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Japanese citizenship for spouses of Japanese nationals

The Nationality Act gives spouses of Japanese nationals a shorter route: 3 years of living in Japan, or 3 years of marriage and 1 year in Japan, instead of the general 5 years. Both options, who counts as a spouse, what the Legal Affairs Bureau checks, what happens after a divorce and how citizenship compares with the spouse visa and permanent residency.

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Process and documents

Checked against the Nationality Act and the Ministry of Justice on 7 October 2026 · All about Japanese citizenship

Option 13 years in Japan

Option 23 years married + 1 year in Japan

Age 18+ conditionWaived

Government fee¥0

Article 7 of the Nationality Act

Two options for spouses

Both options replace the general 5-year residence condition and the age condition (18+). Everything else — good conduct, taxes, the household’s livelihood, Japanese for daily life and giving up your current nationality — is the same as for everyone.

Option 1

3 years of living in Japan

You have lived in Japan continuously for 3 years or more and your address is in Japan now. How long you have been married does not matter: you can apply right after the wedding if the 3 years are already there. Years before the marriage — on a work, student or other status — count.

Option 2

3 years of marriage + 1 year in Japan

At least 3 years have passed since the marriage, and you have lived in Japan continuously for at least the last year. This suits couples who married and lived abroad, then moved to Japan. A marriage registered abroad must also be reported in Japan.

The 10-year standard of 2026. From 1 April 2026 the Ministry of Justice expects ordinary applicants to have lived in Japan, in principle, for 10 years or more — decided case by case, within the Minister’s discretion. It has made no separate statement about spouses. In practice, administrative scriveners (行政書士) report that the Article 7 periods still apply to spouses — but there is no guarantee, so ask at your consultation at the Legal Affairs Bureau. Taxes and payments are checked over longer periods for everyone: resident tax for 5 years, pension and health insurance for 2 years, including whether you paid on time.

Who counts as a spouse

The marriage must be legal and real

  • A legal marriage recorded in Japan (in your spouse’s family register, 戸籍). Living together without marriage (内縁) does not count.
  • Your status of residence does not matter. Article 7 also applies if you live in Japan on a work visa, not on the spouse visa.
  • A spouse who became Japanese by naturalization is a Japanese national: once your spouse naturalizes, Article 7 applies to you.
  • Same-sex couples. Japan does not recognize same-sex marriage, so Article 7 does not apply; the ordinary rules do.
  • Two foreign spouses apply under the ordinary rules. Once one of you is Japanese, the other can apply under Article 7.

What the Legal Affairs Bureau checks

A real marriage and a household that can support itself

The marriage

  • Living together — your residence records (住民票, 戸籍の附票) show where each of you lived.
  • How you met and your life together — in the forms and at the interview. In practice the Japanese spouse is often interviewed too.
  • A home visit is possible, in practice more often when you apply right at 3 years of marriage or the papers do not match.
  • A sham marriage is a crime in Japan and ends the application.

Income and conduct

  • Livelihood is judged for the household: if you do not work, your spouse’s income can be enough (Article 5(1)(iv)).
  • Taxes and payments of the whole household: resident tax for 5 years, pension and health insurance for 2 years.
  • Driving record for 5 years; any criminal record or immigration violation as for everyone.
  • Japanese for daily life — speaking, reading and writing. The interview is in Japanese.

Documents

What spouses add to the general list

A shorter period does not mean fewer papers. The general list is on the process page. Spouses usually add:

  • your Japanese spouse’s family register (戸籍謄本) showing the marriage;
  • residence records with address history (戸籍の附票 or 住民票) proving that you live together;
  • the marriage certificate from your country, if you married there, with a Japanese translation;
  • your spouse’s income and tax certificates, if the family lives on that income;
  • other proof of life together (photos, lease) only if the Legal Affairs Bureau asks for it at the consultation.

