Renouncing your nationality for Japanese citizenship: what the law says and what to do at home

To renounce your nationality for Japan, you generally have to lose it as part of becoming Japanese. The Nationality Act (国籍法) lets the Minister of Justice naturalize you only if you are stateless or will lose your existing nationality by getting Japanese nationality. One exception exists if your country will not release you. All as of October 2026.

What does Japanese law say about renouncing your nationality?

Article 5(1)(5) of the Nationality Act sets the condition: you must have no nationality, or “lose that nationality by acquiring Japanese nationality.” The Ministry of Justice (法務省) describes it the same way: the original nationality must in principle be lost through naturalization.

Article 5(2) is the exception. If you cannot lose your nationality by your own will, and you have special family ties to Japanese nationals or special circumstances, the Minister of Justice may approve you anyway. It is a discretionary exception, not a right. Ask the Legal Affairs Bureau (法務局) whether your case might qualify.

Meeting the usual conditions does not guarantee approval. The Ministry lists 5 or more years of continuous residence, age 18 or older, good conduct and a stable livelihood. For the full process, see naturalization in Japan and PR vs naturalization.

Who handles the renunciation: Japan or your home country?

Both, in different ways. Japan decides whether to approve your naturalization. Your home country decides how, and whether, it ends your nationality there. Japan’s own page gives no separate renunciation form and says the procedure for losing a foreign nationality depends on how you acquired it. The Saitama bureau tells people to phone the bureau first.

For your application, the Ministry says documents proving nationality and family relationships should generally be issued by your home-country authorities, and that required documents vary by nationality. So start by asking your Legal Affairs Bureau which documents your nationality needs, then ask your embassy.

What do embassies in Japan require? Examples

Rules differ a lot. These are examples from pages we could read, not a full list. We found no usable official page for China, Korea, Vietnam, Nepal, Bangladesh or Indonesia, so check those directly with your embassy.

What happens to your documents after approval?

The Legal Affairs Bureau cannot issue a “certificate of naturalization.” Your proof of Japanese nationality is a certified copy of your family register (戸籍全部事項証明書) from your municipal office. Embassies, such as the Philippine one, ask for this kind of document when you notify them.

The bureau also says documents you filed with the application are not returned after the result, whatever the reason. Keep copies of what you submit, and ask about documents that your embassy will need back.

Can you renounce Japanese nationality later?

Yes, but only if you hold another nationality. Under Article 13, a Japanese national with a foreign nationality can notify the Minister of Justice and loses Japanese nationality at the time of notification. The Saitama bureau notes you cannot renounce if you have no foreign nationality, because that would make you stateless.

Two related rules apply to people who hold both nationalities, such as children of international marriages. Under Article 14, they must choose by age 20 if dual status began at 18 or younger, or within 2 years if it began after 18. Article 11 says a Japanese national who takes a foreign nationality by choice loses Japanese nationality. See dual citizenship for children of foreign parents.

When should you ask a professional?

This page is general information, not legal advice. If your country has no release procedure, will not let you renounce, or your family situation is complicated, ask an administrative scrivener (行政書士) who handles naturalization, or the Legal Affairs Bureau.

More guides: naturalization process, PR requirements, PR vs naturalization.