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The naturalization application process to acquire Japanese nationality was revised starting April 1, 2026. The Minister of Justice announced at a press conference after the cabinet meeting on March 27, 2026, that for the naturalization review, the requirement of “integration into Japanese society” will, in principle, require a Status of Residence for 10 years or more and integration into Japanese society, and that the period for confirming the payment status of taxes and social insurance premiums will be extended.
On the other hand, Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 1 of the Nationality Act, which states “having had a domicile in Japan for five consecutive years or more,” remains unchanged. This creates a dual structure where “the law states five years, but the review process, in principle, requires ten years,” making it unclear whether naturalization is possible in five years or if ten years are necessary. This article clarifies what has changed and what has not yet been specified, based on publicly available materials from the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs Bureau, and parliamentary responses.
The details of the revision confirmed in the public materials are as follows:
| Item | Content | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Announcement | March 27, 2026, Minister of Justice Press Conference after Cabinet Meeting | Ministry of Justice |
| Start Date | From April 1, 2026 | Ibid. |
| Length of Stay | For the review of the “integration into Japanese society” requirement, a Status of Residence for 10 years or more is, in principle, required. | Ibid. / Written Response (July 28, 2026) |
| Taxes/Social Insurance Premiums | Period for confirming payment status will be extended. | Minister of Justice Press Conference |
| Nationality Act Article | Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 1 “having had a domicile in Japan for five consecutive years or more” remains unchanged. | e-Gov Law Search / Written Response |
| Reason for Revision | To ensure consistency with the review for Application for Permission for Permanent Residence. | Minister of Justice Press Conference / Written Response |
In response to questions at the press conference, the Minister of Justice explained that this revision is based on the premise that applicants meet the five-year domicile requirement of the Nationality Act, and is being implemented from the perspective of consistency with the review for Application for Permission for Permanent Residence, requiring a certain Period of Stay within the Minister of Justice’s discretion. The government’s written response (July 28, 2026) to a question from the House of Councillors also stated that while maintaining the five-year condition as “reasonable,” it was decided that, in principle, a Status of Residence for 10 years or more would be required in practice.
The Ministry of Justice’s “Nationality Q&A” also explains the six conditions for naturalization and states that “it is necessary to be integrated into Japanese society, including having sufficient Japanese proficiency (conversation, reading, and writing) for daily life and having a Status of Residence for 10 years or more.” The Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau’s “About Naturalization” (updated April 1, 2026) contains similar content.
💡 In short: While the legal minimum requirement remains “5 years,” the actual review now considers “a Status of Residence for 10 years or more, in principle” and “integration into Japanese society.”
The conditions for naturalization are stipulated in Article 5 of the Nationality Act. This revision concerns the length of stay in the “integration into Japanese society” part, which is reviewed separately from these six conditions.
| Condition | Summary of Nationality Act Content | Points Added to Review from April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Domicile Condition (Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 1) | Having had a domicile in Japan for five consecutive years or more | Article text unchanged |
| Capacity Condition (Item 2) | Being 18 years of age or older and having legal capacity under one’s national law | ― |
| Good Conduct Condition (Item 3) | Being of good conduct | Period for confirming taxes and social insurance premiums extended |
| Livelihood Condition (Item 4) | Being able to earn a living with one’s own assets/skills or those of a relative with whom one shares a livelihood | Ibid. |
| Prevention of Dual Nationality Condition (Item 5) | Losing one’s original nationality upon naturalization (with exceptions) | ― |
| Constitutional Compliance Condition (Item 6) | Not having planned or advocated for the violent destruction of the government, or formed/joined such organizations | ― |
| Integration into Japanese Society | A requirement indicated in the Ministry of Justice’s guidance, separate from the six conditions in the article text | In principle, a Status of Residence for 10 years or more, Japanese proficiency, etc. |
For Spouse or Child of Japanese National and those born in Japan, some domicile conditions are relaxed under Articles 6 to 8 of the Nationality Act (e.g., for a Spouse or Child of Japanese National who has continuously had a domicile or residence in Japan for three years or more and currently has a domicile in Japan).
