Updated: July 2025, 9

The main differences between naturalization and permanent residence

What is naturalization?

Naturalization refers to a person who was a foreign national acquiring Japanese nationality, and many foreigners apply for naturalization every year.
The procedure is carried out at the Legal Affairs Bureau, and the final permission is given by the Minister of Justice.
　
In order to become a Japanese citizen, you must continue to live in Japan for a certain period of time.
Generally, you are required to have had an address in Japan for more than five consecutive years and have established a living base in Japan.
Applicants must also have a stable income and be able to live independently.
Naturally, Japanese language proficiency is also an important requirement, and applicants are expected to have no difficulty in carrying out everyday conversation.

What is permanent residence (permanent residency)?

Permanent residency refers to the right to live permanently in Japan while retaining foreign nationality.
With permanent residency, there is no limit to the period of stay, and there are no restrictions on renewal procedures or activities.
However, their nationality will remain the same, and they will not be granted some rights that are granted upon naturalization, such as the right to vote.

To apply for permanent residency, you generally need to have resided in Japan for more than 10 years continuously for a valid reason, such as work or study.
You will also be required to have a stable income and social credibility.
　
If you obtain permanent residency, the employment restrictions imposed by other visas (residency status) will be lifted, giving you greater freedom in choosing your occupation.
Furthermore, your life in Japan will be more stable and your worries about the future will be reduced.

Permanent residency application support

The specific differences between naturalization and permanent residence

Among the inquiries we receive, many of them ask, "Which direction should I go for: permanent residence or naturalization?"
It seems that more and more people are thinking about living in Japan for a long time and in a stable manner.

So, what is the difference between permanent residence and naturalization?

1. Procedures for staying in Japan

When you naturalize, you will need to go through the process of acquiring Japanese citizenship, but once you have acquired it, you will no longer need to go through any procedures related to residence.
On the other hand, permanent residency requires renewal and various procedures even after the initial application.
With permanent residency, restrictions on employment and residence are significantly relaxed, but you will need to regularly renew your residence card.

②Nationality

Naturalization allows you to acquire Japanese nationality, but permanent residency does not change your nationality.
If you acquire Japanese nationality through naturalization, you may be required to renounce your home country's nationality (canceling dual nationality).
After going through this procedure, you will be able to enjoy the rights and obligations of being a Japanese citizen.

③ Family register

Naturalized people can have their own family register, but those who only have permanent residency cannot have a family register.
Having a family register makes it easier to prove your identity in Japan, and in many cases, administrative procedures can be completed more smoothly than if you simply held permanent residency.

④Whether or not one has the right to vote

If you become a naturalized citizen, you will have the right to vote in Japan, but if you have permanent residency, you will not have the right to vote.
By naturalizing, you will gain the right to directly participate in Japanese politics and be able to express your political opinions.

⑤Handling of deportation orders

Even if you have permanent residency, you may be subject to deportation if you commit certain criminal acts.
On the other hand, once a person is naturalized, they will have the rights of a Japanese citizen and will no longer be subject to deportation measures.
Naturalization allows you to receive legal protection as a Japanese citizen and ensures a stable life.

⑥ Entry into your home country

The procedures for permanent residents are the same as those before obtaining a permanent resident visa.
On the other hand, if you are naturalized, you will need to go through immigration procedures as a Japanese citizen.

⑦About overseas travel

Procedures for international travel vary depending on your destination and country of nationality.
For permanent residents, the procedures are not significantly different from those before obtaining a permanent resident visa.
If you are naturalized, you can travel to over 150 countries as a Japanese citizen without obtaining a visa.

[Naturalization and permanent residence: differences in conditions]

The advantages and disadvantages of naturalizing in Japan

Benefits of naturalization

1. Obtaining a Japanese passport

Once you are naturalized, you can obtain a Japanese passport.

Japanese passports are trusted internationally and many countries can be visited without a visa, making it easy to travel abroad.
This number is one of the highest in the world.

② Acquisition of a Japanese name

If you naturalize, you will be able to have a Japanese name, making it easier to live in Japanese society.
Having a Japanese name facilitates communication in everyday life and business situations, making it easier to integrate into Japanese society.

③ Creation of family register

By naturalizing, you can have a Japanese family register.
In some cases, all family members can be registered under the same family register.
Creating a family register is an important procedure for officially certifying family relationships such as marriage and birth.

