Naturalization

[Roger Van Zant]

Why did you have to hand write an essay in that case?

I had a preliminary interview at the 法務局 in Sendai as the first step on March 10th 2011. Got a bit distracted after that and never got round to finishing the application

Stands to reason!

[Roger Van Zant]

I can understand not being very bothered about renouncing your citizenship in favor of Japanese citizen
ship if you’re from a Third World country, but I would never renounce as a holder of a First World country passport. I don’t see any benefits whatsoever, especially the way Japan’s demise is speeding up.
If Japan turns ultra-right wing again in the future, I’d feel happier knowing I have an “out” with my British passport.

[Tkydon]

I assume you know that under the Japanese Nationality Law, if you take Japanese Citizenship by Naturalization, you have to relinquish any and all other nationalities.

Article 5 Paragraph 1(5) of the Japanese Nationality Law refers:

https://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/information/tnl-01.html

"(Naturalization)
Article 5.
1. The Minister of Justice shall not permit the naturalization of an alien unless he or she fulfills all of the following conditions:
(1) that he or she has domiciled in Japan for five years or more consecutively;
(2) that he or she is twenty years of age or more and of full capacity to act according to the law of his or her home country;
(3) that he or she is of upright conduct;
(4) that he or she is able to secure a livelihood by one's own property or ability, or those of one's spouse or other relatives with whom one lives on common living expenses;
(5) that he or she has no nationality, or the acquisition of Japanese nationality will result in the loss of foreign nationality;
(6) that he or she has never plotted or advocated, or formed or belonged to a political party or other organization which has plotted or advocated the overthrow of the Constitution of Japan or the Government existing thereunder, since the enforcement of the Constitution of Japan.

2. When an alien is, regardless of his or her intention, unable to deprive himself or herself of his or her current nationality, the Minister of Justice may permit the naturalization of the alien, notwithstanding that the alien does not fulfill the conditions set forth in item (5) of the preceding paragraph, if the Minister of Justice finds exceptional circumstances in his or her family relationship with a Japanese national, or other circumstances. "

Paragraph 2 does not apply if your country does allow citizens to relinquish their Citizenship, unlike some other countries where it is impossible to do so.

[Tsumitate Wrestler]

If Japan turns ultra-right wing again in the future, I’d feel happier knowing I have an “out” with my British passport.

Brexit, Boris, Truss, Sunak, shipping refugees to Rwanda....

Glass houses.

[Nancy]

You have to handwrite the essay, but I kept making a mistake after a few letters, so I wrote it in pencil first and then copied over it in pen. I did this at home. If you have passed any of the Japanese level tests and have documentation, then I think that this will help them feel that you are competent speaker.

[Deep Blue]

Not yet, but I think it will happen at some point. Would not have considered it pre-Brexit, but I doubt I will ever live in the UK again.

It is always possible re-gain UK citienship after you have given it up, anyway.

[Deep Blue]

turns ultra-right wing

So the UK at the moment then?

Hardly... despite all the electioneering lunacy from a small fringe of Tories, a centre left party is on track to win a massive majority next year, Hardly the sign of a country turning ultra-right. The UK is still far more open and tolerant to immigrants than Japan is or has ever been....

[Roger Van Zant]

If Japan turns ultra-right wing again in the future, I’d feel happier knowing I have an “out” with my British passport.

Brexit, Boris, Truss, Sunak, shipping refugees to Rwanda....

Glass houses.

I voted for Brexit, so I couldn't care less about any of the above.
I would just be happy to have another option if things didn't turn out well in Japan though!

[Roger Van Zant]

turns ultra-right wing

So the UK at the moment then?

Hardly... despite all the electioneering lunacy from a small fringe of Tories, a centre left party is on track to win a massive majority next year, Hardly the sign of a country turning ultra-right. The UK is still far more open and tolerant to immigrants than Japan is or has ever been....

Spot on.

[Tkydon]

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... accessible

"This guide is for people who have renounced British citizenship or citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies and who now wish to resume citizenship and be registered as British citizens."

"Do you have a right to registration?
You have a right (once only) to be registered as a British citizen if you previously renounced British citizenship in order to keep or acquire another citizenship."
<subject to the other restrictions listed in the document>

You have a separate right (once only) to be registered as a British citizen if you previously renounced citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies:
in order to keep or acquire the citizenship of a Commonwealth country, or
because you had reasonable cause to believe that you would be deprived of your citizenship of a Commonwealth country if you did not renounce.

If you renounced citizenship for any other reason, or if you have already renounced and resumed British citizenship (as a right), registration is at the discretion of the Home Secretary. Registration will be granted if they see fit."

"Effect of registration on present citizenship
You do not have to give up your present citizenship or nationality to become a British citizen. But under the nationality laws of some countries, a person automatically loses their existing nationality if they become a citizen of another country. Before you apply for British citizenship you should consider checking what your position would be with the authorities of the country of which you are a citizen."


If you do re-Naturalize, then your Japanese Citizenship will be immediately forfeit.

Article 11 of the Japanese Nationality Law refers:

https://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/information/tnl-01.html

"(Loss of nationality)
Article 11.
1. A Japanese national shall lose Japanese nationality when he or she acquires a foreign nationality by his or her own choice.
2. A Japanese national having a foreign nationality shall lose Japanese nationality if he or she chooses the foreign nationality in accordance with the laws of the foreign country concerned."


This is not the same as being Dual from Birth.