Permanent Residency & Citizenship

Those in Japan for the long haul may choose to pursue permanent residency or even citizenship. The most common way to become a permanent resident is to apply after five years of marriage to a Japanese citizen. Alternatively, you can apply after a period of five to 10 years of residence and stable employment. The main benefits of permanent residency include not having to renew your visa every one to three years and being able to borrow money more readily. Citizenship is another story. It is considerably more difficult to become a citizen (see also Blogging It left). There is no dual nationality system, and family checks, translation of documents, and the examination of your home, your suitability to become a Japanese citizen and other intrusive checks, as well as the lengthy decision-making process by the Japanese authorities, are not for the fainthearted.

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