Disadvantages of naturalization

Another major disadvantage is that because Japan does not recognize dual citizenship, there is a risk of losing rights in one's home country (such as property rights and inheritance rights) through naturalization.

Another disadvantage is that the procedures for applying for naturalization are complicated and time-consuming.

Requirements for naturalization application

There are certain requirements for applying for naturalization.
For example, you will be required to have lived in Japan for a certain period of time and have a stable income.

In addition, different conditions are set for each of "ordinary naturalization," "simplified naturalization," and "grand naturalization."
For ordinary naturalization, you must have had an address in Japan for more than five consecutive years.
With simplified naturalization, the requirements are relaxed if one's parents are Japanese or if one was born in Japan.
Naturalization is a special case that applies when someone has made special achievements (note: there have been no cases in the past where this has been applied).

The detailed requirements for naturalization are as follows:
“What about in my case?”
"I don't really understand..."
If so, please feel free to contact us.

Basic requirements for naturalization

Regarding residence conditions (condition ①)

One of the important points when applying for naturalization is the residence condition.
Even if you meet the five-year residency requirement for naturalization,
It will be difficult to apply if any of the following apply.



1) Continuity of residence

If you are away from Japan for approximately 3 consecutive months,
Your previous residence history will be lost and you will have to start counting from zero.

In addition, if you are away from Japan for a long period of time, even if they are not consecutive,
Your previous residence history will be lost and you may have to start the count again.

2) If you change from studying abroad to working

You cannot apply for naturalization even if you have experience as an international student for more than 5 years.

If you change from a study abroad visa to a work visa and have not stayed in Japan for more than 3 years,
This does not mean that the residency requirements have been met.

*However, if you have lived in Japan for more than 10 years, you can apply as having lived in Japan for 10 years.

Regarding the conduct condition (condition ③)

One of the conditions for applying for naturalization is ``good behavior.''
Specifically, if the following does not apply, it can be said that the behavior is good.

1) Violation of law
Of course it's a big crime, but
Traffic violations, etc. will also affect your naturalization application.
Traffic violations that result in fines in a short period of time,
If it is a major traffic violation that will result in a summary prosecution and a fine.
It is better to wait several years before applying for naturalization.

2)Tax evasion
You are required to fulfill your tax obligations properly.
The issues that arise are the payment of municipal taxes and the filing of final tax returns for those running businesses.
If you have not paid your taxes properly,
You must pay your taxes properly before applying.

Special measures (exemptions from conditions)

In normal cases, conditions 1 to 6 are required,
Some conditions may be relaxed for foreign nationals who are married to Japanese nationals or have adopted children.

If the following conditions apply, the applicable conditions will be waived as special measures.

■ Conditions for exemption from Condition 1 (residence requirement)
・A child of a person who was a Japanese citizen in the past and has continued to have an address/residence in Japan for three years or more.
Or
・You were born in Japan and have had an address/residence in Japan for three years or more, or your father or mother was born in Japan.
Or
・Continuing to have a residence in Japan for more than 10 years.

---

■ Conditions for exemption from conditions ① and ② (residency requirements, age requirements)
・For foreigners who are the spouse of a Japanese person,
Those who have continued to have an address or residence in Japan for three years or more, and who currently have an address in Japan.
Or
・If you are a foreign spouse of a Japanese person and 3 years have passed since the date of marriage,
and have continued to have an address in Japan for more than one year.

---

■ Conditions for exemption from conditions ①②④ (residency requirements, age requirements, income requirements)
・A child of Japanese nationality who has an address in Japan.
Or
・The person was adopted by a Japanese person, had been domiciled in Japan for more than a year, and was a minor at the time of adoption.
Or
・You have lost the Japanese nationality you once had and currently have a domicile in Japan.
Or
・Persons who were born in Japan and have not had nationality since birth
Since then, the person has continued to have an address in Japan for more than three years.

[Naturalization and permanent residence: differences in application requirements]

How many days it takes to complete a naturalization application

The time it takes for a naturalization application to be completed is an important concern for many applicants.
This period cannot be stated in general terms and will vary greatly depending on the individual circumstances of the applicant, the congestion situation at the Legal Affairs Bureau where the application is made, and the complexity of the application.

