Visa & residencyNaturalization
Dual nationality in Japan: naturalization requires giving up your old nationality in principle, and dual nationals must choose by age 20 or within 2 years.
As of October 2026, Japan does not generally allow adults to hold dual nationality. A foreigner who naturalizes (帰化) must, in principle, lose the previous nationality. A Japanese national who voluntarily takes a foreign nationality automatically loses Japanese nationality. People who become dual nationals another way, such as by birth, must choose one nationality by age 20, or within 2 years if it arose at 18 or older. Your home country's law decides whether it lets go of you.
Under dual nationality Japan rules, adults cannot freely hold two nationalities. As of October 2026, a foreigner who naturalizes (帰化, kika) must be stateless or, in principle, lose their previous nationality by becoming Japanese. A Japanese national who voluntarily takes a foreign nationality loses Japanese nationality automatically. People who end up with two nationalities another way, such as by birth, must choose one by age 20, or within 2 years if it arose at 18 or older.
In principle, yes. The Ministry of Justice lists a condition to prevent dual nationality (重国籍防止条件): you must be stateless, or lose your previous nationality by naturalizing.
There is one exception. If you cannot give up your nationality by your own will, naturalization may still be approved.
For the steps, see the naturalization process.
The Ministry pages we checked do not say. They do not cover passports. We could not confirm what Japan requires, so we do not state it here.
What you can do:
Some people are dual nationals without choosing it. The Ministry lists causes such as a parent’s nationality, birth in a country that grants nationality by place of birth, or a foreign nationality gained by recognition, adoption or marriage.
You must choose one nationality by these deadlines:
| When dual nationality arose | Choose by |
|---|---|
| Before age 18 | Age 20 |
| At age 18 or older | 2 years after it arose |
These deadlines follow the rule as amended from April 1, 2022. If you miss the deadline, you must still choose. The Minister of Justice may send a notice. If you do not choose within one month of that notice, you generally lose Japanese nationality when the period ends.
There are two routes, both filed at a city or ward office, or at a Japanese embassy or consulate.
A person under 15 chooses through a legal representative.
You give up Japanese nationality by one of two filings.
This affects only the person filing, not family members.
If you are a Japanese national and acquire a foreign nationality of your own will, for example by naturalizing abroad, you automatically lose Japanese nationality. This matters if you plan to move on after becoming Japanese. If you hold a permanent resident status now, compare options in permanent residency vs naturalization.
Not in the sense of free choice for adults. Dual nationals, such as children of mixed-nationality parents, must choose one nationality by a deadline. Naturalizing as an adult requires losing your previous nationality in principle.
The Ministry of Justice requires you to lose your previous nationality in principle. The pages we checked say nothing about passports, so ask your home country's embassy what happens to your passport.
Naturalization may still be approved if you cannot give up your nationality by your own will.
If you became a dual national before 18, by age 20. If at 18 or older, within 2 years. After the deadline, the Minister of Justice may send a notice, and if you do not choose within one month you generally lose Japanese nationality.
If you acquire a foreign nationality of your own will, for example by naturalizing abroad, you automatically lose Japanese nationality.
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