Japan Permanent Residency vs Citizenship (Naturalization), Compared
Permanent residency (PR) lets you live and work in Japan indefinitely while keeping your foreign nationality; naturalization makes you a Japanese citizen, and you normally lose your original nationality. PR generally requires 10 continuous years of residence, while ordinary naturalization requires 5. The biggest practical difference is nationality: PR keeps yours, naturalization replaces it with Japanese nationality, a Japanese passport and voting rights.
At a glance
| Item | Naturalization | Permanent residency |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Acquires Japanese nationality (usually loses the previous one) | Keeps foreign nationality |
| Residence years (guide) | 5+ by statute (shorter via simplified naturalization; longer considered in practice) | 10+ in general (shorter for HSP, etc.) |
| Passport | Japanese passport | Passport of the home country |
| Voting rights | Yes | No |
| Application fee | None (document costs apart) | ¥10,000 (from April 2025) |
| Where to apply | Legal Affairs Bureau | Regional Immigration Services Bureau |
Nationality: the core difference
With naturalization (帰化) you become a Japanese national. You gain a Japanese passport and voting rights, but in principle you must renounce your previous nationality (Japan does not generally allow adults to hold dual nationality).
With permanent residency (永住, PR) your nationality does not change. You stay a foreign national with no activity or job restrictions and no need to renew your status of residence — but you keep carrying a residence card (renewed every 7 years), you cannot vote, and the status can be revoked in certain cases.
Required years
- Naturalization (ordinary): 5+ continuous years of address in Japan (Nationality Act Art. 5). A spouse of a Japanese national can apply with 3 years of residence, or 3 years of marriage plus 1 year of residence.
- Permanent residency (general): 10+ continuous years, of which 5+ years on a work or residence status. Shortcuts exist: Highly Skilled Professionals can reach PR in as little as 3 years (70+ points) or 1 year (80+ points); the spouse of a Japanese national/PR holder needs 3 years of marriage plus 1 year of residence.
Note on naturalization: the statute says 5 years, but Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs Bureau guidance also mentions “having resided 10+ years” as a factor of social integration, so the 5-year minimum does not guarantee approval.
Cost
The naturalization application has no fee. The permanent residence application costs ¥10,000 on approval (from 1 April 2025). Both involve separate out-of-pocket costs for documents and translations.
Which should you choose?
- Choose naturalization if you want to live as a Japanese national — a Japanese passport, voting rights, and the most secure status — and you are willing to give up your original nationality.
- Choose permanent residency if you want to keep your nationality while living and working in Japan without restrictions.
Check your PR category and remaining years with the Permanent Residency Checker, or your naturalization category with the Naturalization Quiz.
Related tools
- Check the PR requirements and years → Permanent Residency Checker
- Check your naturalization category → Naturalization Quiz
- Reach PR faster with points → HSP Points Calculator
FAQ
Which is harder to get, PR or citizenship?
By residence years, permanent residency is generally longer: PR needs 10+ continuous years (with shortcuts for Highly Skilled Professionals and spouses), while ordinary naturalization needs 5+ years by statute. But naturalization involves giving up your original nationality and a broader review of integration, so 'harder' depends on what you value.
Do I keep my original nationality with PR?
Yes. Permanent residency keeps your foreign nationality — you remain a citizen of your home country and travel on its passport. Naturalization, by contrast, makes you a Japanese national and in principle you lose your previous nationality.
How much does each cost?
The naturalization application itself has no fee. The permanent residence application costs ¥10,000 on approval (from 1 April 2025). Both involve separate document costs.
Can permanent residency be lost?
Yes. Permanent residency can be revoked in certain cases (for example, serious crimes, prolonged absence from Japan, or — under recent reform — willful failure to pay taxes or social-insurance contributions). Japanese nationality acquired by naturalization is far more secure.
Can Highly Skilled Professionals get PR faster?
Yes. With 70+ HSP points the PR residence requirement drops to as little as 3 years, and with 80+ points to as little as 1 year, provided you maintained the points for the required period.
Official sources
- Ministry of Justice: Naturalization (Nationality Q&A)
- Immigration Services Agency: Guideline on Permanent Residence Permission (rev. 24 Feb 2026)
- Immigration Services Agency: revision of residence-procedure fees (from 1 Apr 2025)
Last updated: 2026-06-13 （PR Guideline (rev. 24 Feb 2026) / Nationality Act Art. 5 / fee revision (1 Apr 2025)）