Generally, it takes about one to one and a half years from preparation of the naturalization application to the final approval notice.
This period also includes the time spent gathering and completing the extensive documentation required.
It generally takes about one year from the time an application is accepted by the Legal Affairs Bureau until permission is published in the Official Gazette, but if the applicant's history is complicated or there are deficiencies in the necessary documents, the review period may extend to two years or more.

In addition, the progress of the review and the number of cases vary depending on the Legal Affairs Bureau to which you apply, so the review period may differ depending on the region.
Applicants are required to understand that the review period may be lengthy and to make steady preparations.

Reasons for delays in naturalization applications

There are many main reasons why naturalization application processing times are long.
The most common issue is incomplete or missing required documents.
If there are omissions or errors in the documents, the Legal Affairs Bureau will issue instructions to correct them, and if this response takes time, the overall review period will be extended.

Next, there are cases where an applicant's individual circumstances complicate the review process.
For example, circumstances such as having changed jobs frequently, a criminal record or a history of traffic violations, unpaid taxes or pensions, an unstable livelihood situation, having lived overseas for a long time, or having family overseas require more careful screening and therefore tend to extend the review period.
In these cases, detailed explanations and additional documents will be required, which will take time to prepare.

In addition, internal circumstances at the Legal Affairs Bureau also affect the review period.
If there is a concentration of applications at a particular time, or if there are personnel assignments or transfers of officials in charge, the review process may be delayed.
In recent years, the review process at the Legal Affairs Bureau has tended to take longer than expected.
In addition, delays in the review process can also be caused by issues with scheduling interviews and applicants being unable to respond promptly to communications from the Legal Affairs Bureau.

The period from acceptance of naturalization application to approval

The naturalization application process is not completed by simply submitting the necessary documents; it is a complex process that goes through multiple stages from acceptance to final approval (permission).
This entire process constitutes the naturalization application period.
First, after a preliminary consultation at the Legal Affairs Bureau, we begin collecting and preparing the vast amount of necessary documents.
This paperwork alone usually takes one to two months.
Once all the documents are ready and the application is officially accepted by the Legal Affairs Bureau, the full review period will begin.

Once your application is accepted, a rigorous document review will be conducted by the Legal Affairs Bureau's officials.
The documents will be checked for accuracy and completeness, and if necessary, you will be asked to make a phone inquiry or submit additional documents.
Once the document review has been completed, an interview with the applicant will be conducted, usually two to three months after the application is accepted.
During the interview, detailed questions will be asked about the applicant's motivation for applying for naturalization, living conditions in Japan, family relationships, livelihood situation, etc. to confirm the applicant's intentions and eligibility.

Even after the interview, the Legal Affairs Bureau will continue to conduct background checks on applicants and make inquiries with relevant agencies.
This will involve checking tax and pension payment status, checking public records, and, if necessary, interviewing workplaces and neighbors.
It is said that it takes approximately 10 months from the interview to the final notification of approval or disapproval.
Once these investigations are completed and a final decision has been made within the Legal Affairs Bureau, a petition is submitted to the Minister of Justice, who will decide whether or not to grant permission.
If permission is granted, the application will be published in the Official Gazette and a notice of permission will be sent to the applicant, completing the entire process.

What can be done to shorten the period?

In order to shorten the review period for naturalization applications even if just a little and aim for smooth permission, it is extremely important for applicants to actively proceed with preparations themselves.
The most effective way is to have a thorough pre-consultation before applying for naturalization.
By consulting with an official at the Legal Affairs Bureau or a specialist familiar with naturalization applications (such as an administrative scrivener), you can minimize the number of correction instructions due to incomplete documents by confirming what documents are required for your individual circumstances and what points you need to be careful about.

Next, the collection and preparation of the necessary documentation should be done as accurately and quickly as possible.
It is important to start making arrangements early for documents obtained from public institutions, such as family registers, resident registration cards, and tax payment certificates, as they may take time to be issued.
The documents you prepare yourself (such as your resume, letter of motivation, and summary of your livelihood) must be factual, complete, and specific enough for the Legal Affairs Bureau officer to understand.
Ambiguous or contradictory statements will lead to more questions from the Legal Affairs Bureau and may result in longer review times.
In this regard, receiving support from an expert administrative scrivener can improve the quality of document preparation and potentially shorten the review period.

