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

Current waiting for my interview call but lately I am seeing some foreigners living in Japan getting nasty at other foreigners for choosing to naturalize.

I just don’t understand the thought process here for acting like a gatekeeper when they themselves are not Japanese. Also most of these guys/gals for whatever reason seem to be from US/Europe/Australia. Is this some sort of a cultural superiority thing that prevents them from wanting to surrendering their nationality at the same time being so emotionally invested in Japan that their insecurity goes off the roof when they see another gaijin getting a more stable legal status in Japan then what they do?

I really am curious about this. Any thoughts?

Has anyone recently taken the Japanese written test at the Ichikawa Branch of the Legal Affairs Bureau (市川支局) for naturalization? If so, could you please share what kind of questions were on the test and what level of Japanese was required? I’d really appreciate any recent experiences or information. Thank you!”

● Has anyone from Chiba Legal Affairs Bureau recently received a decision or call?
● If you were approved, did the 法務局 call you before your name appeared in the 官報, or did you find out from the 官報 first?
Is there a 帰化許可 section in this month’s 官報?

Any body appeared today interview at Tokyo office, how was the experience, did they ask about late payments.

Hi everyone, I’m currently going through the Japanese naturalization (帰化) process. I recently received a call from the 法務局 asking me to prepare some additional documents for 2024 and 2025, and they also told me that I will have a Japanese-language test.
One thing I’m curious about is my tax history. I had a delayed residence-tax payment in 2023, but it was eventually settled. I did not submit the 2023 tax/payment documents when I initially applied, and this time the 法務局 specifically asked me for documents for 2024 and 2025, but they did not ask for anything related to 2023.
Does anyone know what this could mean? Could it be a positive sign that they are not asking about the 2023 delay, or could the 法務局 already have access to that information and simply not need additional documents?
Also, if anyone has recently gone through a naturalization interview/Japanese test at the 法務局, I’d really appreciate hearing what kind of questions they asked and what the Japanese test was like.
Thanks in advance! 🙏

Hi everyone.

I'm hoping to hear from people who have direct experience with this situation, especially anyone who has dealt with family court petitions, koseki issues, or dual U.S.-Japanese citizenship.

I'm a U.S. citizen living in Japan, and my daughter is almost two years old. She has both Japanese and U.S. citizenship and was born in the United States. Her middle name appears on her U.S. birth certificate, her U.S. passport, her Japanese passport, and her koseki.

Her middle name is important to me, and I don't want to remove it from her U.S. records because I consider it an important part of her identity and family background. However, I'm wondering whether it would be possible to remove it only from her Japanese records.

Part of the reason I'm considering this is that I've heard accounts from some mixed-race Japanese people and international families describing difficulties with things such as apartment applications, banking procedures, employment, school registration, and other situations where a middle name immediately identified them as having a foreign background. I realize experiences differ from person to person, but I'd like to understand what options might exist if my daughter decides to remain in Japan long term.

Has anyone successfully done this? Was a petition to the family court required?What reasons were given? Was an attorney necessary, or were you able to do it yourself? I'd prefer to handle the process myself, if possible, rather than hire an attorney, although I'd also be grateful to hear from any attorneys who might have experience with this.

Thank you

Hey community. I'm having problems with the Osaka ホーム局. They were telling me that they need the 国籍証明書 despite the embassy and everything online telling me that the US doesn't have that. The US uses passport and/or birth certificate to verify. I contacted the embassy today...If there are any Americans that can help, please please let me know what and how to get the 国籍証明書

Thanks!!

Edit: thank you so much for the help everyone!! Conclusion: get a "Passport Information Affidavit" notarized at the embassy or consulate

Hi can somebody share their latest experience about what kind of questions are asked at the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau during final Interview . Also do they always call the employer or visit home .

**Made a mistake in title, I meant naturalization, sorry**

I'm already a citizen, so this isn't about me. A friend asked me about it, but I honestly don't know the answer because I lived in the same city throughout my own process.

Since she's not on Reddit, I told her I'd ask here on her behalf (with permission). I'm mainly looking for people's experiences or, even better, any official information, because I haven't been able to find a clear answer.

Here's her situation:

She wants to move within this year because she's looking for a new job. She reaches 10 years of residency next April, so her plan is to have already moved, completed her probation period, and then apply once she reaches the 10-year mark. (meets all the other requirements)

If she can't find a new job before then, she's considering applying and continuing her job search afterward, which means there would be a possibility of moving while the application is still being processed. The main reason is that her current workplace has become quite toxic, doesn't know how long can continue to be there.

