Conditions for naturalization application What is the "address requirement"? Can I be naturalized if I live in Japan for 3 years? What is the case where you cannot naturalize even after living for 5 years?

In this column, we frequently ask questions when applying for naturalization."How many years have you lived in Japan before you can apply for naturalization?" "Does my case meet the conditions for naturalization?"An administrative scrivener will answer your questions in an easy-to-understand manner as a naturalization application professional.

It is sometimes said that ``you can become naturalized after 5 years of residence'' or ``sometimes you can become naturalized after 3 years'', but what is the reality?

XNUMX. XNUMX. What are "address requirements"?

Address requirement is one of the conditions for a naturalization application to be approved, and its contents are stipulated in Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 1 of the Nationality Act.

Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 1 of the Nationality Act states that as a residence requirement,“Continuing to have an address in Japan for 5 years or more”Is stipulated.
This is a condition for applying for naturalizationAddressed in Japan for more than 5 years for the most recent periodDuring that time, you are required to have a valid status of residence.further,A working period of 3 years or more is also required.
However, the period required for this domicile requirement is relaxed if the spouse of the naturalization applicant is Japanese or if the applicant or his/her parents were born in Japan, and as a general rule, the period of employment. will be shortened without being asked (Simple naturalization).

This address requirement is called“Settlement in Japan for foreigners who wish to apply for naturalization”It is set as a standard for measuring the period, and even if these period conditions are met,If your family does not apply for naturalization together, or if you have a family member living overseasEtc.Inadequate in terms of fixabilityTherefore, the condition is not met.Disallowedmay become.

▼ Cases where you cannot apply for naturalization even if you have lived there for more than 5 years ①

One of the cases in which it is determined that the address requirements are not met isI left the country for a long time after coming to Japan.There may be cases.
As mentioned above, the address requirements are"Continue" to have an address in Japan for at least 5 yearsHowever, if you have been away from Japan for a long period of time within the period covered by the naturalization application, this is not the case."continuation"I got caught up in that part,Term interrupted and address condition not metIt may be judged as a thing.

However, it is rarely a problem if you are away from Japan for reasons such as occasional short-term overseas trips or business trips.
The period of departure, reason for departure, frequency, situation of the company you work for, etc. will be looked at, and it will be determined whether the period will be treated as an interruption.

▼ Cases where you cannot apply for naturalization even if you have lived there for more than 5 years ②

As mentioned above, as a general rule, as a condition for applying for naturalization, it is not enough that the most recent period of 5 years or more has passed.Have more than 5 years of work experience within the period of 3 years or moreIs the condition.
In other words, even if you have been enrolled in university for 4 years with a student visa and 2 years in graduate school after entering the university, and have lived in Japan for a total of 6 years or more, you must have a certain status of residence that allows you to work.No work experience in JapanPerson,Address requirements not metAsNaturalization not allowed.
However, as a special exception to this working period,Naturalization conditions are relaxed if you have lived in Japan for 10 years or moreTherefore, naturalization may be permitted even without a three-year work period.

XNUMX. Cases where “address requirements” are relaxed

I mentioned a little above,Cases where the address requirements for naturalization applications are relaxedIt will be the explanation of.In principle, the working period does not matter if these cases apply.

▼ Case where the address requirement is relaxed from 5 years of residence in Japan to 3 years

① If the naturalization applicant is a child of a former Japanese citizen

An example of this case is a case where a former Japanese parent and a foreigner who lived in a country other than Japan immigrated to Japan.
However, this is not the case for adopted children.

② If the naturalization applicant is a foreigner born in Japan

If you were born in Japan, even if you lived abroad after that, you can apply for naturalization after 3 years or more have passed since you came back to Japan.

③ If the naturalization applicant is married to a Japanese person

In this case, if you have lived in Japan for 3 years or more and are married to a Japanese person, you can apply for naturalization.
For example, a foreigner who came to Japan at the age of 20, lived in Japan as it is, and married a Japanese at the age of 23 can apply for naturalization.

▼ Case where the address requirement is relaxed from 5 years of residence in Japan to 1 years

① If the naturalization applicant is an adopted child of a Japanese person

In this case, the adoption period is required to be a minor under the law of the naturalization applicant's home country.

② If the naturalization applicant has been married to a Japanese national for 3 years or more and has lived in Japan for 1 year or more.

For example, if you have been married to a Japanese person overseas and have been married for more than 3 years, you can apply for naturalization if you have been living in Japan for more than 1 year.

▼ Case where the address requirement is relaxed from 5 years of residence in Japan to 0 years (no address requirement)

When the naturalization applicant is a Japanese child

There are three cases where the naturalization applicant can be said to be a Japanese child.

• ① Parents are Japanese
• ② Parents are former foreigners but have become naturalized Japanese citizens.
• ③ Apply for naturalization together as a family (if the parents are approved for naturalization, the child will become a Japanese child)

XNUMX. XNUMX.The real reason to emphasize the number of years of living in Japan as a condition for naturalization

The domicile requirement requires that the naturalization applicant have a domicile in Japan for a certain period of time;In order to judge on the condition that it has been established in Japan and you really intend to live in Japan from now on..
Of course, this will not be approved for reasons such as the hassle of renewing the period of stay.
このEstablishment in JapanTo confirm, whether you have lived in Japan, have not left Japan frequently, are your parents or spouse Japanese, are your family naturalized together, are your family's life based in a foreign country, or are you naturalized? The condition for naturalization is that the relatives who applied for it have not lived abroad after being granted naturalization.

The fact that Japan has a very long history of residence, that it has been in Japan for almost no departure, that its spouse is Japanese, that its family is naturalized together, etc. And increase the chances of getting a permit.
On the other hand, circumstances such as the application being made soon after the period stipulated in the residence requirements, the person leaving the country frequently, and the suspicion that his or her family is based overseas tend to negate this stability. and increase your chances of being rejected.