My child had an accident while my naturalisation application was pending. Does it affect the screening?

This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original（日本語版を読む）

What is this enquiry about?

A minor child living in the same household was involved in an accident that the police became involved in, while the naturalisation application was pending.

Is an accident caused by a child living with me looked at in the screening?

Even if you did not do it yourself, it can be looked at, from the point of view of the home environment and your duty to supervise.

When a naturalisation application is screened, the circumstances of the family may be taken into account, not only those of the applicant. This is because the decision looks at the whole picture: whether, once naturalisation is granted, the applicant and the family can live peacefully as members of Japanese society.

In concrete terms, the following points may be taken into account.

• The applicant's own good conduct (an act by a minor child of the applicant who lives in the same household may be considered in terms of the home environment and the duty to supervise)
• The make-up of the family, family relationships and the way the household lives
• The effect on society, that is, whether the applicant and the family can settle smoothly into Japanese society after naturalisation
• Whether the household has money problems or problems with other people

In this case, the accident has already been settled by an apology and a payment of compensation, and the child has been found to be at fault. That may be seen as dealing with the matter in good faith. Telling the police that a naturalisation application was pending is also not necessarily a minus, because it shows that nothing was being hidden.

What should I do from here?

Report honestly to the Legal Affairs Bureau, hand over documents, and explain the remorse and the steps taken to prevent it happening again.

1. Report the background and the current position of the accident honestly and in detail to the examiner at the Legal Affairs Bureau handling your naturalisation application. Include the fact that you explained the situation to the police.
2. If you are asked for related documents, such as the police record, the settlement agreement or proof of the compensation payment, hand them over promptly.
3. Explain that the child deeply regrets the accident, and what is being done so that it does not happen again.
4. Show once more that you yourself live a stable life and that you intend to go on contributing to Japanese society.
5. If you are very worried, or unsure how to make the report, talk to a specialist (a lawyer or a gyoseishoshi).

This matter may affect the naturalisation screening, but depending on what happened and how it was dealt with afterwards, it does not necessarily mean a denial. What matters is dealing with the Legal Affairs Bureau in good faith.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Articles

• Do unpaid child support and a past overstay affect naturalisation?
• Applying for 帰化 (naturalisation) as a whole family: does everyone need Japanese ability?
• Can a 帰化 (naturalisation) application be accepted if the passport is not filed?
• Naturalisation screening: our forecast of stricter checks, and how to prepare

This article provides general information. Immigration rules change, and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Please check the Immigration Services Agency website or consult a qualified specialist.
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.