10 Procedures to Complete After Naturalization Is Approved | Where to File and Deadlines

Introduction

When naturalization is approved, it is announced in the Official Gazette, and you have formally acquired Japanese nationality. However, approval of naturalization is not the goal but the starting point. Numerous procedures are required, including various notifications as a Japanese national and changes to your previous registrations as a foreign national.

This article summarizes the 10 procedures to be carried out after naturalization is approved, together with where to file them and their deadlines. Please use it as a checklist so that nothing is overlooked.

List of Procedures After Naturalization Is Approved

No.	Procedure	Where to File	Deadline / Guideline
1	Submit the naturalization notification	Municipal office	Within 1 month of the Official Gazette announcement
2	Return the residence card	Regional Immigration Services Bureau	Within 14 days
3	Apply for a Japanese passport	Prefectural passport counter	Optional (early application recommended)
4	Return the passport of your former country	Embassy or consulate of your former country	Promptly
5	Change your driver’s license	Police station / license center	Promptly
6	Change the name on bank accounts	Each financial institution	Promptly
7	Change your My Number Card	Municipal office	Promptly
8	Notifications for health insurance and pension	Employer / municipality / pension office	Promptly
9	Change the registered name for real estate	Legal Affairs Bureau	Optional (if you are an owner)
10	Registration of change of company representative	Legal Affairs Bureau	Within 2 weeks (if you are a corporate representative)

Details of Each Procedure

1. Submitting the Naturalization Notification

Where to file: The municipal office where you live Deadline: Within 1 month of the date of the Official Gazette announcement Basis: Article 102 of the Family Register Act

When naturalization is approved, the Legal Affairs Bureau issues a Certificate of Identity of a Naturalized Person. Take this document together with the required attachments to the municipal office and submit the naturalization notification. Through this notification, a new Japanese family register is created.

Required documents:

Naturalization notification form (obtained at the municipality)

Certificate of Identity of a Naturalized Person

Other documents designated by the municipality

When submitting the naturalization notification, you register your new name (Japanese name). Write the name you requested at the time of the application for permission to naturalize.

2. Returning the Residence Card

Where to file: Your nearest Regional Immigration Services Bureau Deadline: Within 14 days of approval of naturalization Basis: Article 19-15 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act

Since you have acquired Japanese nationality, the residence card is no longer necessary. You may return it at the counter of the Regional Immigration Services Bureau, or return it by mail.

Mailing address: Tokyo Port Joint Government Building 9F, 2-7-11 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064 Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau, Odaiba Branch Office

3. Applying for a Japanese Passport

Where to file: Prefectural passport counter (passport office) Deadline: There is no deadline, but if you plan to travel abroad, please apply early

Those who have acquired Japanese nationality through naturalization can apply for a Japanese passport.

Required documents:

General passport application form

Certified copy of the family register (obtained after submitting the naturalization notification)

Photograph

Identity verification documents

4. Returning the Passport of Your Former Country

Where to file: The embassy or consulate of your former country in Japan Deadline: Promptly

If you lost your former nationality through naturalization, you must return the passport of your former country to the embassy or consulate. Procedures differ by country, so please check with the embassy or consulate in advance.

5. Changing the Name and Registered Domicile on Your Driver’s License

Where to file: Your nearest police station or driver’s license center Deadline: Promptly

This is the procedure for changing the entries on your driver’s license (name and registered domicile).

Required documents:

Driver’s license

New certified copy of the family register or certificate of residence (one showing the registered domicile)

6. Changing the Name on Bank Accounts

Where to file: Each financial institution where you hold an account Deadline: Promptly

If your name has changed through naturalization, you must change the name on your bank accounts. Bring your passbook, registered seal, and identity verification documents (new certified copy of the family register or certificate of residence).

Point: If you have accounts at multiple financial institutions, carry out the change procedure for all accounts. Give particular priority to changing the account into which your salary is paid.

7. Notification of Change for the My Number Card

Where to file: The municipal office where you live Deadline: Promptly

Because the entries printed on the My Number Card (name, nationality, etc.) change, a notification of change is required. In some cases, the card may need to be reissued.

8. Notifications for Health Insurance and Pension

Where to file: Employer, municipal office, pension office Deadline: Promptly

Insurance Enrolled In	Where to File	Procedure
Social insurance (company employee)	Employer’s HR department	Notification of name change
National Health Insurance	Municipal office	Change of entries on the insurance certificate
National Pension	Pension office	Notification of name change

9. Changing the Registered Name for Real Estate

Where to file: The Legal Affairs Bureau having jurisdiction over the location of the real estate Deadline: There is no legal deadline, but early action is recommended

If you own real estate, you must change the name of the registered holder of ownership (registration of change of address/name of the registered holder).

Required documents:

Registration application form

Certified copy of the family register (one showing the naturalization entry)

Certificate of residence

Certificate of completed registration or registration identification information

10. Registration of Change of Company Representative

Where to file: Legal Affairs Bureau (the one having jurisdiction over the location of the company’s head office) Deadline: Within 2 weeks of the change Basis: Article 915, Paragraph 1 of the Companies Act

Those who are representative directors or officers of a company must register the change of name or address. The application must be filed within two weeks of the change.

Caution: Failing to register the change may result in a non-penal fine (Article 976 of the Companies Act). Be sure to complete the procedure within the deadline.

How to Proceed with the Procedures

Because there are many procedures after naturalization is approved, we recommend proceeding in the following order.

First submit the naturalization notification (the family register is created)
Obtain certified copies of the family register and certificate of residence (needed for the other procedures)
Return the residence card (there is a 14-day deadline)
Company-related changes (if you are a corporate representative, there is a 2-week deadline)
Other procedures (passport, driver’s license, bank accounts, etc.)

Point: Certified copies of the family register are needed for multiple procedures, so it is efficient to obtain several copies after submitting the naturalization notification.

Our Support

For consultations regarding naturalization applications, trust Kaneko Hidetaka Administrative Scrivener Office.

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