Key Facts
• November 4, 2025: Government discusses stricter citizenship requirements.
• Current residency requirement: 5+ years; proposed change: 10+ years.
• 2024 data: 12,248 applications, 8,863 approvals for citizenship.
• New policy to align with permanent residency’s 10-year requirement.
• Additional requirements: good conduct, financial stability, and Japanese language proficiency.
• Final policy to be included in January 2026 foreigner policy framework.
• Proposal initiated during former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s term.
• September 2025: Japan Innovation Party highlighted inconsistencies in citizenship and residency rules.
Summary
The Japanese government is moving to tighten the requirements for foreigners seeking citizenship by extending the residency period from the current five years to ten years. This adjustment aims to address concerns over the leniency of citizenship requirements compared to permanent residency, which already mandates a ten-year residency. The policy, set to be finalized in January 2026, will also maintain existing criteria such as good conduct, financial stability, and Japanese language proficiency. In 2024, 12,248 individuals applied for Japanese citizenship, with 8,863 approvals. The proposal, initially discussed during former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s tenure, gained momentum after the Japan Innovation Party’s September 2025 report highlighted inconsistencies in the legal framework. The government plans to implement the change through operational adjustments rather than amending the Nationality Act.
