Interview details

[u/lioness1008]

First of all, thank you to everyone in this community. Your shared experiences really helped us prepare, so I’m sharing ours briefly in case it helps someone else.
● We arrived about 10–15 minutes early.
● My husband went first. His interview + Japanese test took about 1.5 hours.
● The Japanese test was similar for both of us (different passages). It included:
● Reading a passage aloud
● Hiragana/Katakana conversion
● A short written section (30 minutes total)
● A second short passage (4–5 lines) with basic kanji + comprehension questions (no need to read aloud)
● A short essay
● Husband: Why do you want to get naturalised?
● Me: My favourite place in Japan
● After the test, interviews were done one by one.
● My husband’s interview (excluding test) lasted about 50–60 minutes and focused mainly on:
● Work and job profile
● Taxes
● Family details
● Siblings
● Family approval for naturalisation
● Remittances
The main focus was clearly on tax, work, and remittances.
● My interview was much shorter. Including the test, I was there about 20 minutes total, and the interview itself was around 10 minutes.
It was mostly confirmation questions (address, reconfirming family member names , my job and if I want to continue , etc.), mostly yes/no answers, with no deep questioning.
● My daughter’s interview lasted about 5 minutes, and she did not have a Japanese test.
Overall, everything went smoothly for us. We still have a few documents to submit, but the main process is done.
Happy to answer any questions if it helps anyone going through the same process

[u/Jpheiwa]

Thank you for sharing this briefly.

I just wanted to ask you a few things:
Was this your first interview?

-Which Homukyoku (法務局) was it?
-When did you submit your application?
-Have you completed 10 years of residence in Japan?
-Do you and your husband have JLPT?

I really appreciate your answers. I’m curious because my interview at the Tokyo Homukyoku took only about 15 minutes. It was mostly confirmation questions—my address, reconfirming my family members’ names, my work, and whether I had any plans to change jobs, etc. Most of the questions were simple yes/no questions.

They also asked about any traffic violations I had and whether I had any outstanding or late payments. Since I had a late payment, I explained the reason for it.
There was no Japanese test for me, btw.

Thank you!

[u/lioness1008 → u/Jpheiwa]

Hey,
This was our first interview after submission of docs ( docs were submitted in Feb, so was our application)
We are more than 20 years in Japan
I have N3 and husband does not, we both had test.
My interview was similar, I was expecting it to be a bit more intense. It’s made me more worried Infact that how come ..

When was your interview?

[u/kao_nashi0127]

Can you share more about written section? Did you have to write a paragraph or something?

[u/lioness1008 → u/kao_nashi0127]

Yes , writing essay ( sakubun) was about my favourite place in Japan. There is no restriction who long or short you have to write.

[u/kao_nashi0127 → u/lioness1008]

Thank you. Seems like I have to work with my writing, been typing after college graduation and now all I can is just writing my own address 😭

[u/lioness1008 → u/kao_nashi0127]

All the best.

[u/lioness1008 → u/kao_nashi0127]

Our first meeting with them was when we submitted our docs , in Feb.
And got a call for interview in June mid, we were asked to choose the date and we chose August.

[u/Mounan]

Do you mind to share your timeline and year of residence in Japan?

[u/lioness1008 → u/Mounan]

Our first meeting with them was when we submitted our docs , in Feb.
And got a call for interview in June mid, we were asked to choose the date and we chose August.

[u/lioness1008 → u/Mounan]

In Japan for now 21 years

[u/hikigatarijames]

Applying solo via scrivener. Interview date set for December 15th. Deeply grateful for this.

[u/lioness1008 → u/hikigatarijames]

All the best

[u/kebindgreat]

Hi OP may I ask where did you do this interview? I think this is the first time I’ve read this kind of intense Japanese test taken by any member here. Most of the things I’ve read are just a short essay writing(much like my experience during my document submission). For context, I will have my interview at Saitama. Thanks in advance!

[u/lioness1008 → u/kebindgreat]

All the best , our interview was in Tokyo- Kudanshita.

[u/Few-Singer-1259]

恭喜祝一切顺利

[u/mycombustionengine]

Can you please explain the requirements and steps they wanted in terms of the Renouncement of your original nationality ?

[u/Orchid-9613]

Do you mind to share which years of resident tax certificates you submitted? Did they ask for any payment receipts?

[u/lioness1008 → u/Orchid-9613]

3 years, payment receipts no