Japanese nationality and one who doesn't. But since this blog/site is called "Becoming legally Japanese", it fits, so we'll cover it.

Japan modified its nationality laws for three years: starting January 1st, 2009 and ending December 31st of 2011 last year. The new law said that if the father was Japanese, and acknowledged paternity, then the child could receive Japanese nationality even if they were never married.

This addresses a problem where a mother, who does not have Japanese nationality, had a child with a Japanese father, but was unable to secure Japanese nationality immediately after birth (or the reverse).

This process is different from naturalization. All you need to do is:

• file the paperwork showing that the father or mother acknowledged paternity
• Be a minor (under 20 years of age)
• Never have previously been Japanese
• The father or mother, alive or dead, must be or have been Japanese

This paperwork can be filed in Japan or overseas at a consulate or embassy.

The temporary amendment was known as Article 3 of the Nationality Law. More information can be found from a pamphlet in our documentation collection.