How to Get Japan CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- None
- Dual citizenship
- Not accepted
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Not acceptedNew citizens must give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad lose their citizenship automatically.
- Available routes
- Region
- Asia
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024GLOBALCIT baseline, plus 1 later in-force change applied where the data records a new value.
- Last checked
- 5 November 2026
What changed since 2024
- In force
Stricter naturalisation screening from 1 April 2026; the government plans to raise the residence requirement from 5 to 10 years (law still states 5).
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. 1 later in-force change in the timeline above takes precedence where it differs.
Naturalisation (residence)
This route covers foreign residents who seek citizenship after living in Japan, subject to the conditions below. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
In force, 1 April 2026: Stricter naturalisation screening from 1 April 2026; the government plans to raise the residence requirement from 5 to 10 years (law still states 5).
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been domiciled in Japan for a continuous period of 5 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
Renunciation of another citizenship required (requirement can be waived if renunciation is impossible, e.g. for refugees).
- Language
- No language requirement
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Good character required. Person may not have advocated the overthrow of the Constitution or the Government of Japan.
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Sufficient means of support either in the person's own property or ability or that of the spouse/relatives
Marriage or civil partnership
This route covers people married to a citizen of Japan, subject to the conditions below. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person is the spouse of a citizen and has been domiciled or resident in Japan for 3 consecutive years. Or the person has been married with a citizen for 3 years and has been domiciled in Japan for 1 consecutive year. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except requirements relating to age and full capacity).
Descent (citizen parent)
Descent from a citizen parent is the basis of this route in Japan. Japan grants citizenship by operation of law, requiring no decision from any authority.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Japan to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen. (But see the interrelationship with mode L06 with regard to those who also acquired at birth the citizenship of their country of birth.)
Birth in the country
For people born in Japan, the rules below show when birth there leads to citizenship. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person is born in Japan and has been domiciled or resident in Japan for 3 consecutive years. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation. Or person is born in Japan to a person who was also born in Japan. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement).
Child of a new citizen
For children whose parent becomes a citizen of Japan, the rules below set out what applies. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person is the child of a citizen and is domiciled in Japan. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except requirements relating to residence, age, full capacity, and means of living).
Adoption
Adoption by a citizen of Japan is the basis of this route. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person is adopted by a citizen, has been domiciled in Japan for 1 consecutive year, and was a minor according to the law of his/her native country at the time of the adoption. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except requirements relating to age, full capacity, and means of living).
Other family members of citizens
For certain relatives of citizens, former citizens or new citizens of Japan, the rules below set out what applies.
Transfer from former citizen
Person is a descendant of a former citizen has been domiciled or resident in Japan for 3 continuous years. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Transfer from deceased citizen
Person is the child of a deceased father.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
For former citizens of Japan, the rules below show when citizenship can be reacquired.
Person is a former citizen other than by naturalisation and is domiciled in Japan. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except requirements relating to residence, age, full capacity, and means of living).
Person who is under the age of 20 and lost citizenship as a result of choosing for another citizenship that was acquired by birth in a foreign country (mode L06) will reacquire Japanese citizenship by making a notification to the Minister of Justice, provided that he/she is domiciled in Japan. A person who lost citizenship after receiving a notice for not choosing either foreign citizenship or Japanese citizenship (mode L06) will reacquire Japanese citizenship by making notification to the Minister of Justice within 1 year after becoming aware of the fact that he/she has lost Japanese citizenship and provided that the foreign citizenship is renounced.
Very long residence
This route covers people with an extended period of residence in Japan, subject to the conditions below. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person has been resident in Japan for a continuous period of 10 years. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Stateless persons
This route covers stateless people and children who would otherwise be stateless, subject to the conditions below.
Foundlings
Person is a child born in Japan of unknown parentage.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Japan to parents without citizenship.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Japan, has been stateless since birth, and has been domiciled in Japan for 3 consecutive years since then. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except requirements relating to age, full capacity, and means of living).
Special achievements
Special achievements, or a national interest in granting citizenship, are the basis of this route in Japan. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person has rendered special meritorious services to Japan. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement).
Not available in Japan: Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Refugees, Public or military service, Investment. This follows the GLOBALCIT coding, with in-force changes applied.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship is coded as not accepted in Japan, for new citizens and for citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad lose their citizenship automatically
Person voluntarily acquires citizenship of another country.
Compare with neighbours
Across Eastern Asia, the most common requirement is 5 years, and Japan sets the same period.
Check where Japan sits in the full residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 China | No route | No route | Not accepted |
 Mongolia | 5 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
 North Korea | No route | No route | Citizens abroad only |
 South Korea | 5 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
 Taiwan | 5 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 4-10.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (2026, November 5). How to Get Japan Citizenship. https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/japan/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/japan/">How to Get Japan Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, last checked 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Japanese citizen?
Ordinary naturalisation in Japan requires 5 years of residence, plus the other conditions in the law. A change in force since January 2024 also affects this: see the timeline above.
Does Japan allow dual citizenship?
No. Japan does not accept dual citizenship as a general rule, as coded in the data.
Do I need a language test for Japanese citizenship?
There is no language condition attached to Japanese citizenship.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Japanese citizenship?
There is no civic knowledge requirement for Japanese citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Japanese citizenship?
Renouncing your current citizenship is a condition of Japanese citizenship.
Can I get Japan citizenship by marriage?
Yes. Marriage to a citizen is a route to citizenship in Japan. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Japan citizenship by descent?
Yes, Japan has a descent route. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Japan citizenship by investment?
No. The data codes no citizenship-by-investment route for Japan.
Related pages
Also see: Japan passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.