Starting April 1, 2026, Japan will tighten the rules for obtaining citizenship through naturalization: the minimum residency requirement for foreigners will be increased from 5 to 10 years. This was announced on March 27 by Japanese Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi.
In addition to doubling the residency requirement, the government is also extending the period for verifying applicants’ compliance with civic obligations. According to Japanese media reports, the period for verifying tax payments will be increased to 5 years, and for social insurance contributions—to 2 years instead of the previous 1 year. The new requirements will also apply to applications already submitted.
Until now, the basic rule for naturalization in Japan has been continuous residence in the country for at least 5 years. The Japanese government explains the tightening of requirements by the need to better verify the integration of foreigners and their compatibility with Japanese society. This news is particularly notable given the high international status of the Japanese passport. In the latest edition of the Henley Passport Index, Japan ranks among the world leaders in passport power, sharing 2nd place with access to 190 destinations visa-free or with simplified entry.
