How to Choose Your Name After Naturalization｜Rules for Your New Family Register and Name
Introduction
Once naturalization is approved, a new family register is created for you as a Japanese national. At this point, you need to decide the name you will use after naturalization. You can carry over your previous name, or you can adopt a Japanese-style name. This is an important choice marking a turning point in your life.
This article explains how to decide your name after naturalization and the rules involved.
This article is based on the Nationality Act, the Family Register Act, and information published by the Ministry of Justice and the Legal Affairs Bureau. Always check official sources for the latest practices.
Naturalization Creates a New Family Register
When a foreign national naturalizes, a family register is newly created for them as a Japanese national. Because your name is recorded in this family register, you decide the name you will use after naturalization together with your naturalization application.
There Are Mainly 3 Patterns for Deciding a Name
| Pattern | Details |
|---|---|
| Carry over your previous name | Keep the reading and spelling of the name you used in your home country (for those from the kanji-using regions, keep the kanji as is, etc.) |
| Make your commonly used name your official name | Use the commonly used name you have been using in Japan as your name after naturalization, as is |
| Adopt a new Japanese-style name | Newly establish a Japanese-style name |
For those who have already been using a commonly used name in Japan, in many cases that commonly used name can be used as the official name as is, which helps avoid confusion in daily life.
Rules for Japanese Characters
There are family register rules on the characters that can be used in your name after naturalization.
- The characters that can be used are limited to the range of common-use kanji (jōyō kanji), name kanji permitted in the family register (jinmeiyō kanji), hiragana, and katakana
- As a rule, the Latin alphabet and romaji cannot be used in a name on the family register
- For those from the kanji-using regions, the kanji used in their home country may be converted to character forms that can be used in the Japanese family register
Key point: If your home-country name contains the Latin alphabet or kanji that cannot be used in the Japanese family register, you will need to replace them with usable characters. Consider in advance how to write your name.
Decide the Surname and Given Name Separately
A Japanese name is divided into a “surname (family name)” and a “given name.” When naturalizing, you decide the surname and the given name separately. For example, a combination such as using the surname of your commonly used name for the surname and keeping your home-country name for the given name is also possible.
How Family Surnames Are Handled
For Married Couples
When a person who is already married to a Japanese national naturalizes, or when a married couple naturalizes together, the question of how to handle the couple’s surname (whether to use the same surname) also comes into play. Under the Japanese system, a married couple uses the same surname, so the surname decision should be made after discussion within the family.
For Children
When children naturalize together, as a rule the whole family is grouped into a single family register, so this should be considered with the unification of the surname in mind. Regarding the naturalization of children, please also see “Naturalization Application for Children (Minors).”
Things to Consider Before Deciding
- If you have used your old name for work or qualifications, the impact of changing your name (the hassle of updating registered names)
- Unifying the surname with family and relatives
- Your connection with your home country (whether you want to keep your home-country name)
- How you are addressed in daily life
Once a name is decided, it is not easy to change. We recommend deciding after thorough discussion with your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I use the commonly used name I have been using as my official name, as is? A. In many cases, yes. It goes smoothly if you can demonstrate that you have actually been using the commonly used name in your daily life.
Q. Can I use my home-country kanji as is? A. You can use them as long as they are character forms that can be used in the Japanese family register. Characters that cannot be used are replaced with corresponding character forms.
Q. What happens to a middle name? A. Because the Japanese family register is structured with a surname and a given name, the handling of a middle name is decided on a case-by-case basis through consultation.
How Our Office Can Help
Your name after naturalization involves many points to consider, such as the rules for characters and coordination with your family’s surname. Kaneko Hidetaka Administrative Scrivener Office will carefully assist you in deciding a name that aligns with your wishes.
- A 98% approval rate track record
- Languages supported: Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, English
- Free initial consultation