Naturalization Interview Tips｜Questions at the Legal Affairs Bureau and How to Prepare
Introduction
In a naturalization application, in addition to the document review, an interview is held at the Legal Affairs Bureau. The interview is an important occasion to confirm the contents of the application documents and to speak directly with the applicant to verify their intention to naturalize and the reality of their daily life. There is no need to fear it excessively, but inadequate preparation can put you at a disadvantage.
This article explains the questions asked in a naturalization interview and the key points for preparation.
This article is based on the Nationality Act, public information from the Ministry of Justice and the Legal Affairs Bureau, and general practice. How the interview is conducted may vary depending on the Legal Affairs Bureau.
When the interview is held
The naturalization interview is generally held during the review process, after the documents have been submitted and accepted. The applicant goes in person to the Legal Affairs Bureau and meets with the officer in charge. If the applicant has a spouse, for example, they may be asked to attend together or to provide separate confirmation depending on the circumstances.
Commonly asked questions
In the interview, your life in general is checked in line with the contents of the submitted documents. Typical questions are as follows.
| Area | Example questions |
|---|---|
| Motivation for naturalization | Why do you want to acquire Japanese nationality |
| Background・arrival in Japan | When did you come to Japan and how have you spent your time |
| Work・income | Workplace, nature of work, income and living expenses |
| Family | Family composition, family members’ residence status or nationality |
| Daily life | Residence, relations with neighbors, everyday life |
| Tax・public obligations | Whether you pay taxes, pension, and social insurance |
| Compliance | Any traffic violations or breaches of the law |
| Japanese language | Conversation, reading and writing in simple Japanese |
Key point: The interview is also an occasion to confirm whether the documents and the applicant’s account match. To avoid any discrepancy with the statement of motivation or résumé you submitted, read through the documents you submitted in advance.
Five things to prepare
1. Review your submitted documents
Before the interview, check once more what you wrote in your statement of motivation, résumé, overview of livelihood, and so on. If you are asked about dates or your background and cannot answer, your credibility may be doubted.
2. Explain your motivation in your own words
Be ready to explain, in your own words, the reasons for naturalization that you wrote in your statement of motivation. What matters is not rote memorization but being able to speak frankly about why you want to live in Japan. For how to prepare a statement of motivation, see “How to write a naturalization statement of motivation”.
3. Prepare your Japanese
Naturalization requires a certain level of Japanese ability. In the interview, you may be checked on simple Japanese conversation and on reading and writing hiragana and kanji. For a guide to the required Japanese ability, see “Japanese language requirements for naturalization”.
4. Understand your tax and public-obligation status
Your payment status for taxes, pension, and social insurance is given importance. If you have any unpaid or overdue amounts, be ready to explain honestly the current situation and the outlook for resolving it.
5. Organize your family information
You will also be asked about your family composition and your family members’ nationality and residence status. Be ready to answer accurately about your family.
Points to note on the day
- Keep the appointed time and arrive with time to spare
- Answer honestly (it is fine to say “I don’t know” for things you do not know)
- Do not give explanations that differ from your documents
- Aim for clean, neat attire
Frequently asked questions
Q. If I get nervous and cannot speak Japanese well in the interview, will I be denied? A. Perfect Japanese is not required. As long as you can communicate to the extent necessary for daily life, it is considered fine. Answer calmly.
Q. What happens if I lie? A. A false explanation greatly damages trust and can lead to denial. Explaining even unfavorable circumstances honestly is ultimately more advantageous.
Q. How many interviews are there? A. Usually one, but depending on the matters to be confirmed, you may be asked for additional contact or a further interview.
How our office supports you
The keys to the interview are consistency with the documents and frank explanation. At the Kaneko Hidetaka Administrative Scrivener Office, we support you in facing the interview with peace of mind by organizing anticipated questions and answers and helping you prepare in advance.
- A 98% approval rate track record
- Languages supported: Japanese・Chinese・Vietnamese・English
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