At the Minister of Justice’s press conference, it was stated that for the good conduct condition and livelihood condition, the period for confirming the payment status of taxes and social insurance premiums would be extended. According to the attachment document guidance published by the Legal Affairs Bureau (for “Other Nationalities/Regions” by Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau and Fukuoka Regional Immigration Services Bureau, confirmed on October 23, 2026), the main documents for salaried workers are as follows:
| Document | Period |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Residence Tax Assessment (or Non-taxation Certificate, with total income amount stated) | Most recent 5 years |
| Certificate of Residence Tax Payment (or Non-taxation Certificate) | 5 years up to the previous year |
| Documents proving timely payment of residence tax (copy of bank passbook, dated receipts, etc.) | Most recent 5 years (not required if paid by special collection) |
| Withholding tax slip | Most recent 1 year |
| Payment certificates for public pension insurance premiums, national health insurance premiums, etc. | Most recent 2 years |
| Documents proving timely payment of social insurance premiums | Most recent 2 years (only if payment period cannot be determined from payment certificate. Not required if paid by special collection or salary deduction) |
For those obligated to file a final tax return, a Certificate of Income Tax Payment (Part 1 and Part 2, most recent 3 years) and a copy of the final tax return (most recent 1 year) will be added. For sole proprietors, Certificates of Consumption Tax and Business Tax Payment (most recent 3 years) will be added, and for company officers, Certificates of Corporate Tax Payment will be added. If there is a spouse or family member who shares living expenses, their documents will also be required.
The key point is that the documents will confirm not only “whether payment was made” but also “whether payment was made by the deadline.” The Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau’s guidance also provides a list of the fiscal years to be obtained for each reception period (e.g., those applying between September 2026 and May 2027 will need tax assessment certificates from Reiwa 4 to Reiwa 8).
The reason for the review is “consistency with the Permanent Residency Permit screening.” When compared with the guidelines for Permanent Residency Permit revised on October 1, 2026, the following applies:
| Item | Naturalization (Screening from April 1, 2026) | Permanent Residency Permit (Guidelines revised October 1, Reiwa 8) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Conditions | Nationality Act Article 5: Continuous residence for 5 years or more | Immigration Control Act Article 22: Good conduct, stable livelihood, and conformity with national interests |
| Length of Stay | Operationally, generally 10 years or more of residence | Generally, continuous residence for 10 years or more (of which 5 years or more with a work Status of Residence or residential Status of Residence) |
| Outcome | Acquisition of Japanese nationality (original nationality generally lost) | Residence without Period of Stay restrictions while retaining foreign nationality |
| Contact Point | Legal Affairs Bureau / District Legal Affairs Bureau | Regional Immigration Services Bureau |
The revised content of the Permanent Residency Permit guidelines will generally apply to applications submitted from April 1, 2027, onwards. If you are unsure whether to aim for Naturalization or Permanent Residency, please also refer to the related article “Permanent Residency Permit Guidelines Finalized | Applications Under Review and Revocation Criteria.”
The following points have not been specifically indicated in the public documents from the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs Bureau:
All of these points are accompanied by the phrase “as a general rule,” leaving room for judgment based on individual circumstances. If you are unsure whether you meet the conditions, it is advisable to confirm with the Legal Affairs Bureau in your area of residence before starting to prepare your application.
For residents of Miyazaki Prefecture, the single point of contact for Naturalization consultations and applications is the Family Register Division of the Miyazaki District Legal Affairs Bureau (Miyazaki City), and consultations require an appointment. The process for contacting the office and making an appointment is organized in “Naturalization Application in Miyazaki | Consultations at Miyazaki District Legal Affairs Bureau Only, by Appointment.”
Those preparing to apply in Miyazaki Prefecture can minimize wasted effort by checking in the following order:
When a foreign national employee consults about naturalization, the company’s involvement primarily concerns the following points:
Requests may also come from former employees for documents such as withholding tax slips or proof of past employment periods. Confirming how many years of documents are stored within the company will facilitate a smooth response.
Q1. I have lived in Japan for 6 years. Can I not apply for Naturalization?
Even if you meet the Nationality Act’s condition (residence for 5 years or more), examinations from April 1, 2026, onwards will generally require a Period of Stay of 10 years or more and integration into Japanese society. While it has not been stated that applications themselves will not be accepted, whether an individual case falls under an exception to this “principle” will be judged individually. Please confirm with the Legal Affairs Bureau before applying.
