The Japanese government is considering tightening the requirements for foreign nationals seeking citizenship, with plans to increase the residency period for naturalization to become a Japanese citizen, according to a report by Nikkei Shimbun on Tuesday, November 25.
Currently, the requirement for naturalization applicants is to have resided in Japan for five years or more. This standard is lower than the minimum of ten years required for “permanent residency,” which allows foreign nationals to live in Japan long-term without obtaining Japanese citizenship.
The ruling coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party, Nippon Ishin no Kai, proposed this “reverse phenomenon” in its policy recommendations in September, calling for the citizenship requirement to be raised to the level equal to or higher than that of permanent residency.
Prime Minister Sanae Takai has made it clear that she will study the related proposals after taking office. The Prime Minister stated that she will address issues such as illegal immigration and foreign nationals purchasing land seriously, emphasizing the need to “draw a line between xenophobic sentiment and policy” and to open the doors to foreign nationals while tightening restrictions.
It is expected that the Japanese government will finalize specific measures for foreign national citizenship and incorporate the new regulations into the “Basic Policy on Foreign Nationals” expected to be completed in January 2026.
In the governing agreement signed between the Liberal Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin no Kai in October, it was indicated that the government will formulate a “population strategy” within the fiscal year 2026 to clearly define the goals and basic guidelines for accepting foreign nationals.
However, some opinions suggest that the standards for citizenship may not necessarily be more lenient than those for permanent residency. The Japan Immigration Bureau stated, “In addition to the residency period, naturalization also requires compliance with multiple legal conditions.” These conditions include good conduct, the ability to support oneself, adherence to the Constitution, and the Japanese language proficiency necessary for daily life.
The personal statement required for citizenship applications must be handwritten in Japanese. However, the personal statement for permanent residency applications can be written using a computer or another language, as long as a Japanese translation is provided.
In their proposal in September, Nippon Ishin no Kai also pointed out a flaw in the current regulations, noting that even in cases of significant document falsification or anti-social behavior by an applicant, citizenship cannot be revoked. The party called for the introduction of a clause allowing citizenship to be revoked following judicial review.
According to data from the Japanese Ministry of Justice, there were a total of 12,248 citizenship applications received in 2024, with 8,863 being approved. There are currently no statistics on applications involving falsification or other fraudulent activities.
With Japan’s population continuing to decline and the number of foreign residents within Japan on the rise, the importance of foreign nationals to Japan’s economic growth and social system is increasing.
“Foreign nationals policy” became a significant issue in the July Upper House election, with discussions starting during the tenure of former Prime Minister Shizo Abe. Consensus has been reached on specific matters, including that foreign nationals who are in arrears of medical fees or social insurance premiums will not be able to prolong their resident status. This policy, which existed previously, will continue to be upheld in the future.