Published: 13.08.2026
Japan has tightened the residence-period requirement for naturalization: instead of the previous minimum of five years, applicants are generally expected to have lived in the country for at least ten years. The change is part of the broader tightening of policy toward foreign residents.
The source reports a substantial increase in the usual residence period required for naturalization, from five to ten years. This postpones access to citizenship and makes naturalization a significantly longer-term path for newcomers planning to live and work in Japan. The change primarily affects foreign residents who view citizenship as the end goal of relocation. Anyone choosing Japan with naturalization in mind should pay close attention to this development.