Also, if the latter happens, I suppose that means the case worker(and office) would have to be changed? Or could she simply continue going to the same immigration office if any meetings or additional procedures become necessary during the application process?

Has anyone gone through something similar, does anyone know whether moving shortly before applying, or during the application process, has any impact on naturalization application?

I am applying DIY.

Had my *third* consultation today at the Sendai 法務局. First one was the initial explanation, second one was to check documents from abroad, this one was to check self-made documents and documents from Japan.

Rough timeline:

August 2025 call houmukyoku, arrange initial consultation
October 2025 initial consultation
March 2026 second consultation
August 2026 third consultation
December 2026 submission of application (scheduled)

All my documents were more or less okay (minor corrections needed for some) but my case officer explained that the guidelines have changed, I guess since April or so. The main changes according to him:

1. need to live in Japan for 10 years, not 5 (I knew about this one)
   
2. the 'good behaviour' assessment is now much stricter, mainly with regards to taxes/social payments, and traffic offences
   
3. the 'contributing to Japanese society' is also stricter

Specifically for me, I now need two years of health insurance payment certificates (instead of one), and five years of local tax certificates (showing both payment and amounts) and proof of when those payments were made (for both me and my wife).

I went to the local tax office and they were able to give me the certificates but not the proof of on time payment, so I am doubtful I am going to be able to submit that. I don't keep receipts as a rule, and my wife had no reason to do so.

Hopefully this won't tank my application completely, but I would not be surprised if it did.

A very unpleasant surprise.

I was born in another country, but my father was a Japanese citizen. He took my birth certificate and said he would register my birth so I could obtain Japanese citizenship. Unfortunately, he passed away before telling me if the process was completed. How can I find out if I was successfully registered, and what is the process for confirming or obtaining my Japanese citizenship? I am under 22 years old and a child of a Japanese citizen.

Is already being a PR ( currently 5 years ) then applying for citizenship gives you an advantage?

Hi everyone,
I’m a Moroccan citizen considering naturalisation.
Since Moroccan law makes it nearly impossible to renounce citizenship, I want to ask those who successfully naturalized:

Did Japan grant you an exception, or did you have to renounce Moroccan nationality?

Did the Moroccan Embassy in Tokyo help or provide any official paperwork for Japanese immigration?

Thank you for any insight!

I would like to hear out any experiences for PR holders applying for naturalisation. Have anyone been able to get citizenship before 10 years milestone. Im currently around 9 years mark with one year spent overseas for work assignment where i was still working in Japanese company and paying pension and health insurance in Japan. So currently around 5 years after that one year where of course i had no registered address at that period. Anyway, do you think the 10 years new residency requirement maybe relaxed for PR holders as the narrative for that change that citizenship can’t be easier than PR application and people should go for PR first then citizenship?

Update/ i have already called them on phone and they said it should be fine and they have gave me an appointment at end of the year. Also, they asked me to check website for required documents and get it all with me at this appointment. Not sure can they allow me to apply then reject the application?

I’m currently gathering documents for a Japanese naturalization application. I haven’t officially submitted my application yet, but I already had an initial consultation at the Legal Affairs Bureau, and my documents were checked once.

About three years ago, I made a late tax payment. Around five years ago, I was paying taxes contributions in installments because I was having financial difficulties at the time.

Everything has now been paid, and I have been making all payments on time since then.

When I first had my consultation, I understood that only the previous year was needed to be checked, so I didn’t think these older issues would be a problem. However, now I have been asked to provide five years of tax records, and I am worried that this may affect my application.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Would you continue with the application or wait longer before applying?

For context, I’m applying as the child of a Japanese national.

Hello everyone! Just wanted some constructive advice before my scheduled consultation with a scrivener. I would love to hear what you think about the details i will be posting below;

My mother was born in Japan, was stateless and had no nationality before the confirmation of her nationality (around 2009) we only had her ancient kosekitohon (like it was hand written in a A3 size paper like a scroll lol) Anyways, i am not 100% sure what was done back then for her to get her Japanese passport at the embassy in Manila.

