Japan raises bar for foreigners seeking citizenship to 10 years

The Japanese government has increased the residency requirement for foreign nationals seeking citizenship from five to ten consecutive years, as part of efforts to tighten the naturalisation process.

The Justice Ministry announced that the new rule, which takes effect from April 1, also introduces stricter documentation requirements for applicants.

As reported by the Economic Times on Tuesday, Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said the move was necessary to address concerns over the ease of acquiring citizenship.

“The changes aim to address concerns that obtaining Japanese nationality has been easier than securing permanent residency. Lawmakers had raised questions in parliament last year, noting that citizenship grants voting rights, and argued it should not be simpler to acquire than permanent residency,” he said.

Under the revised guidelines, applicants must submit two years of social insurance records and five years of tax payment certificates, expanding on previous requirements.

A ministry noted that the changes are unlikely to disrupt applications.

“Naturalisation applications undergo comprehensive screening, and most successful applicants typically have lived in Japan for ten years or longer,” an official said.

The ministry clarified that the revisions affect administrative guidelines rather than the nationality law itself, which still formally requires five years of residence. However, officials say the updated framework brings citizenship standards closer to those for permanent residency.

Applicants who filed before April 1 under the previous five-year rule will still be assessed based on existing criteria, with final decisions subject to the minister’s discretion.

The policy shift follows concerns raised by lawmakers, who argued that the process for obtaining citizenship should reflect its long-term legal and civic implications.

In 2025, more than 9,200 foreign nationals were naturalized, with Chinese and South Korean citizens making up the majority. By comparison, about 932,000 foreigners held permanent residency in Japan as of June 2025.