Japanese citizenship

Japan is a leader in the Henley & PartnersPassport Index. It has never fallen below the 3rd line, competes in the ranking of indices with European countries with leading economies. Holders of the document have the right to visit 191 countries, 116 of them without visas.

But even in the period of globalization, moving to the land of the Rising Sun is not as easy as it seems. The authorities explain the strict requirements for foreigners by the small territory, which is 1.5 times smaller than France and has a high population density. However, the migration policy allows people with a certain nationality to apply for a passport.

Foreigners receive statuses by birth and origin, marriage, subject to the recognition of the child by the father, after naturalization and opening a business.

Methods to obtain citizenship

The requirements regulate the provisions in the law The Nationality No. 147 of 1950, published on the resource of the Ministry of Justice. Over the years, it has not changed significantly, except for the correction of individual points and the introduction of additions. In 1985, after ratifying the UN Convention, Japan began to recognize the rights of women, assigning statuses to children and through the maternal line.

By birth

Jus sanguinis operates on the territory. Filiation allows the issuance of passports by right of blood, regardless of the actual place of birth. Status determines nationality. It is assigned automatically, even if the Japanese father died before birth, but only as part of the notification procedure. This law applies to children without established kinship, if the mother and father do not have any citizenship.

Notification

If the heir of the Japanese family did not receive this right immediately, the hair can do it in adulthood. According to local laws, adolescents from the age of 15 can represent personal interests and solve legal issues themselves. Before the age of 18, one must send a document about the completed fact and an application to the consulate. This right is enjoyed by illegitimate children of foreign mothers who have received recognition from their fathers. At the time of birth and filing the petition, the parent must be a citizen.

This method is used by persons who have lost citizenship for various reasons. For example, if the child was born abroad, but the mother and father did not file a petition with the Japanese consulate to retain citizenship until adulthood.

By naturalization

Europeans, residents of Asian countries become residents after reaching the age of 18, the period of naturalization and compliance with a number of requirements. The key condition is continuous stay in the territory of 5 years on residence and registration address. The grounds for long-term legalization are work, starting a business, getting an education, conducting scientific research. Relevant types of permits are provided for each type of activity.

Passport file on naturalization

They are issued to able-bodied people at the age of 20, with the exception of children who receive with their parents. The list depends on the grounds, personal circumstances of the applicant. One can check it and the format of the procedure in the Bureau of Legal Affairs. The form is available on the Ministry of Justice portal. Basic package:

• a handwritten paper application in Japanese with a photo; 
• metrics; 
• Residence permit and passport;
• translated documents for family members;
• letter of motivation;
• renunciation of citizenship; 
• proof of recurring income or sponsorship; 
• medical insurance.

The Migration Service may request information about relatives, a diploma of education, a document of qualification, and consent to the child's citizenship. Only a few prefectures require a certificate of completion of language courses, but communication with migration officials takes place in Japanese. This assumes language proficiency by default.

The law does not provide for a fee for receiving and processing a package of documents. But transfers and legalization, services in visa centers are paid.

The cost of a passport for 10 years is $110. Obtaining Japanese citizenship on various grounds is a long and complicated process. Even if the requirements are met, the application may be refused. It is better to entrust the bureaucratic procedure to an immigration agent with licenses for the provision of services.

Simplified naturalization

According to the law "On Citizenship", the rules are simplified for certain categories of the population. The law applies to children of foreign parents with at least 3 years of residence in the territory. They also concern heirs adopted by foreign women with Japanese passports who have issued guardianship before reaching adulthood. Applicants are not required to reside for 5 years in the territory, but must be involved in life in Japan. Conditions for obtaining permanent residence:

• absence of problems with the law and taxes;
• social and legal responsibility;
• financial independence or sponsorship of parents, spouses, relatives;
• support of domestic policy;
• renunciation of first citizenship.

Investments and business

The country does not have financial programs for the direct purchase of citizenship, but an investment or "golden" visa opens the way to obtaining a passport under certain conditions. This is a contribution to the economy of 5 million JPY (about $33,500), opening a business in the territory, hiring 2 Japanese or foreigners with long-term visas. After 5 years of naturalization, wealthy people can collect files.

Citizenship by marriage

The fact of registration of marital relations does not give the right to immediately obtain a permanent residence. There are 3 methods to obtain the citizenship by marriage:

• Arrival on a guest/work visa and marriage with a subject. After a year of residence on a visa, followed by an extension after 3 years, an application is submitted.
• Naturalization is 3 years, marriage with simultaneous submission of documents for status.
• Foreigners in mixed unions who have lived abroad for at least 3 years apply for a passport a year after moving to an island state.

