The following is from the House of Councillors' petition website. From the petition website.
"More and more Japanese people are permanently living abroad, but they also have family in Japan and are likely to live in Japan in the future, so they live as Japanese citizens even abroad. While many developed Western countries allow dual nationality, Japan does not allow dual nationality for first-generation immigrants. Some countries have established various nationality restrictions by their nationality-first policies, and the activities of Japanese citizens overseas are greatly restricted.
If one is forced to naturalize in a foreign country and continue to use a Japanese passport, it would be illegal under the law. Japanese nationals who naturalize abroad lose their Japanese citizenship even if they leave behind family members in Japan. While the number of countries in the world that allow dual nationality is increasing, Japan's system, which effectively enables Nisei immigrants to hold dual nationality and prohibits Issei immigrants from holding dual nationality, prevents the freedom of activities of overseas citizens and causes the country and its citizens to lose credibility and property due to international misunderstanding.
In particular, international married families may be severely disadvantaged in their choice of occupation, real estate transactions, inheritance taxes, pension benefits, and divorce if they do not acquire citizenship of their country of residence. Suppose an Issei immigrant international marriage or long-term permanent resident naturalizes in their country of residence. In that case, they are unlikely to hold public office or serve in the military, which is not allowed for dual nationals. They are not required to use a foreign passport or exercise privileges in conflict with Japanese law.
You don't need to say that Japanese nationality is lost when it comes to foreign nationality. In addition, dual nationals who acquire foreign nationality by birth abroad and retain Japanese nationality must choose their nationality by age 22. Still, the requirement to select nationality is highly burdensome for the individual and their family.
Although some people renounce their Japanese nationality, there is no point in setting a deadline since if they do not choose a foreign nationality; they will effectively continue to be allowed to hold multiple nationalities.
We ask that the deadline for selecting nationality be extended to when it is natural, such as when registering as a resident in Japan. Many developed countries and immigrant countries treat dual nationals as their citizens. We call for coordination with other countries to eliminate the exercise of double rights and avoidance of obligations, clear explanations to citizens, and a fair review of the system in line with the current international situation.
We therefore ask that the following be realized: 。。。。"
In principle, Japan does not recognize dual nationality. There are exceptions, but here are the laws in Japan. The following is also a quote."
Since Japan's nationality law is based on the principle of a single nationality, a person who has both foreign and Japanese nationality (dual nationality holder) must choose one of the two nationalities by the age of 22 if he/she is under 20 when he/she becomes a dual national (Article 14, paragraph 1 of the Nationality Law), or within two years from that time if he/she becomes a dual national after 20 years old. So that you know, you may lose your Japanese nationality if you do not choose.
Examples of dual nationality include birth in a foreign country, marriage to a foreigner, and adoption. In the case of the U.S., a child born in the U.S. to a Japanese citizen father or mother (or parents) will have dual U.S. and Japanese citizenship (if notification of birth is filed at the Japanese municipal office (embassy, consulate general, or domicile office) within three months of birth).
In addition, if a person voluntarily acquires U.S. citizenship, they lose Japanese citizenship at that time and thus do not have dual citizenship. For example, suppose a U.S. green card holder acquires U.S. citizenship. In that case, they automatically lose Japanese citizenship upon acquiring U.S. citizenship and are not a dual national (notification of loss of nationality). ."
It clearly states that Japanese nationality is automatically lost.
Dual nationality brings many benefits, including freedom of movement between the two countries and more significant opportunities for education and employment. It can also bridge different cultures and be an essential asset in international business and diplomacy. However, it's crucial to be aware of the challenges that come with dual citizenship, such as tax issues, military service obligations, and complications when renewing passports. In particular, as a U.S. citizen, you must pay U.S. taxes no matter where you live, which can often be a burden.
Many Japanese who currently hold U.S. permanent resident status are considering returning to Japan permanently. However, the decision to relinquish their U.S. permanent resident status is not without its consequences. By doing so, they may lose the opportunity to acquire U.S. citizenship in the future, a significant loss considering the benefits of U.S. citizenship.
The Future Prospect
This year, Germany significantly changed its laws restricting dual citizenship, allowing people of Turkish descent to be granted German citizenship. The following also cites an article.
"In January of this year, Germany made a big splash when it amended its law to allow dual citizenship fully. This is in the form of removing the restrictions previously allowed for people from EU member countries. According to the German press, the decision was made to secure a foreign labor force despite many objections, such as "this is a cheap sale of nationality."
As seen in the petition to the House of Councillors, the 'dual nationality' debate is active in Japan. Whether Japan, which is susceptible to Western influences and, like Germany, suffers from a shortage of workers, will become a country that recognizes dual nationality, as Germany does, is a matter of great interest. We also hear that about one million people in Japan have hidden dual nationality, which can lead to legal and personal challenges.
Is the choice to renounce permanent residence the right one?This is a question that many Japanese citizens living abroad are grappling with, and it's a decision that should be made with careful consideration of all the implications. This is a question that many Japanese citizens living abroad are grappling with, and it's a decision that should be made with careful consideration of all the implications. No one can predict with certainty how the laws and policies of both countries will change in the future regarding dual nationality. However, Japanese law, more flexible nationality laws, and protection of the rights of dual nationals may be discussed in the context of globalization. This can be seen in the House of Councillors petitions, the media, and ongoing court cases. The impact of the wave of population aging that Japan is facing cannot be ignored.
As individuals, we must carefully consider taxes, military service, education, and employment opportunities to make the best long-term choices regarding maintaining or relinquishing dual citizenship.
In other words, if the Japanese government were to amend its laws to allow dual U.S./Japanese citizenship, wouldn't your two-location lifestyle be even closer to ideal? You would still be obligated to the US regarding taxes, but other than that, I think your cross-border life could be significantly expanded.
If you'd like to discuss your plan of cross-border living, please take advantage of our 30-minute complimentary consulting session by filling out the form.