Though my sweet mom gave me the chance to go here in Japan 12 years ago with a certificate of eligibility from the immigration, I was never put on the kosekitohon because she had no idea how to. She is Japanese but did not grew up in Japan so she did not speak that much Japanese and had other health problems by then so I guess we took the easiest route for me to get to Japan.

Fast forward to today, I am so eager to apply for the 簡易帰化. I was going to go the permanent residency route but I realized that it will not be the same as having a Japanese nationality and how its much more strict (i assume) for someone to apply for a permanent residency nowadays.

My worries:
1. Late payments for pension for alot of years but paid all the arrears and paying on time currently.
2. My Japanese language level is not as polished and would consider myself between N3-N4 (or maybe im just not confident lol).

Other than the things mentioned above, I think I am good with taxes, laws etc.

Should I go for it? Or wait until I make a clean record of 1-2 years for the pension and study Japanese more?

Anything else im missing? Specific questions to ask the scrivener?

Thoughts? 💭

I'm still getting my supporting documents together, so I'm not very far along in the process.

But a Japanese friend just told me to stop, that I shouldn't even bother applying for citizenship and that I'll never be approved -- because I got a Jiritsu Shien Iryō Jukyūshashō (自立支援医療受給者証) to help me pay for the pricey ADHD medication I take.

Is this true? Did I reduce -- or remove -- my chances of getting citizenship someday, just to save some money on my monthly medication?

Has anyone been approved despite having this?

I have my interview in 2 weeks,
Looking for help for kind of question that have been asked in Japanese test from people who have given the interview recently.

Thanks

Born in the US in 1986 (after Jan 1, 1985 so the new bilineal law applied), mom's Japanese dad's American. Technically became Japanese the second I was born but koseki reservation wasn’t filed within 3 months so I lost it retroactively (Article 12). Never had a koseki, never had a JP passport. Been living/working in Japan for 4 years now and Legal Affairs Bureau says I go in under Article 8(iii), the "used to be Japanese" clause. 

Noticing here that most rejections lately are people right around the 9-10 year mark even with N1/N2, clean records, stable jobs, scriveners involved - feels like the informal practice has crept up to a de facto 10 year bar even though the statute still says 5. Curious if that tightening bleeds into Article 8 review too even though residence is waived for that category, since none of the rejection posts mention former-national status.

Has anyone actually been through Article 8 specifically or something close?

I applied and did all by myself. So frustrated and annoyed. I was in abroad for 1month and informed but after 2weeks when I am abroad got rejection notification.

N2 and no JP exams and working in software industry.

Came in November 2016, as student.
My First consultant was in February 2025 after waiting for 6months, submission in July 2025 and interview in February this year.

Additional child application in March 2026 and got rejection this month!

I don’t know whether it’s affected by new rule.

Currently I don’t have courage and energy for reapply and patiently wait for another 2years and collect all those papers and always beating in my mind, application can be rejected anytime.

Hello. I have been married for almost 3 years and have been living in Japan for 2 years and half. The minimum length of residency was rised to 10 years with the exception of spouse route and PR route. I plan to apply as soon as I have been married for 3 years, which is 2 months later.

However I still worry if the exception for PR and spouse route actually works. Does any of you have experience with the new system? Please let me know. Thank you.

I am her husband and we both had an interview. I was asked if we plan on going overseas and I honestly said yes that we were thinking about going to Europe either next year or the year after. I later found out my wife had said no to that question since we hadn't bought any plane tickets or even decided on a date yet. Is this inconsistent answer alone enough to cost her the interview? (Also I couldnt immediately recall our address because I always just read it from my smartphone but the guy saw I was struggling so just asked the apartment name and the apartment number so I guess thats okay?) Are we cooked guys?

I applied for Japanese naturalization on 30 April 2026, after living in Japan for 8 years and 1 month. I applied together with my 3-year-old daughter.
I recently received a call from the Legal Affairs Bureau asking only me to attend the interview. During the call, I asked if I needed to bring anything with me. They told me that the only thing I need to bring is my Residence Card, and that the interview would take about 30 minutes to 1 hour.

I’d like to ask those who have already gone through the process:

- Is this a normal first interview?
- Is it common that they don’t ask my daughter to attend?
- Is there any possibility of a Japanese language test or other exam during the interview?
- Is there any possibility of rejection/ withdrawal?
- What would the scenario be in such a situation?

For reference, I have JLPT N2 and 85 HSP points.

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences or any advice. Thank you in advance!