- 1). Determine if you meet the basic requirements for naturalization. The Japanese government has issued a short list of basic requirements which must be met before an application for naturalization can be completed. You must be at least 20 years old and have lived in Japan for five consecutive years. You must also have a clean record and be able to prove that you can support yourself financially (if you don't have a job you must prove that you are employable). Finally, you must show that you have never taken negative action against the Government of Japan. Being able to speak Japanese is a de facto, if not technical, requirement.
- 2). Fill out and submit an application. In order to complete an application for naturalization you must make an appointment with the Legal Affairs Bureau or District Legal Affairs Bureau. At this appointment you will be instructed on how to fill out the naturalization application and told which documents are required to support your application. These documents often include birth certificates, a list of all your prior addresses, family records (marriage, divorce, and death), proof of employment and earnings, Japanese tax records, and passport size photos.
- 3). Wait for a decision from the Ministry of Justice. It can take anywhere from six months to a year-and-a-half for a decision on your naturalization application to be made. You will be notified of the Ministry's decision, and if the decision is positive the Ministry will place a notice in your local newspaper. You are now a Japanese citizen, and can apply for a passport. At this stage you must also inform the country of your prior citizenship of your intent to give up that citizenship per Japanese nationality law.
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