The new naturalisation standards: what do 10 years in principle and 5 years of tax mean?

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 guide for people who want accurate information about the change in naturalisation screening practice from April 2026.

Is it true that a citizenship test has been introduced?

No such test has been introduced. This is said to be false.

There is a rumour that says: from 2026 the naturalisation interview changed, and it became something advanced, like a social integration test (a citizenship test) asking about the Japanese constitution and the political system. It is said that no such test has been introduced. So why did the rumour spread? It is thought to be because there really was a change of direction, in that on 1 April 2026 the naturalisation screening standards changed on a scale never seen before.

What is actually said to have changed?

3 points are said to have changed a great deal: the length of residence, the period checked for tax, and the period checked for social insurance contributions.

This change did not rewrite the text of the 国籍法 (Nationality Act) itself. What is said to have been raised is the internal guidance the Ministry of Justice uses when it screens an application.

• Length of residence: the text of the law still says at least 5 years continuously, but in practice 10 years or more in principle is said to have become the focus. This is thought to be a step to keep the balance with permanent residence permission.
• Period checked for tax: said to have widened from a certificate for the most recent 1 year to certificates for the past 5 years. For an employee this means residence tax and income tax. For a sole trader or a company owner it also includes corporation tax, consumption tax and business tax. The screening is said to look at whether you paid properly, without ever falling behind, right across the past 5 years.
• Period checked for social insurance contributions: said to have widened from around the most recent 1 year to certificates for the past 2 years. On top of having nothing unpaid, whether you pay by the due date each month is said to be looked at closely.

Does this affect people whose application is already in progress?

If the Minister of Justice makes the final decision from April 2026 onwards, the new standards are said to apply.

Naturalisation screening takes from several months to close to 1 year, from the day the application is accepted until approval or denial. Even if you filed while the old practice was in place, if the Minister of Justice makes the final decision on or after 1 April 2026, the new standards (5 years of tax, 2 years of social insurance) are said to be applied. It is said that cases have begun to appear where people still under screening are asked by the Legal Affairs Bureau to submit extra tax payment certificates.

How does this affect 簡易帰化 for people married to a Japanese national?

The residence period is relaxed, but the check on 5 years of tax and 2 years of social insurance is said to apply just the same.

The rise to 10 years in principle in the residence requirement is said to fall mainly on ordinary mid to long-term residents who live in Japan on a work visa or on 在留資格「家族滞在」 (Dependent). People who fall under 簡易帰化 in the 国籍法, that is the group whose address condition is relaxed, are said to be still able to file even with less than 10 years of residence. That group includes spouses of Japanese nationals (for example, married for 3 years and living in Japan for 1 year or more), people born in Japan, and people who were the child of a Japanese national.

However, even for people who qualify for 簡易帰化, the checks outside the residence period are said to apply just the same: the widening to 5 years of tax and to 2 years of social insurance. Unpaid or late tax from the time before the marriage will be traced back and checked. So it is said that people who qualify for 簡易帰化 should not relax either.

What should I do right now?

Check your own past tax and social insurance payments, and prepare objective proof of your Japanese ability.

1. Get your tax assessment and tax payment certificates for the past 5 years from the public office and check them yourself: look not only for unpaid amounts, but also for whether you paid on the due date itself.
2. Check the months of payment in your pension record for the past 2 years: look for any period with no payment or no enrolment, and check that payments were made on time.
3. Have a certificate ready that objectively proves your Japanese ability: a JLPT N3 to N2 pass certificate is the kind of objective evidence you are advised to prepare.

These changes are said to be a demand about compliance: if you are to become a member of the Japanese people, they want you to show a record of living by the rules of society over a certain past period. If you have even a small worry or question, you are advised not to proceed on your own judgement, but to consult a specialist.

Frequently Asked Questions

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• If I hold 永住許可, what advantages do I have when I apply for naturalisation?
• My naturalisation was denied. What should I watch out for when I apply again?
• What is naturalisation? The kinds, the conditions and how the procedure goes
• 帰化 (naturalisation) is not a way out: what attitude is expected of you

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.