Japan is strengthening citizenship acquisition requirements

The Japanese government plans to tighten the requirements for foreigners to obtain citizenship. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

According to the new regulations, the residency period required for citizenship is expected to be set at ten years instead of the previous five years. Additionally, proficiency in the Japanese language will also become mandatory.

These changes are scheduled to take effect in 2026. During the citizenship granting process, candidates will be required to demonstrate exemplary behavior, be over 18 years old, and have a stable source of income.

Government authorities will be granted significant powers in making the final decision. Simplified procedures may be introduced for certain categories, such as athletes and permanent residents.

The Nippon Ishin and Sanseito parties are proposing to further tighten the new rules, limit the number of foreign residents, and introduce a mechanism for revoking citizenship. In 2024, the Japanese government reviewed 12,248 citizenship applications.

Of these, 8,863 were approved. Over the past ten years, the number of foreigners in the country has increased from 2.23 million to 3.95 million.

Some critics view these measures as new barriers to migration amid labor shortages.