Japanese Nationality

• Dual Nationality: If you possess Japanese and foreign nationality (dual nationality), you are required to choose one of those nationalities before you reach 20 years of age (or within two years of the day you acquired the second nationality if you acquired such nationality after the day you reached 18 years of age).
  • Choosing Japanese Nationality: you are required to submit “Kokuseki-Sentaku Todoke” to the Embassy of Japan in the U.S. or the office of the city, ward, town or village in Japan where you claimed residence.
  • Choosing a foreign Nationality: you are required to submit “Kokuseki-Ridatsu Todoke” to the Embassy of Japan in the U.S. or the office of the city, ward, town or village in Japan. You MUST visit the Embassy in person, unless you are 14 years old or younger (a legal representative can submit these documents on behalf of an applicant younger than 14).
• Japanese nationals acquiring US citizenship: if a person with Japanese nationality wishes to acquire foreign citizenship and proceeds to naturalize, apply to acquire citizenship, or restore a lost foreign citizenship of his/her own will, then that person will lose their Japanese nationality. They will NOT be considered to have dual nationality. You must submit “Kokuseki-Soushitsu Todoke” within 3 months. (Kokuseki-Soushitsu page in Japanese)
  • The loss of Japanese nationality for a newborn: If one or both parents are Japanese nationals (or if an acknowledgement of prenatal paternity has already been submitted for a child born between a foreign mother and Japanese father out of wedlock), then the child will have Japanese nationality by birth. However, if a child born abroad also acquires foreign citizenship by birth, a Birth Registration indicating an intention to reserve Japanese nationality must be submitted within 3 months of the child’s birth or the child will lose Japanese nationality retroactively from their time of birth (Birth Certificate page in Japanese).

• You must come to the Embassy in person to submit Kokuseki-Ridatsu Todoke.
• An appointment is required.

	Kokuseki-Ridatsu Todoke (sample) Two ways to obtain the “Kokuseki-Ridatsu Todoke”: Visit the Embassy and fill out the form on site. Mail a REQUEST FORM along with a prepaid and self-addressed return envelope (9.5" x 12.5" sized envelope with your name and address, and 3 forever stamps included). The Embassy will mail you the register form, then you can fill it out.	2 (at the window or by mail)
	Your most current Japanese passport (please submit it even if the passport is expired)	Original
	Certificate of your nationality If you were born in the U.S.: Valid U.S. passport or Birth Certificate If you were born outside of the U.S.: Certificate of Birth Abroad (for details, please contact the U.S. Department of State)	1 (original)
	Translations of the Passport or Birth Certificate Translation template for passports Translation template for Birth Certificates	2
	When you submit a Birth Certificate, please also submit notarized affidavits and their translations Affidavit (Sample) Translation template for Affidavits (Sample)	2 for each
	Proof of your current address such as a driver’s license or utility bill.	Original
	Translations of proof of current address Translation template for driver’s license Please prepare translations on your own for documents other than a driver’s license.	2

Kokuseki-Soushitsu Todoke (A person with Japanese nationality acquiring foreign nationality)

For submissions at the Embassy

	Kokuseki-Soushitsu Todoke (sample) Two ways to obtain the “Kokuseki-Soushitsu Todoke”: Visit the Embassy and fill out the form on site. Mail a REQUEST FORM along with a prepaid and self-addressed return envelope (9.5" x 12.5" sized envelope with your name and address, and 3 forever stamps included). The Embassy will mail you the register form, then you can fill it out.	2 (at the window or by mail)
	Certificate of Naturalization We will return the certificate after the confirmation	Original
	Translation of the Certificate of Naturalization Translation template for the Certificate of Naturalization (Sample)	2
	Your most current Japanese passport (please submit it even if the passport is expired)	Original
	Proof of your current address such as a driver’s license or utility bill.	Original

For submissions by mail

Please do NOT submit the original passport and proof of address.

	Kokuseki-Soushitsu Todoke (sample) Two ways to obtain the “Kokuseki-Soushitsu Todoke”: Visit the Embassy and fill out the form on site. Mail a REQUEST FORM along with a prepaid and self-addressed return envelope (9.5" x 12.5" sized envelope with your name and address, and 3 forever stamps included). The Embassy will mail you the register form, then you can fill it out.	2 (at the window or by mail)
	Notarized affidavits and their translations Affidavit (Sample) Translation template for Affidavits (Sample)	2 for each
	Your most current Japanese passport (please submit it even if the passport is expired)	1 copy
	Proof of your current address such as a driver’s license or utility bill.	1 copy

Mailing Address

Consular Section/Embassy of Japan, Koseki-Kakari

2520 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

電話: 202-238-6800

Kokuseki-Sentaku Todoke (when you choose Japanese nationality)

For submissions at the Embassy

	Notification of Declaration to Choose Japanese Nationality (you swear that you choose to be a Japanese national and that you renounce the foreign nationality) Two ways to obtain the “Kokuseki-Sentaku Todoke”: Visit the Embassy and fill out the form on site. Mail a REQUEST FORM along with a prepaid and self-addressed return envelope (9.5" x 12.5" sized envelope with your name and address, and 3 forever stamps included). The Embassy will mail you the register form, then you can fill it out.	2 (at the window or by mail)
	Your most current Japanese passport (please submit it even if the passport is expired)	Original
	Proof of your current address such as a driver’s license or utility bill.	Original
	Proof of lawful presence in the U.S. Green card, visa, I-20, etc. Birth Certificate for dual citizens born in the U.S. Dual citizens born outside of the U.S. are required to bring their birth certificate known as the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (for the details, please contact the U.S. Department of State).	Original (will be returned)

For submissions by mail

Please do NOT submit the original passport and proof of address.

	Notification of Declaration to Choose Japanese Nationality	2 (at the window or by mail)
	Your most current Japanese passport (please submit it even if the passport is expired)	Copy
	Proof of your current address such as a driver’s license or utility bill.	Copy
	Proof of lawful presence in the U.S.	Copy

Mailing Address

Consular Section/Embassy of Japan, Koseki-Kakari

2520 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

TEL: 202-238-6800

Additional Information

• Criteria Changes to Acquisition of Japanese Nationality[3.07MB]
• The Nationality Law
• The Choice of Nationality

Contact

Consular section:

(202) 238-6800

visa@ws.mofa.go.jp

M-F 9:00am-12:30pm, 1:30pm-5:00pm

Office Hours

• No appointment required.
• Please check our holidays before visiting.

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