📌 Thinking About Naturalization in Japan? Understanding the “Residence Requirement”

2025年3月14日 2025年3月2日

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Many foreign residents in Japan consider applying for naturalization to obtain Japanese nationality. However, one of the most important conditions for naturalization is the “residence requirement”, and misunderstanding this rule can cause unexpected delays or even rejection.

How long do I need to live in Japan to qualify?
Does traveling abroad affect my eligibility?
Is having a registered address (住民票) enough?

This article will explain the “residence requirement” for naturalization in simple terms, specifically for foreign residents in Japan!

1. What Is the “Residence Requirement” for Naturalization?

To apply for Japanese nationality, you must meet the following basic requirement:

📌 “Continuously residing in Japan for at least five years” (Article 5, Paragraph 1, Item 1 of the Nationality Act).

In other words:

✅ You must have lived in Japan for at least five consecutive years.
✅ You must have a valid residence status (visa).
✅ You must have a stable life in Japan (job, home, family, etc.).

This “five years of continuous residence” is a key rule that cannot be ignored.

2. “Registered Address” vs. “Actual Residence” – Why They’re Different

Some people assume that having a registered address (住民票) is enough to meet the residence requirement. However, in naturalization applications, "address" (住所) and "residence" (居住) have different meanings.

Term	Meaning
Address (住所)	The location registered in your resident record (住民票)
Residence (居住)	Actually living in Japan continuously

🛑 A registered address alone is not enough!

For example:

✅ Short-term travel abroad (a few weeks to months) is fine
❌ Long-term stays abroad (1 year or more, for study, business, or family reasons) may be a problem

💡 If you stay outside Japan for over a year, your "continuous residence" may be reset, and you may need to wait another five years before applying for naturalization.

3. How Is the Five-Year Residence Period Counted?

So, how exactly is the five-year residence period counted?

📝 Cases That Meet the Requirement

✅ Living in Japan continuously for five years
✅ Holding a valid residence status, even if you changed visas during the period
✅ Taking short trips abroad (a few weeks to months)

⚠️ Cases That May Reset the Requirement

❌ Staying abroad for over one year (e.g., business assignments, study, family reasons, etc.)
❌ Failing to renew your visa and becoming undocumented
❌ Leaving Japan once and re-entering with a new visa (except for visa renewals)

💡 If you have been outside Japan for over a year, consult with the Legal Affairs Bureau (法務局) before applying.

4. How Residence Status Affects the Residence Requirement

Not all residence statuses count equally for the naturalization residence requirement. Here’s how different visa types are treated:

Residence Status	Residence Requirement Counted?
Permanent Resident (永住者)	✅ Yes (Most stable)
Long-Term Resident (定住者)	✅ Yes
Work Visa (技術・人文知識・国際業務, etc.)	✅ Yes
Spouse of a Japanese National (日本人の配偶者等)	✅ Yes (May qualify in 3 years)
Student Visa (留学) or Technical Intern (技能実習)	❌ No (Generally not counted)
Short-Term or Tourist Visa (短期滞在)	❌ No

For example, time spent on a student visa or technical intern visa does not count toward the five-year requirement. However, if you switch to a work visa or permanent residency and stay for five years, then your period will be counted.

5. Tips to Maintain Your Residence Requirement

✅ Don’t forget to renew your visa!
→ A gap in your residence status can reset the five-year count.

✅ Avoid long-term stays abroad!
→ Staying outside Japan for one year or more could reset your residence period.

✅ Manage your resident record (住民票) properly!
→ If you file an overseas moving notice (転出届), you may be considered as having left Japan.

✅ Build a stable life in Japan!
→ Having a steady job, home, and social ties will help your application.

Summary

🔹 You must continuously reside in Japan for five years to apply for naturalization.
🔹 Having a resident record (住民票) is not enough—you must actually live in Japan.
🔹 Staying abroad for over one year may reset your residence period.
🔹 Time spent on a student or technical intern visa does not count, but work visas and permanent residency do.

If you are considering naturalization, check your current residence situation and make a long-term plan!

In the next article, we will discuss “Special Cases Where the Residence Requirement is Shortened” (e.g., spouses of Japanese nationals, special achievements, etc.).