Building your long-term future in Japan.
Our Certified Immigration Specialist supports your permanent residency and naturalization applications.
Permanent residency is a status that allows you to reside in Japan indefinitely, with no restrictions on your activities or time period. You can work in any occupation, and unlike other residence statuses that are limited to 3 or 5 years, no renewal is required.
Because permanent residency offers significantly more relaxed immigration controls compared to other statuses, the requirements are strict and the screening process is thorough.
To obtain permanent residency, you must meet the following requirements:
You must be law-abiding and live as a responsible member of your community.
A common issue is repeated traffic violations. One or two minor violations are generally acceptable, but three or more violations within the past two years may make approval difficult.
Violations of immigration law, such as overstaying or unauthorized work, are also likely to result in a negative assessment of conduct.
You must have sufficient assets or income to support yourself without relying on public assistance such as welfare. This includes not only your current and past financial situation, but also the expectation of future financial stability.
This does not need to be the applicant's own income alone — household income demonstrating a stable livelihood is sufficient.
If you are the spouse or child of a Japanese national, permanent resident, or special permanent resident, Requirements 1 and 2 do not apply.
If you have been granted refugee status, Requirement 2 does not apply.
Not sure if you meet the requirements for permanent residency? Feel free to reach out for a free assessment.
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Naturalization is the process by which a foreign national acquires Japanese citizenship and becomes a Japanese national (Nationality Act, Article 4). While permanent residency allows you to remain in Japan as a foreign national, naturalization grants you the rights of a Japanese citizen (voting rights, Japanese passport, etc.) in exchange for losing your home country's nationality.
Naturalization applications are filed with the Legal Affairs Bureau (not immigration), and the review process typically takes 1 to 1.5 years from application to approval.
| Permanent Residency | Naturalization | |
|---|---|---|
| Essence | Reside indefinitely as a foreign national | Acquire Japanese nationality (become Japanese) |
| Legal Basis | Immigration Control Act | Nationality Act |
| Where to Apply | Immigration Services Agency | Legal Affairs Bureau |
| Residence Requirement | 10 years or more (in principle) | 5 years or more (in principle) |
| Voting Rights | None | Yes |
| Passport | Home country's passport | Japanese passport |
| Home Country Nationality | Retained | Lost (in principle) |
| Residence Card | Required (renewed every 7 years) | Not required (Japanese national) |
| Deportation | Possible | Not possible (Japanese national) |
For ordinary naturalization, all six of the following requirements must be met:
You must have had your domicile in Japan continuously for 5 years or more.
Extended absences from Japan may prevent the "continuously" requirement from being met. In practice, at least 3 years of work experience within those 5 years is expected. Those born in Japan, spouses of Japanese nationals, and biological children of Japanese nationals may qualify for reduced residence requirements.
You must be 18 years of age or older and have also reached the age of majority under your home country's laws.
Your conduct must be good.
Repeated traffic violations, unpaid taxes or pension contributions, and criminal records may prevent you from meeting this requirement. A driving record certificate covering the past 5 years is required as part of the application.
You must be able to support your livelihood through your own assets or skills, or those of your spouse or other family members living together.
Even if you do not have personal income, the requirement is met as long as your household as a whole can maintain a stable livelihood.
You must either be stateless or lose your home country's nationality upon acquiring Japanese citizenship.
Japan does not permit dual nationality (Nationality Act, Article 11, Paragraph 1). You must be stateless or renounce your home country's nationality after naturalization. However, if you are unable to lose your home nationality regardless of your own intent, an exception may be granted under special circumstances.
You must not have plotted or advocated the overthrow by violence of the Constitution of Japan or the government established thereunder, nor have formed or belonged to any organization with such objectives.
You must have sufficient Japanese language ability for daily life in Japan.
Both conversational and reading/writing skills are required. You may be tested on your Japanese ability during the screening process.
The following individuals may qualify for relaxed requirements:
The government is reportedly considering extending the residence requirement for naturalization from the current 5 years to 10 years (as reported in November 2025). This page will be updated once any changes are officially enacted. Please contact us for the latest information.
*Actual expenses (transportation, postage, etc.) are charged separately.
*Naturalization applications require extensive documentation; we will provide an individual quote.
No, there are exceptions. For example, if you are married to a Japanese national or permanent resident, or if you hold a high score under the Highly Skilled Professional points system, you may be eligible to apply without waiting 10 years. We offer a free assessment to determine whether your situation qualifies for an exception — please feel free to contact us.
Income is an important factor in the screening process, but 3 million yen is just a general guideline. Even if your personal income is low, approval is possible if your household income (including your spouse's earnings) demonstrates stable financial standing. The number of dependents and overall balance of your household finances are also taken into consideration.
It may have an impact. A single minor violation is generally not a major issue if you report it honestly and show remorse. However, repeated violations over the past few years may lead to a determination that you do not meet the "good conduct" requirement. The first step toward addressing this is being upfront about your situation.
It's not necessarily too late. Fulfillment of public obligations is a very important screening criterion, but even if you have periods of non-payment, there is still a possibility of approval if you can explain the reasons and demonstrate a consistent payment record since then. Please be honest about your situation when consulting with us.
Japan does not permit dual nationality, so upon naturalization, you will generally lose your home country's citizenship (Nationality Act, Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 5). You may also need a visa when returning to your home country. Please make sure you fully understand this before deciding to naturalize.
Naturalization requires significantly more documents than permanent residency. Depending on the individual's circumstances, over 60 different types of documents may be needed, including home country certificates (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.), tax certificates, pension records, and driving record certificates. The statement of motivation must be handwritten by the applicant. Document preparation alone can take 3 to 6 months.
Yes. Spouses of Japanese nationals are eligible for "simplified naturalization," with relaxed residence and capacity requirements (Nationality Act, Article 7). Specifically, you may apply if you have been married for 3 years or more and have resided in Japan for at least 1 year. You do not need to meet the standard 5-year residence requirement.
There have been reports that the government is considering extending the residence requirement from the current 5 years to 10 years (as of November 2025). However, as of March 2026, this change has not been officially enacted. If you are considering naturalization, please contact us for the latest information.
If you want to keep your home country's nationality or may return in the future, permanent residency is the better option. If you want a Japanese passport or plan to pursue a career in public service, naturalization may be the right choice. We will carefully explain the pros and cons of each and support you in making the best decision.
It may be possible. The key is to accurately analyze the reasons for the previous denial and completely address those issues before reapplying. We will work with you to chart a path to approval from a professional perspective.
Generally, permanent residency applications take about 6 months to 1 year from filing to receiving a result. The timeline may vary depending on the immigration office and the applicant's individual circumstances.
Absolutely. A consultation does not obligate you in any way. Our approach is to listen carefully to your situation, explain the likelihood of approval, the support we can provide, and our transparent pricing. The decision to proceed is entirely yours.
We primarily conduct consultations via Google Meet and LINE, so you can consult with us from anywhere in Japan or overseas. Document exchange is also handled online as a general rule.
*Depending on the nature of the case, we may occasionally request an in-person meeting.
Of course. It is very important to prepare your current visa renewals carefully with an eye toward a future permanent residency application. Consulting at an early stage can significantly improve your chances of approval.
"Which is right for me — permanent residency or naturalization?" "Do I meet the requirements?" — Let us provide a free assessment.
Messages accepted evenings & weekends. We typically respond within 24 hours.