Japan’s Ministry of Justice has announced stricter screening criteria for foreign nationals applying for Japanese citizenship (“naturalization”), effective April 1, 2026.
The residency requirement, previously set at a minimum of five years in principle, will now be operated under a new standard of 10 years or more. In addition, tax compliance checks will be strengthened, expanding from one year to the past five years.
This revision aims to align naturalization criteria with those for permanent residency, which generally require 10 years of residence. The Nationality Act itself will not be amended; instead, the changes will be implemented through revised screening practices.
In addition to residency requirements, applicants must meet conditions such as having good conduct, stable financial means, and compliance with the Japanese Constitution. While not explicitly stated in law, practical Japanese language ability is also expected.
In 2025, there were 14,103 naturalization applications, of which 9,258 were approved.
With these changes, obtaining Japanese citizenship is expected to become more difficult than before.
By Hajime Saito
X: @hajimesaitoYJC
Source:Nikkei (Mar 28, 2026)