Pros of Japanese citizenship

Economically and technologically advanced states attract citizens from different continents. It is among the top ten countries with a high standard of living. The capital, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Chiba are recognized as the best for the birth and upbringing of children. For moving to a city with a lower population density, the authorities offer $7,599 per child, a one-time allowance of $22,800. The Japanese have great opportunities in terms of study, work, and treatment. Status:

• It opens access to the labor market, allows the individual to work in large companies to earn from $3,150 per month.
• Allows one to engage in politics and apply for public office.
• Allows descendants to acquire citizenship by birth and inherit status.
• Travel freely around the world, crossing most countries without visas. In the US, Canada, Australia and 4 other jurisdictions, it is enough to request electronic permission.
• To study at the National University, which occupies the 23rd position among 1,300 educational institutions in the world, or at one of the 15 universities included in the 500 QS World according to the University Rankings. 
• To develop business in a comfortable environment with financial support from the state on favorable grounds.

In 2024, the government approved a tax reform that affects the interests of business. The new incentives are aimed at stimulating production in strategic sectors.

Appropriations for social security are constantly growing. This year, they amounted to $265 billion, which is 2% more than in 2023. Salaries of the working population are indexed without delay due to inflation. At the beginning of the year, the compensation amounted to 3.5%.

Along with Germany and America, medicine is among the three best healthcare systems. The country holds key positions in minimally invasive surgery, neurosurgery, and the treatment of certain types of cancer. Evidence of success in this area is the high life expectancy and the lowest mortality rate of newborns.

Dual Citizenship

Authorities do not recognize dual/multiple statuses. According to Article 11 of the Law on Citizenship, an applicant who chooses the status of the country of birth, loses the opportunity to become a full-fledged citizen of the state of East Asia. Persons born abroad, upon reaching the age of 18, are given the right to choose residence until the age of legal capacity and are warned about the consequences. If young people do not make a decision within 2 years, they are deprived of the opportunity to apply for a passport. For the official renunciation of the first citizenship, an application is sufficient.

Pursuant to article 5 for exceptional circumstances relating to the family and marriage, with the personal permission of the Minister of Justice, the first passport is allowed to be kept. The authorities are more likely to make concessions to children born in mixed marriages abroad. To do this, parents submit a petition to the embassy at the place of residence.

Citizenship by Investment Program

Japan has adopted a single program for investors and entrepreneurs wishing to sponsor the budget. They receive a deferred status for investing in the economy, opening an operating company with an office in the territory.

To move alone or with a family you need a Business Manager for 5 years. This requires a document confirming commercial involvement or leadership experience. A business visa can be obtained at the diplomatic mission while in one;s country or upon arrival.

Applicants first submit a business plan to the prefecture for review. The approval gives the right to register the company. The Regional Aliens Authority issues a Certificate of Entitlement. On its basis, the Immigration Service Agency issues a residence permit. It serves as a basis for obtaining a passport in the future.

In the country of residence, a special type of visa is issued for business managers. Upon arrival, foreigners register their addresses at the municipal office and receive an investment visa. It is issued to senior managers, managers with at least 3 years of experience in the field of management to manage foreign companies. For this visa category, the deposit amount is 2,500,000 yen.

Collection of documents for the "golden" visa

Investors submit citizenship documents after 5 years of legal residence to the regional immigration office at the place of residence. The requirements for the file vary from prefecture to prefecture. Details are available on the website of the Ministry of Justice. Basic conditions for investors:

• company registration;
• payment of capital;
• registration of a business license;
• confirmation of professional qualifications;
• the original of lease agreement;
• availability of funds on a personal account of at least $30,000;
• Residence permit of the co-founder/co-director of the company;
• certificate of Eligibility.

Tax liabilities

They depend on business structure and employment status. Company owners are obliged by the authorities to pay corporate income/ local tax of 30-34%. Holders of investor visas with income from activities are subject to progressive personal income tax.

Cons of Japanese Citizenship by Investment

Business people often look for other ways of legalization and live on a residence permit for years. The unpopularity of the investment visa is due to a number of factors:

• bureaucratic difficulties;
• large investments;
• the necessity to open a company;
• to possess experience in managing business processes;
• high taxes;
• unregulated waiting period for citizenship.

According to the time of the petition, the authorities consider 6-18 months. The term of obtaining a residence takes at least 6 years. Difficult language, different mentality and laws, social hierarchy, rules of etiquette are difficult for Europeans to understand. For the Japanese, foreigners will forever remain "gaijins" (outsiders).