What is the flow until the naturalization application is approved?

Where do I apply for naturalization?

the foreignerApplication for NaturalizationVarious procedures are required to do so.
Among them, knowing where to apply for naturalization is the first step for applying for naturalization.

In conclusion, the naturalization applicationLegal Affairs BureauDo it with
Apply at the local legal affairs bureau in each municipality.
For foreigners who are thinking of naturalization, firstGo to the legal affairs bureau or district legal affairs bureau that has jurisdiction over your place of residence and obtain the necessary documents for naturalization applicationLet's start with.

At this time, I would like to note thatReservation requiredThat's the point.
Since the Legal Affairs Bureau is basically crowded, it is not uncommon to have to wait for a very long time if you visit without an appointment.
Depending on the legal bureau, depending on the timing,Reservations cannot be made up to 2 months in advanceThere are times when.

When applying for naturalization, it is a good idea to make a reservation before going to the Legal Affairs Bureau or District Legal Affairs Bureau.
It is a trick to make the naturalization application smoother to move early.

How many times should I go to the Legal Affairs Bureau?

During the naturalization application, you have to go to the Legal Affairs Bureau several times.
Of course, you will need to make a reservation each time, and if you are working, you will also need to take a day off.
The actual number of visits varies from person to person, but if everything goes well,3 times including interview.

The breakdown is as follows.

• ・Advance consultation for naturalization
• ・Submission of required documents
• ·interview

This may seem easy, but the most difficult"Submission of required documents".
In addition to the large amount of documentation required,If even one item is missing or inadequate, start over..
In the case of redoing, it is very troublesome because you will have to make an appointment and bring the documents again.
Also, some documents have an expiration date, so if it's too crowded and you can't make a reservation,The required documents have expired and must be recollectedOh my God.
In that case, the number of visits to the Legal Affairs Bureau will increase steadily, so please consider the three times as if everything went smoothly.

Should I just wait after applying?

After applying for naturalization, basically you just have to wait.
Once all the necessary documents are ready, the naturalization application will be accepted, so there is no need to have an interview afterwards.
but after applyingIf any incompleteness or deficiency is found in the submitted documentsmust go.

What I want to be aware of after applyingpreparing for the interview.
In the interview, the naturalization applicant's behavior, answers, etc. are all subject to examination, so there is no loss in preparing in advance.
Therefore, after applying, it is a good idea to ask a friend to practice interviewing.
If the other person is Japanese, they may find an unnatural point.
I recommend practicing common sense behavior and language until you learn how to respond to interview questions.

When do you have an interview?

In the past, interviews were held about two to three months after the Legal Affairs Bureau received the documents, but recently5-6 months laterI have more to go to.
You will be contacted by the Legal Affairs Bureau before the interview, so please wait for that.
Contact will be made primarily by phone and an interview date and time will be arranged.
Once you have made an appointment for an interview, all you have to do is go to the Legal Affairs Bureau on the day of the interview and have an interview.

The content of the interview is basically questions about the submitted documents, the past, or the current situation.
If there are any parts that are different from the documents you submitted at this time, you may be asked more in-depth questions.
The questions asked will vary depending on the interviewer, but if you're telling the truth, it shouldn't be too difficult.
Don't be nervous and come to the interview in as natural a state as possible.
If you have a spouse or other family members living in Japan, you will be interviewed together.

When are you going to take the Japanese test?

Although it is not clearly defined, some of the naturalization conditions are"I can speak, read and write Japanese"This is included.
Naturally, it is necessary to satisfy this because it is to be naturalized in Japan and live as a Japanese.
The timing of implementation is after the application is receivedAfter about 2-6 months.It's the same timing as the interview.

In addition to the test, foreigners who are applying for naturalizationhow much you can speak japaneseYou can see how
In particular, the following cases are always checked.

