Status of Residence for Child

Acquiring Japanese Nationality

 Acquiring Japanese Nationality at Birth

  • If a father or mother of child is a Japanese national at the time of birth, the child naturally acquires Japanese nationality.

  • A notification of birth must be made within 14 days.

（Nationality Act - Article 2）

A child shall be a Japanese citizen in the following case:

  • If the father or mother is a Japanese citizen at the time of birth.

 Acquiring Japanese Nationality through Notification

  • If a child is under 20 years of age, and eventually duly acknowledged by his/her Japanese father/mother will be able to acquire Japanese nationality through notification.
  • If a child's age is over 20 years of age, and eventually duly acknowledged by his/her Japanese father/mother will be able to acquire Japanese nationality through naturalization.

（Nationality Act - Article 3）

In cases where a child acknowledged by the father or mother is under twenty years of age and the acknowledging father or mother was a Japanese citizen at the time of the birth of the child, Japanese nationality may be acquired through notification to the Minister of Justice if that father or mother is currently a Japanese citizen or was so at the time of death.

Spouse or Child of Japanese National

  • If a father or mother of child is a Japanese national at the time of birth and he/she holds foreign nationality, the child will be able to acquire the "Spouse or Child of Japanese National" status.
  • The "Spouse or Child of Japanese National" statusis applicable for a child who was born abroad. (the condition differs from one for the "spouse or child of permanent resident".)

  • Parents must apply for “Acquisition Status of Residence” within 30 days after a birth. 

  • If a child who was born abroad plans to enter Japan, he/she must apply for the "Certificate of Eligibility" in advance. 

(Immigration Control Act)
Spouse or Child of Japanese National: The spouse of a Japanese national, or a child specially adopted by a Japanese national or those born as the child of a Japanese national.

<Special Adoption> A child must be less than 6 years old, or he/she is less than 8 years old and has been continually cared by an adoptive parent since before he/she became 6 years old.

Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident

  • A child of permanent resident (his/her father or mother) who was born in Japan and continues to reside in Japan is eligible for the "Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident" status.
  • A child must be continuously residing in Japan after a birth. Therefore, if a child subsequently lost the "Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident" status due to any reason such as living in a foreign country for a long period of time, he/she will not be able to recover the same status of residence. Further, insuch case, he/she will be able to acquire the "Long Term Resident" status.
  • If a father or mother of child has lost the "Permanent Resident" status after a birth, a child is still eligible for the "Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident" status.
  • Parents must apply for “Acquisition Status of Residence” within 30 days after a birth. 
  • If parents apply for “Acquisition of Permanent Resident Status” within 30 days after a birth, a child may acquire the "Permanent Resident" status after examination. 

(Immigration Control Act)

  • Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident: The spouse of a permanent resident or those born as children of a permanent resident in Japan and having been residing in Japan.

Long Term Resident

  • A child of permanent resident (his/her father or mother) who was born abroad is eligible for the "Long Term Resident" status. Furthermore, if a child subsequently lost the "Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident" status due to the abovementioned reason, the "Long Term Resident" status will be granted.
  • If a father or mother of child individually becomes a permanent resident or Japanese national through the naturalization after a birth, the status of residence of a child is the "Long Term Resident". However, whole family members usually apply for the permanent resident or Japanese citizenship simultaneously.
  • If a child who was born abroad plans to enter Japan, he/she must apply for the "Certificate of Eligibility" in advance. 

(Immigration Control Act)
Long Term Resident:  An unmarried minor who is receiving support from a Japanese national, or a foreigner holding the status of "Permanent Resident" or "Long-Term Resident" with its period of stay of 1 year or more.

Dependent

  • The "Dependent" status is applicable for a child whose parents hold any working visa or student visa at the time of birth.
  • If a child intends to stay in Japan for more than 60 days, the parents must apply for “Acquisition Status of Residence” within 30 days after a birth.
  • If a child who was born abroad plans to enter Japan, he/she must apply for the "Certificate of Eligibility" in advance. 
  • If a father or mother of child individually becomes a permanent resident after a birth, the statuses of residence of the spouse and child are the "Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident" and "Long Term Resident", respectively. Therefore, the procedure of the change of status of residence should be implemented thereafter. However, whole family members usually apply for the permanent resident simultaneously.

(Immigration Control Act)
Dependent: Spouse or unmarried minor supported by a foreign national staying in Japan with any working visa or student visa.

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