Naturalization application flow

Naturalization application proceeds through the process of creating application documents → application acceptance → examination (interview/survey) → permission.
Here we will explain the flow of the naturalization application procedure when we support you.

① First interview

 ⑴ Hearings

The necessary documents will be determined at the first interview.

The required documents will vary depending on specific conditions such as nationality, family structure, and job.

During the first interview, we will ask you questions such as ``What kind of work do you do?'' ``Have you ever been divorced?'' ``Are your parents still alive?'' ``How much income do you have?''

 ⑵ Confirmation of necessary documents

 Based on the interview, we will first determine what documents are required and explain them to you.
(Depending on the content of the document, the Legal Affairs Bureau may issue instructions.)
 

Home country, Japanese documents, tax-related matters, driving records, immigration-related matters...
Many people are surprised by the amount and variety of documents required.

 ⑶ Preparation of a power of attorney (stamp)

If we can obtain the documents on your behalf, we will obtain the documents for you.

There is no need to take your day off and go to the government office.

If you are a company manager, you may need more than 10 letters of attorney!

② Now it's time to start the process of obtaining and preparing documents

(1) Obtaining various certificates

Each certificate has an expiration date.

Also, some items may take several days to receive after requesting.
(By the way, it takes more than a month to obtain the "Closed Alien Registration Form" and "Immigration/Departure Record" requested from the Ministry of Justice.)

We will create a schedule to efficiently collect documents while avoiding the hassle of redoing them.

*For items that cannot be acquired on your behalf, we will ask you to complete the acquisition procedure.

⑵ Preparation of application documents

We will create an application form in a prescribed format.

Family composition, work history, moving history, monthly household budget, borrowings, savings, etc.

We carefully check to ensure that there are no inconsistencies with the documents that will be submitted together.

③ Document inspection at the Legal Affairs Bureau

In some regions, the legal affairs bureau will check the application documents before accepting the application (this is called a "document inspection").

Here, you will be asked to confirm your documents, have a hearing, and be instructed to submit additional documents depending on your circumstances.

Instead of giving specific names of documents, you may be asked to "bring documents that prove this."

While it is nice to have the legal affairs bureau check the application before applying, the application will not be accepted unless it is approved as ``acceptable''.

④ Application acceptance

It's finally time to apply. Applications will be accepted by the applicant himself/herself.

``What is the reception like?'' ``Aren't the people in charge of the Legal Affairs Bureau strict?'' ``Can I wear casual clothes on the day of application?''
We all have the same concerns. We will advise you so that you can proceed with peace of mind!

⑤ Screening begins 

Interviews will be held 2 to 4 months after the application is received.
There are many different questions asked during interviews.
It depends on the competent legal bureau, nationality, and individual circumstances.

Some said it took several hours, while others said it was finished in 10 minutes!

We will provide advice depending on your situation.

⑥ Permission

In addition to being published in the official gazette, a person in charge of the Legal Affairs Bureau will contact the person directly.

congratulations!

Did you get an idea of ​​the procedure?

The key points to smoothly proceed with the naturalization application are:

"How can we collect the appropriate documents efficiently?"

At Support Administrative Scrivener Corporation, we provide consulting that is best suited to your circumstances,
We will support you to obtain Japanese nationality as soon as possible.

Necessary procedures after naturalization has been decided

Receiving a naturalized person's identification card

Once naturalization is approved, your name and address will be published in the official gazette. I received a notification from the Legal Affairs Bureau that my naturalization was approved.

The Legal Affairs Bureau will provide explanations regarding future procedures.

Submission of naturalization notification

If your naturalization is approved, you will need to submit a "Naturalization Notification" to the municipality where you live.

This starts from the day the "naturalized person's identification card" is issued.Within 1 monthmust be done.

At this time, you will also need to submit your "naturalized person's identification card" as an attached document.

When you receive instructions on how to fill out a "Naturalization Notification" at the Legal Affairs Bureau, you will be given a form with examples of how to fill it out.

If your spouse is Japanese

If your spouse has Japanese nationality, you may be required to attach a copy of your Japanese spouse's family register, so it is best to check with your city, town, or village office in advance.

There is no problem if your spouse's permanent address is your current address.