• ・Advance consultation at the Legal Affairs Bureau
• ・Communication in Japanese with the officer in charge
• ・Contents of Japanese documents such as motivation letter
• ・When reading out the oath
• ·interview
• ・Japanese test

As you can see, visiting the Legal Affairs Bureau many timesTo check Japanese abilityBut there is.
Also, the Japanese test has a lot of basic content,Japanese language proficiency test N3 or higherIf there is apass without problemsIt will be.
Speaking in Japanese3rd grade elementary schoolTherefore, it is said that there is no problem at this level.

Do all students take the Japanese test?

Japanese language testNot everyone who applies for naturalization will receive it.
Rather, if you speak Japanese well and the interviewer judges that there is no problem, there are many cases where it is judged that you do not need to take the Japanese test.
Therefore, basically, you should only take a Japanese language test if it is deemed necessary.
The person in charge of the Legal Affairs Bureau will make a comprehensive judgment including the interview, and will be accepted when the applicant has doubts about his/her own Japanese language ability.
It's hard to generalize, but for example, people who were born and raised overseas and came to Japan after getting married are likely to be subject to Japanese language tests.

In naturalization applicationJapanese proficiency required.
The only way to avoid Japanese language tests is to improve your Japanese language ability.
To improve your Japanese ability, let's study using learning materials for levels from preschoolers to 3rd grade elementary school, as well as using everyday conversations in Japanese.
It is also recommended to use a preparation book for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
By becoming familiar with Japanese on a regular basis, the probability of not taking the Japanese test will increase.

Are there legal bureaus that are more likely to be permitted?

Legal bureaus that are easily permittedbasically not.any law officethe same.
Also, when going to the Legal Affairs Bureau for consultation on naturalization application,Legal Affairs BureauOrLocal legal affairs bureau where you are enrolledOtherwise, they will not accept it.

It is extremely inefficient to change the region where you are enrolled in order to apply for naturalization.
It is conceivable that there may be some differences depending on the person in charge of examining the naturalization application, but that is the extent of it.
permission to applyFinal decision by the Minister of JusticeTherefore, no matter how carefully the Legal Affairs Bureau is selected, it is meaningless.
Then it's much easier to live each day with good manners.

Also, depending on the nationality of the foreigner, there are documents that must be obtained from the home country, so it is often difficult to collect documents for naturalization applications.
if you are unsureAdministrative scrivenerWe recommend that you consult a professional such as

How long does it take for results?

From the acceptance of the naturalization application to the results10 to 14 monthstakes.
Please consider that it takes about 1 year.
I would like to know the result as soon as possible because I collected the documents properly and had an interview, but it will take a long time.
This is the same in the case of disapproval, and it takes about the same amount of time after applying.
Therefore, in the meantimeIf your visa is about to expireIt would be a good idea to apply for both at the same time.

If the application for permission to naturalize is successfully received, we will adjust the date and time with the Legal Affairs Bureau and appear to receive the documents.
At this timeNaturalization permission noticeとIdentificationwill be received and naturalization will be completed successfully.

However, even after the permission is granted, various procedures are required, including the submission of a naturalization notification, so do not worry until you have completed all of them.
For details on procedures after permissionProcedures required after naturalization, name changePlease read the page

Summary

Anyone can apply for naturalization as long as they meet the conditions.
You can apply at either the Legal Affairs Bureau or the District Legal Affairs Bureau where you are enrolled.
However, it is very crowded, so be sure to make a reservation before going.

I will visit the Legal Affairs Bureau many times, but in all of them, the applicant's Japanese language ability is checked.
At the same time, they will be strict in interviews, so I recommend that you practice your Japanese skills as much as possible on a regular basis.
If your Japanese proficiency is judged to be inferior, you will have to take a Japanese test.

The examination of the Legal Affairs Bureau is uniform everywhere in the country, so if you are thinking about naturalization, please consult with the Legal Affairs Bureau near you.
If you are having trouble applying for naturalization, we specialize in visa applications and naturalization applications Climb Immigration Lawyer Office Please feel free to contact us.

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