Q2. I am married to a Japanese national. Is 10 years required?
Spouse or Child of Japanese National are subject to relaxed residence conditions under Article 7 of the Nationality Act. How the 10-year principle will be applied in such cases has not been indicated in public documents from the Ministry of Justice or Legal Affairs Bureau. Please confirm with the Legal Affairs Bureau.
Q3. There was a year when I forgot to pay Resident tax and paid it later.
The Legal Affairs Bureau’s guidance requires documents (for the most recent 5 years) proving that Resident tax was paid at the appropriate time. The payment date will appear on bank passbook copies or receipts. Please explain the circumstances during your consultation and confirm how it will be handled.
Q4. Has the law been revised?
No, it has not been revised. Article 5 of the Nationality Act’s “continuously for 5 years or more” remains unchanged; the requirement for a Period of Stay of 10 years or more is an operational guideline for the examination (Minister of Justice’s press conference and response document).
From April 1, 2026, for Naturalization applications, while the 5-year condition of the Nationality Act remains, a Period of Stay of 10 years or more and integration into Japanese society are generally required. For Resident tax, 5 years of documents, and for social insurance premiums, 2 years of documents will be checked, including whether payments were made by the deadline. Since the method of counting “10 years” and its application to Spouse or Child of Japanese National have not been publicly announced, it is important to confirm with the Legal Affairs Bureau before starting preparations.
💴 Support Fee for Application for Permission of Naturalization is listed on the “Pricelist” (Naturalization services are limited to residents within Miyazaki Prefecture). The first consultation is free for up to 60 minutes online. If you wish to organize your situation beforehand, you can also use our free tool “Naturalization Eligibility Diagnosis“.
As an Administrative Scrivener Corporation in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture, our office assists with the preparation of documents for Application for Permission of Naturalization and helps clarify the choice between Naturalization and Permanent Residency.
For procedures that can be filed online, such as applications for a Certificate of Eligibility, change of status of residence and extension of period of stay, we accept requests from clients nationwide. Meetings are held online (Google Meet, LINE) and documents are exchanged by mail or electronically, so there is no need to visit our office. Applications for Permission for Permanent Residence and for Permission of Naturalization cannot be filed online and must be submitted at the counter, so they are limited to residents of Miyazaki Prefecture. Depending on the procedure and its urgency, you may need to collect your Residence Card at the counter of the immigration office covering the area where you live. Online applications cannot be filed on the last day of your period of stay, so please consult us as early as possible.
Please feel free to use our free consultation service first.
📞 To book a phone consultation: 0985-68-0851
Before you submit, let us take a look.
Free Immigration Pre-Submission Check ›
For those who will apply for a status of residence at the Immigration Services Bureau by themselves. Before you submit, we check your application form and supporting documents and tell you about any missing documents and points to watch. We accept checks online (Google Meet, about 20 minutes) or via LINE.
・Eligible: applications for a Certificate of Eligibility, change of status of residence and extension of period of stay (applications for permanent residence are accepted only from residents of Miyazaki Prefecture). Naturalization is not covered.
・Online (Google Meet): once per application. Replies via LINE: available for the same application until you submit it.
・Our guideline for replies via LINE is, in principle, within 2 business days (we are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays; replies may take longer when we are busy).
・Please send copies of your documents by LINE or email. For your residence card, send the front side only; please do not send the side showing your My Number.
・What we tell you is our office’s opinion. It does not guarantee approval; the outcome depends on the decision of the Immigration Services Bureau.
・We only point out missing documents and points to watch. We do not prepare or rewrite your application documents for you or draft text for them, and we do not tell you whether your application is likely to be approved (if you would like to engage us, we will introduce the Self-Prep Course, the Light Plan and the Standard Plan).
・If we find that a document contains information that is not true, or that the application is not your own (or a family member’s), we will decline the check.
This article was written based on publicly available information as of October 2026. Details of the system and implementation dates may change in the future. For actual applications, please confirm with official information from the Ministry of Justice/Legal Affairs Bureau or our office.
Author of this article: Administrative Scrivener Authorized to File Applications, Satoshi Nakayama
Representative, Administrative Scrivener Corporation Miyazaki International Legal Office
Location: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture
