How do you get citizenship in Japan? -

My dream is to move to Japan. Exactly how do you get citizenship there?

Foreigners, who have resided in Japan for at least five consecutive years (less if married to a Japanese national), have shown good conduct, have never plotted against the Japanese government, have sufficient assets or ability to make an independent living and are willing to renounce any other citizenship held, can be granted Japanese citizenship.

Good luck! It s an amazing country. Report Abuse

Attaining citizenship in Japan is freakin impossible, I know because I am trying. Though, your best shot is to go there on a student visa, attend a college, then request to receive residency, stay for 5 years, as a good civilian, perhaps marry a Japanese citizen, and you will find yourself a Japanese citizen. They may require you to go to the (insert your country) s embassy and give up your Passport, and then renounce citizenship and all ties held to the country of your nationality.

I heard that unless you are of Japanese ancestry you cant obtain citizenship

It s very difficult, and I don t know why you d want to do it. You don t need to be a citizen to live in Japan. I know Americans and Canadians who ve been living in Japan for a decade or more and who are married to Japanese citizens but who have themselves not become Japanese citizens. It s not that it s so hard to gain Japanese citizenship that no one can do it, although it sure isn t easy. But the big sticking point is that you d have to renounce your current citizenship first. Japan doesn t allow dual citizenship for adults who wish to be naturalized as Japanese citizens. Changing your citizenship is a very, very big deal, and it s something that you should only attempt if you re very, very serious about it. The time to think about becoming naturalized as a Japanese citizen is after you ve been living in Japan for several years already. Continuous residence in Japan for at least five years is required before you can be considered for citizenship anyway. Go to Japan first as a student or even a tourist and see how you like it. Then you can try to get a job in Japan (probably as an English teacher) that would allow you to live there. A few years after THAT is the time to start thinking about whether you want to become a citizen.