A Quick Guide on Acquiring Japanese Citizenship for Indians

Getting citizenship in a foreign country is never easy. However, it has become the need of the hour in the wake of globalisation. Indians settling in Japan for work or study purposes need to procure Japanese citizenship . The process can be a tricky one.

Are you wondering how to apply for citizenship in Japan? Then, keep reading this article to find out all about it.

If you plan to get Japanese citizenship, you must be aware of its eligibility. In addition, you must meet the following criteria if you are planning to apply.

• Applicants must be at least 20 years of age.
• They must be permanent residents of Japan for at least five years.
• Showing financial stability and independence is mandatory.
• Applicants must show good conduct and moral character during their stay.
• They must learn about the Japanese Constitution and respect it.
• Having proficiency in the Japanese language equivalent to an ordinary 7 to 8-year-old Japanese primary school student is necessary.

Now, the question is, how to get Japanese Citizenship for Indians? You can follow the steps mentioned below for completing the application process.

Step 1: Once you feel eligible, visit your local Legal Affairs Bureau to procure an application. Then, start filling out this form manually.

Step 2: Use all your accurate data and attach the required documents. After filling out the form, submit it with the processing fee.

Step 3: Wait for the immigration experts to check your application. The Legal Affairs Bureau will later contact you for an interview.

Step 4: They will then pass your application to the Minister of Justice to confirm your naturalisation permission. You will receive a naturalisation certificate once the approval is officially announced in the Gazette.

While discussing if Indians can get citizenship in Japan, one must consider the documents attached with the application. Without these, one might not be able to qualify as a citizen. These are listed as follows.

• Resume
• Written oath
• Proof of livelihood (payslip)
• Map of residence vicinity
• ID proof (passport, drivers’ licence or birth certificate)
• Certificate of residence
• Proof of tax payments and financial stability
• Certificate of all assets

The Japanese government charges specific fees from the applicants who intend to become citizens of Japan. The simple naturalisation of an individual is about ¥48,901.81. However, if you are applying for an entire family, the naturalisation fee can go up to ¥293,410.80.

As to Japanese law's current regulations and amendments, dual citizenship is not allowed in Japan. Therefore, if you have foreign citizenship while applying, you need to renounce it within two years of becoming a Japanese citizen. You might lose your Japanese nationality if you fail to do so.

According to Japanese laws, you can invite your family if you are a PR or citizen by naturalisation. In this regard, you can bring them under a Dependent (Family) Stay visa. The eligible relatives include spouse, partner and dependent children. You can then apply for a Change of Status of Residence.

In case you apply for the citizenship of the entire family, the processing will be done together, and all the members need to be present in Japan. If a child is born to foreign parents in Japan, he or she can apply for citizenship after turning 20 years of age.

A child born in Japan can be considered a Japanese citizen by birth if he or she has at least one parent who is a Japanese citizen. However, the parents must register the child's birth within 14 days. On the other hand, a child will get a "Spouse or Child of Japanese National" status if his or her parents are of Japanese nationality without citizenship at the time of birth. In this case, parents must apply for "Acquisition Status of Residence" within 30 days of birth.

Even though Indians can get citizenship in Japan, they need to be cautious while applying for it. This is mainly because the authorities can reject their applications if they deem it necessary. The following mistakes are commonly responsible for dismissing a citizenship application in Japan.

1. Documents and application form

Maximum rejections of applications are due to incomplete application forms and the inability to produce relevant documents. This is vital when applying for citizenship. Applicants, therefore, must be careful and double-check their applications and documents before submitting them.

2. Conduct and character

The Japanese government expects the applicants to integrate into Japanese society and demonstrate a moral character while staying here. For this, the experts will investigate the surroundings of your residency to check your reputation. You should therefore maintain proper contact with the neighbours and your surroundings.

3. Financial stability

One of the primary eligibility criteria includes the financial stability of the applicants. If you show outstanding bill payments or inconsistent tax certificates, it shows your economic instability. This can reject your application. Thus, make sure that you have a proper livelihood and pay all the bills in time.

4. Fraud or inconsistency

When the experts investigate to verify your documents, they will be able to spot any fraudulent activities easily. Any fraud or forgery with the papers will end up rejecting your application. Hence, make sure to avoid such activities and produce authentic documents.

5. Criminal conviction

Having criminal records in Japan can be a significant cause behind the rejection of your citizenship application. Immigration experts can easily find it out through their investigation. Therefore, it is advisable to comply with Japanese law and avoid illegal activities.