Japan Tightens Naturalization Screening in 2026: New Review Standards Bring Naturalization Closer to Permanent Residence Requirements

Administrative Practice Now Generally Requires 10 Years of Residence, Applies to Pending Applications, and Expands Documentary Requirements

The tightening of Japan’s immigration screening has not been limited to permanent residence applications. Naturalization applications have also become subject to substantially stricter review.

The policy rationale is straightforward. While permanent residence generally requires ten years of continuous residence in Japan, the Nationality Act provides that an applicant for naturalization must have maintained a domicile in Japan for only five consecutive years. As a result, policymakers increasingly questioned whether the statutory requirements for naturalization appeared less demanding than those for permanent residence, creating the impression that the relevant review period—and, by extension, the level of scrutiny—was comparatively lenient. Against this backdrop, the government concluded that the administration of naturalization examinations should be reconsidered in light of the standards applied to permanent residence, with the objective of achieving greater consistency while strengthening overall screening.

That policy shift took effect on April 1, 2026, when Japan significantly tightened its administrative practice for reviewing naturalization applications.

Administrative Practice Now Expects 10 Years of Residence

Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of the reform is that the text of Article 5 of the Nationality Act remains unchanged. The statute continues to require that an applicant “has had a domicile in Japan for five consecutive years or more.” In practice, however, authorities now generally expect applicants to have resided in Japan for at least ten years as a matter of administrative screening policy.

The New Screening Policy May Apply to Pending Applications

Equally significant is the fact that the revised screening practice is being applied not only to applications filed on or after April 1, 2026, but also to cases that were already pending as of that date. In other words, applicants who submitted their naturalization applications before the policy change may nevertheless find their cases assessed under the new standards if a decision has not yet been issued.

Expanded Review of Tax and Social Insurance Compliance

The practical impact extends beyond the residence requirement. Authorities are now reviewing a longer period of an applicant’s tax and social insurance compliance, and the volume of supporting documentation has increased accordingly. Applicants are increasingly required to submit additional residence tax certificates, tax payment certificates, pension records, and health insurance documentation, among other materials.

As a result, the documentary requirements for naturalization have begun to closely resemble those imposed in permanent residence applications. From a policy perspective, the government appears to be aligning the practical administration of naturalization and permanent residence, ensuring that the two pathways are subject to a more consistent level of scrutiny despite their differing statutory frameworks.

Key Takeaways

• Japan significantly tightened its administrative review of naturalization applications on April 1, 2026.
• Although Article 5 of the Nationality Act still refers to five years of domicile, administrative practice now generally expects ten years of residence.
• The revised screening policy may also affect applications that were filed before April 1, 2026, if they remain under review.
• Immigration authorities now examine a longer history of tax payments and social insurance compliance.
• The supporting documentation required for naturalization increasingly mirrors that required for permanent residence applications.

 

About the Expert

Masakazu Murai
Immigration Consultant & Financial Advisor
18 years at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley, advising over 500 entrepreneurs and executives.

Active in workplace diversity initiatives, specializing in residence status consulting for foreign nationals.

• Gyoseishoshi Immigration Lawyer
• CMA (Japanese Financial Analyst)
• CFP (Certified Financial Planner)
• MBA in Entrepreneurship

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