📅 This article was written on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
A little personal update… Recently, I’ve finally been able to go to the office regularly again 😊
And if I can lose a little weight, I’m planning to buy a new suit 👗✨
Until then, I’ve decided to avoid wearing my current suits for a while (my “suit fasting” 😂).
🇯🇵 Today’s topic: “Naturalization Application”
A naturalization application means applying to become a Japanese citizen.
Choosing which nationality you want to live as is something only you can decide—no one can force you 🌱✨
Japan uses a “principle of application,” and naturalization is one of the clearest examples of this.
Japan does not ask people to become Japanese.
It is a personal choice.
👉 If you feel that living in Japan as a Japanese citizen would make your life easier, naturalization may be a good option for you.
However, naturalization is not easy.
There are clear requirements, and not everyone can apply⚖️🇯🇵
This time, the applicant is an Indian business owner who has been running a company in Japan for many years.
📘 Basic Naturalization Requirements
(These are only the basic points. Required documents vary depending on each person.)
✔ Lived in Japan for at least 3 years
→ People with only a 1-year visa cannot apply.
✔ Continuously living in Japan for 5 years
(At least 3 of those years must include working)
→ For spouses of Japanese nationals, the spouse’s employment status is considered.
✔ Annual income of around 3 million yen
→ This is only a general guideline and varies by area.
✔ Not leaving Japan for over 100 days in a year
→ Long stays abroad may affect eligibility.
✔ No unpaid or overdue taxes
→ This is extremely important.
✔ Japanese language ability (around 2nd–3rd grade elementary school level)
→ Reading, writing, and basic conversation.
✔ No criminal record
→ Judged by common-sense standards.
✔ Being an adult in both Japan and your home country
→ The legal age of adulthood differs by country.
✔ Able to renounce your home country’s nationality
→ Japan does not allow dual nationality.
📝 Application Process (It’s longer than most people expect!)
1️⃣ Reservation for the first consultation (about 4 months later)
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2️⃣ First consultation → Reservation for pre-check (about 6 months later)
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3️⃣ Pre-check → Reservation for official application (around 3 months later)
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4️⃣ Application submission
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5️⃣ Approval (takes about 2 years)
⏳ Yes… it is a long process.
And doing everything alone can be stressful 💦
But‼️ with good preparation, it is possible ✨
📄 Documents you MUST bring to the first consultation
・Current and old residence cards
・All passports you have ever used
・Health insurance card
・Driver’s license
・Most recent withholding tax slip (源泉徴収票)
These will definitely be checked ✔️
🧭 Why ask an administrative scrivener (行政書士) for help?
Of course, some people apply on their own and receive approval.
However, considering the large number of documents, checking requirements, and scheduling…
Using an行政書士 can give you:
✨ Peace of mind
✨ Better accuracy
✨ Faster preparation
Next time, I will explain these benefits in detail 😊✨
Thank you as always for reading 🌈💐
See you again soon!
📣 You can contact us on LINE!
📱 Add us easily using the link below👇
🔗 https://lin.ee/9jrPDizj
🏢 Kawana Administrative Scrivener Office
🌐 https://kawana-gyosei.com/
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📞 042-705-5138
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