Surname and name. Married couples in Japan share one surname, so you usually take your spouse’s surname or choose a common one. Your given name is written in Japanese script — a Japanese name or your own name in katakana.

If the marriage ends

Divorce during the review

Tell the Legal Affairs Bureau at once. The Article 7 ground disappears, so in practice you will most likely be asked to withdraw the application. You can continue only if you meet the ordinary conditions yourself — since April 2026, in principle 10 years in Japan.

If you live in Japan on the Spouse or Child of Japanese National status, notify immigration within 14 days of the divorce and move to a status that fits your life: if you do not carry out the activities of a spouse for 6 months without a good reason, the status can be cancelled. Options include a work status, Long-Term Resident (定住者) or permanent residency — see the spouse visa and change of status.

Comparison

Spouse visa, permanent residency or citizenship

Spouses of Japanese nationals have three statuses to choose from. Fees are for applications received from 1 October 2026.

Spouse visa (日本人の配偶者等) Permanent residency (永住) Citizenship (帰化)
When you can apply Right after the marriage Applications by 31 March 2027: 3 years of marriage + 1 year in Japan. From 1 April 2027: 5 years of actual married life + 3 years in Japan 3 years in Japan, or 3 years of marriage + 1 year in Japan
Work Any job Any job Any job
Renewals Every 6 months to 5 years Residence card renewed every 7 years None
After a divorce You must change status Kept Kept
Your current nationality Kept Kept Must be given up, as a rule
Government fee Extension ¥10,000–75,000 by period granted ¥200,000 ¥0

Extension and permanent residence fees apply to applications received from 1 October 2026 (before that: ¥6,000 and ¥10,000); the fee can be higher when a specified residence card (特定在留カード) is issued. Permanent residency rule change: ISA’s revised guideline.

More: Permanent residency in Japan · Spouse visa · Japanese nationality for children · Immigration fees

FAQ

Questions from spouses

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How many years of marriage do I need for Japanese citizenship?

If you have already lived in Japan for 3 years, none: you can apply right after the wedding. If not, you need 3 years of marriage and at least 1 year of living in Japan. This is Article 7 of the Nationality Act.

The Ministry of Justice has not said so. In practice, administrative scriveners (行政書士) report that the periods written in the law — 3 years, or 3 years of marriage plus 1 year — still apply to spouses. Taxes and social insurance are checked over the longer periods introduced in 2026.

No. Article 7 applies to any foreign spouse of a Japanese national who lives in Japan legally — on a work visa, as a permanent resident or on the Spouse or Child of Japanese National status.

Not if the family can live on its income. Livelihood is judged for the household, so your spouse’s income can be enough. The family’s taxes and social insurance must be paid, and paid on time.

Married couples in Japan share one surname, so you usually take your spouse’s surname or choose a common one. Your given name is written in Japanese script: a Japanese name, or your own name in katakana.

Tell the Legal Affairs Bureau at once. Article 7 no longer applies, so you will most likely be asked to withdraw the application unless you meet the ordinary conditions yourself — since April 2026, in principle 10 years in Japan.

Often, yes — sometimes together with you, sometimes separately. In practice the questions cover how you met, your life together and your plans. The answers should match the application.

It depends on whether you can give up your current nationality. Permanent residency keeps your passport but leaves you under immigration control; citizenship ends it but, as a rule, means losing your old nationality. Many spouses get permanent residency first and decide later.

Sources

Where this information comes from

Facts were checked on 7 October 2026 against the Nationality Act (国籍法) and the Family Register Act (戸籍法) on e-Gov, the website of the Ministry of Justice and the Legal Affairs Bureaus (法務局). The Ministry publishes no figures for some points — how long a trip abroad breaks your residence, what income is enough, how long the review takes. There we rely on what Japanese administrative scriveners (行政書士) consistently report and say “in practice”.

This page is general information, not legal advice. The Minister of Justice decides each application, and the Legal Affairs Bureau may ask for more documents. Rules for your current nationality come from your own country’s law.

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