Procedures for renunciation of nationality

Those who have completed the procedure to renounce their nationality before naturalization is permitted (Taiwanese, Vietnamese, etc.)
There are cases where people (such as Koreans) obtain naturalization permission without going through the procedure of renouncing their nationality.

If you have completed the procedures to renounce your nationality before being granted naturalization, no special procedures are required.
If you have not done so, you will need to apply for withdrawal of nationality from your home country after naturalization.

Required documents differ depending on the country, so please check with your embassy or consulate.

Driving license/passport procedures

You will need to go through the procedure for changing your driver's license.

New passport issuance procedures are required.

Other procedures

Corporations, registered real estate holders, bank account holders,

Name on business license, other contracts entered into before naturalization was granted, etc.

Please note that some procedures may require changes after naturalization.

Notes on naturalization application

Public Payment Review

When applying for naturalization, your payment status for taxes, pensions, and other public utility fees will be examined.
This ensures that the applicant is fulfilling their legal obligations in Japanese society.
If you have outstanding payments or continue to be late, your application may be rejected.

interview

After application, an interview will be conducted to confirm the applicant's living situation and adaptability to Japan.
During the interview, you will be asked specific questions based on your application, so you will need to prepare.
During the interview, the applicant's Japanese language ability, lifestyle, and social adaptability will be evaluated.

Introduction of naturalization cases

We would like to introduce some cases that we have actually handled.
 

CASE40 ~Chinese man in his XNUMXs~

Using our Japanese language test preparation program, we supported them to the level where they could obtain a perfect score.

Because there was a period of time before passing the Japanese language test,

During that time, I prepared my application documents and was able to apply immediately after passing the exam.

However, at the stage of obtaining the documents, I was unable to get my ex-wife, who is Japanese, to assist me in obtaining the documents.

That's why our company stands in between.
By carefully explaining the reason why we needed it to the previous customer, he was able to cooperate with us in preparing the documents.

Since he wanted to accompany him to the Legal Affairs Bureau, we supported him for 19 yen.  

●Chinese man in his 40s

●Coming to Japan from university

●Originally, he was planning to apply for naturalization in Osaka himself, and had also passed the Japanese language test.

●I moved to Nagoya and took the Japanese language test again, but no matter how many times I took it, I still couldn't pass and the procedure was not progressing.

●Japanese ex-wife refuses to cooperate with documents etc. 

CASE2 - Brazilian woman in her 20s, permanent resident -

● Brazilian woman in her 20s, permanent resident

●Born and raised in Japan

●I was unable to naturalize when I was a minor because my parents did not meet the requirements, so I applied when I turned 20.

●Employment status is unstable and there are concerns about livelihood requirements

Because of his unstable work history and employment status, the government thought that it would be difficult to obtain permission.
After repeated discussions with the Legal Affairs Bureau, it is confirmed that the applicant has the intention to continue working.
After acquiring Japanese nationality, I wanted to expand my range of work and try many different things.
Once the motive was written, the application was accepted, and a few months later, permission was granted.

I had always wanted to obtain Japanese nationality, so I decided to apply for naturalization when I turned 20.

I thought I met the requirements, but

It was determined that my livelihood was unstable due to my work situation, and I was not given any guidance on my next steps.

When I consulted with your company, they not only consulted with the person in charge of the Legal Affairs Bureau and proceeded with the steps, but also

He advised me to write down my thoughts in a motivation letter and apply.

Thanks to you, I was granted permission.

My next dream is to go to Hawaii with my new Japanese passport.

CASE3 ~ Korean nationality female special permanent resident in her 70s ~

●Korean nationality woman in her 70s Special permanent resident

●I was born and raised in Japan, but the retention period has passed and I cannot obtain a certificate.

●Parents and siblings have already passed away, so there is no one to help.

●Cannot obtain Korean (South Korean) documents

I am not registered in Korea, and I have no proof that I was born in Japan.
I had no idea that the evidence materials would become so complicated due to not being able to obtain them.
If I had applied for naturalization on my own, I think I would have given up halfway through.
Your company was quick to suggest alternative ideas, and I'm glad I left it to the professionals.
Now that I've finally gotten my own passport, I'm thinking of going abroad with friends and family.
I'm really thankful to you.

