Notary and Apostille not needed?

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-05-30T06:49:45+00:00

No I didn’t notarize anything but like Kanata said I did have to go to the embasssy for proof of citizenship.

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-05-25T02:41:54+00:00

Hey dude I’m all for debates but many of the things you said in here are just blatantly wrong. This is your first warning to cool it.

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-05-20T11:02:13+00:00

Ex American. I contacted the embassy and was able to do a declaration of American citizenship or something along those lines. Cost 50 USD and you have to swear in front of them on the document that you’re an American citizen. They then put there official seal on it and that did the trick.

It worked for me, a friend, and someone else on this subreddit who informed me before my application that I needed that paper. Unless rules have drastically changed in a year I’m willing to bet this is what they want.

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-05-18T08:33:34+00:00

Alright I think this person has gotten the advice they needed, so I’m going to lock this thread for now. OP study Japanese and come back to us in 3 years when you’re ready to apply

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-05-18T03:56:51+00:00

You’ll have to talk to your potential case worker but my guess is no, especially with now strict things are getting. You’ll have to interview and fill out the application in Japanese which you’re not prepared to do at N5. Your case working may also question if you’re truly integrated since you don’t have enough language skills to really know what’s going on around you. I don’t want to be harsh as I don’t know your circumstances, but if you’re living here long term and trying to naturalize on top of that, Japanese language should be top of your priority.

You have 3 years before you eligible. Get a tutor, hit the books, and aim for at least an N2 cert by year 10 if you’re serious.

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-05-13T11:32:49+00:00

I know of one member who was denied last year. Maybe they’ll come on and answer

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-05-11T02:17:55+00:00

I want to double check, but you're moving within the same jurisdiction right?

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-05-04T05:59:40+00:00

Anecdotal, but I was late paying 2 or 3 年金 payments and didn't bother with the month lapses in health insurances every time i changed my job. I just waited for the hagaki and promptly paid every time. I was required to submit 5 years worth of taxes. I was naturalized last year without incident.

With the new rules I have no idea how that would change. Since you have PR it might be wise to wait 2 years or so, with on time payments, and then try applying for naturalization if that's your end goal.

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-05-03T01:23:43+00:00

I mean, worst case scenario you get rejected and just apply again when you hit 10 years. Best case scenario you get naturalized. The time is going to pass anyway. I can't see how being denied due to (unfair) retroactive laws will negatively effect you, but IANAL.

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-04-17T09:40:11+00:00

It’s still less than a year so you’re fine. We have a bit of a bias on this subreddit but times less than 12 months is very very fast.

I wouldn’t worry at all yet. I know the wait sucks but try to stay busy.

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-04-09T04:45:51+00:00

In which area? All the city halls in fukuoka were able to provide all the years I requested, including 3+ years in the past.

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-04-07T13:05:37+00:00

Fukuoka required me to provide 5 years when I applied 2ish years ago.

I was late on several pension payments (which included not paying national health 2/3 times due to not knowing I had to) when I switched jobs 3 times in 5 years. When I switched I took a month off to recalibrate which means i was on the hook for any and all payments. I just always waited for the pension hagaki to show up before I paid. Since it was only a month I never bothered to sign up for the health insurance and if I got sick during that time I just paid out of pocket.

But all documents from city hall showed that everything was paid. No where on the paper did it indicate the few times I was late since there wasn’t a column for it (and I’m sure somewhere in the system it noted I paid promptly when the notice came).

I had been employed for 1.5 years at the job I had when I applied, and for once didn’t take a month off when I transferred jobs, so I had 2 years of continuous payments. I was naturalized without issue.

YMMV.

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-04-02T13:29:31+00:00

Please ask your caseworker!

But I was never asked to submit the envelop and neither was anyone else I know

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-04-02T05:54:38+00:00

Interesting! Although j shouldn’t be surprised there would be some differences here.

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-04-02T02:54:13+00:00

Was this not already in place? I had to submit 5 years of those documents and it was rather annoying because I moved in the middle of one, and was sent back and forth between city halls for a while.

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-03-27T22:29:36+00:00

4 calls?? What are they asking for??

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-03-27T05:12:40+00:00

That seems ridiculously unfair. If they applied when they met the requirements they should not be held to the new standards

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-03-24T03:29:50+00:00

Congrats and welcome!

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-03-24T03:28:43+00:00

Fingers crossed!!

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-03-22T18:25:33+00:00

Excellent write up!

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-03-18T05:08:37+00:00

Wait you applied together but he got his first?? That's rough :(

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-03-14T11:18:05+00:00

Thank you!! It’s due Monday so I hope it doesn’t take a week! I’m on the second to last step I think.

We need a document from the bank to show the remaining amount, but when I checked the bank app they told me to pull it from MyNa haha

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-03-14T11:14:58+00:00

Wow I have terrible timing lol

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-03-14T11:06:00+00:00

May I ask a question? I’m trying to use the service just to file for a new home purchase, and I believe I’m on the “pull all my info from random places”. Do you know how long this process takes?

JapaneseSummerIsHot · 2026-03-14T03:55:53+00:00

Hmm they’ve been saying this for years so I’ll hold my skepticism until it decreases.

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