CASE4 ~ Korean woman in her 20s, special permanent resident ~

●Korean woman in her 20s, special permanent resident

●Born and raised in Japan

●People around me do not know that I am Korean.

●I am planning to marry my Japanese lover and would like to naturalize before marriage.

Although I had cleared the requirements for naturalization application,
I came to your consultation because I was busy with work and thought it would be difficult to prepare the application myself.

We are currently in talks with our girlfriend and family about submitting a marriage registration after acquiring Japanese nationality.
I was in a situation where I was in a hurry to apply as soon as possible.
After receiving your application,
The customer also quickly prepared the documents, so the approval process went very smoothly.
As a result, I hear that the couple was able to successfully submit their marriage registration on the day they had hoped.

Please note that depending on the season, it may not be possible to make it in time.
If you are in a hurry to apply for naturalization due to marriage, childbirth, employment, etc., we recommend that you contact us as soon as possible.

[Our fee: 16 yen (excluding translation fees)]

I was relieved that I was granted permission.

Thanks to Mr. Sudo, everything went smoothly.

Thank you all!

CASE5 ~ Korean male in his 30s, special permanent resident ~

● Korean male in his 3s, special permanent resident

●Earning a living as a company manager or sole proprietor

●I am busy with business and find it difficult to prepare the naturalization application by myself.

He was busy with work and felt burdened to prepare for the large number of naturalization applications.

Also, because I am a company manager/sole proprietor, more documents were required.

We will pick up the necessary documents,
We supported the process until the point where all you had to do was submit it!

In addition to acquiring and translating Korean documents, we also clarify the family chronology,

It seems that you have made a new discovery regarding the movement of your own family register.

The application on the day went smoothly, and I was able to proceed to the application without wasting time.

Regarding documents for corporations and individual businesses,

I was confused because I didn't know what to prepare, but I was able to pick up what I needed.

Thanks to my preparation, I was able to successfully complete the application.

I couldn't have prepared that amount of documents by myself, so your support was very helpful.

My Feelings, Then and Now

Naturalization and permanent residence each have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Naturalization allows one to gain rights such as Japanese citizenship and the right to vote, but it also comes with the risk of losing one's original citizenship and the complicated procedures involved.
Permanent residency provides a stable life in Japan, but it does not confer rights such as the right to vote.

In particular, athletes often choose naturalization in order to represent Japan in international competitions.
Obtaining Japanese citizenship gives you more rights and gives you an advantage in athletic activities.

Please contact the Support Administrative Scriveners Corporation for your naturalization application!

Support Administrative Scrivener Corporation provides assistance with applications for naturalization and permanent residency.
The first consultation is free of charge, so please feel free to contact us.

Benefits of Choosing Support Gyoseishoshi Law Firm

1. Success-fee system

If your application is rejected based on information provided during the interview or after your application, we will, in principle, refund the full amount of the fee you have paid to us.

2. Support for document creation and collection

Leave it to our professional consultants to guide you through the necessary documents, check the certificates, and prepare the application form.

3) Obtaining official certificates on your behalf

We will obtain Japanese official documents such as residence certificates on your behalf.
There is no need for the applicant to request all materials.

*Basically, you must obtain foreign documents yourself, but we can obtain Korean certificates on your behalf.

④ Foreign language translation also available

It also supports translation into English, Chinese, and Korean.

*Japanese language ability is also one of the requirements for naturalization applications.
　We can help translate documents, etc.Communication during interviews with our consultants
　Only available in JapanesePlease note that this will be the case.

⑤Over 2500 people have naturalized

We have focused on naturalization work since the early days of our establishment, and the total1400 ofWe have supported the above naturalization cases.
*We handle many applications for families, and the total number of applicants is2500　　over!

Countries that have handled naturalization applications so far
Korea, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, Peru, Syria, Myanmar, America, Russia, France, Brazil, Laos, Singapore, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Paraguay, Iran, New Zealand, etc.

Related article

Frequently asked questions about naturalization

What level of Japanese language proficiency is required to apply for naturalization?

Where and how do I start the naturalization application process?

What is the cost of applying for naturalization?

What are the questions often asked during naturalization application interviews?

Can I apply for naturalization even if I am unemployed?

Can I freely choose my name after naturalization is granted?

How long will the review process take?

If my application is rejected once, can I apply again?