第一条（この法律の目的）
The requirements for Japanese citizenship are governed by the provisions of this Act.
日本国民たる要件は、この法律の定めるところによる。
Article 2Acquisition of Citizenship by Birth
第二条（出生による国籍の取得）
A child is a Japanese citizen in the following cases:
子は、次の場合には、日本国民とする。
if the father or mother is a Japanese citizen at the time of birth;
出生の時に父又は母が日本国民であるとき。
if the father died before the child's birth and was a Japanese citizen at the time of death; or
出生前に死亡した父が死亡の時に日本国民であつたとき。
if the child was born in Japan, either both of the parents are unknown or if known, both of them are without nationality.
日本で生まれた場合において、父母がともに知れないとき、又は国籍を有しないとき。
Article 3Acquisition of Citizenship by Acknowledged Children
第三条（認知された子の国籍の取得）
If a child acknowledged by the father or mother is under eighteen years of age (excluding a child who was once a Japanese citizen) and the acknowledging father or mother was a Japanese citizen at the time of the birth of the child, Japanese citizenship may be acquired by notification to the Minister of Justice if that father or mother is currently a Japanese citizen or was a Japanese at the time of death.
父又は母が認知した子で十八歳未満のもの（日本国民であつた者を除く。）は、認知をした父又は母が子の出生の時に日本国民であつた場合において、その父又は母が現に日本国民であるとき、又はその死亡の時に日本国民であつたときは、法務大臣に届け出ることによつて、日本の国籍を取得することができる。
The person making notification pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph will acquire Japanese citizenship at the time of the notification.
前項の規定による届出をした者は、その届出の時に日本の国籍を取得する。
The provisions of the two previous paragraphs do not apply if there is any fact against an acknowledgment of parentage.
前二項の規定は、認知について反対の事実があるときは、適用しない。
第四条（帰化）
A person who is not a Japanese citizen (referred to below as a "foreign national") may acquire Japanese citizenship through naturalization.
日本国民でない者（以下「外国人」という。）は、帰化によつて、日本の国籍を取得することができる。
To undergo naturalization, permission of the Minister of Justice must be obtained.
帰化をするには、法務大臣の許可を得なければならない。
第五条
The Minister of Justice may not permit naturalization for a foreign national who does not meet the following conditions:
法務大臣は、次の条件を備える外国人でなければ、その帰化を許可することができない。
having continuously had a domicile in Japan for five years or more;
引き続き五年以上日本に住所を有すること。
being eighteen years of age or older and having the capacity to act independently according to the person's national law;
十八歳以上で本国法によつて行為能力を有すること。
being a person of good conduct;
素行が善良であること。
being able to make a living through the person's own assets or skills, or through those of the spouse or other relatives who share living expenses among them;
自己又は生計を一にする配偶者その他の親族の資産又は技能によつて生計を営むことができること。
not having a nationality or having to give up the person's nationality upon the acquisition of Japanese citizenship; and
国籍を有せず、又は日本の国籍の取得によつてその国籍を失うべきこと。
on or after the date on which the Constitution of Japan comes into effect, not having planned or advocated the destruction of the Constitution of Japan or the government established under the Constitution with force, and not having formed or joined a political party or other organization planning or advocating the destruction with force.
日本国憲法施行の日以後において、日本国憲法又はその下に成立した政府を暴力で破壊することを企て、若しくは主張し、又はこれを企て、若しくは主張する政党その他の団体を結成し、若しくはこれに加入したことがないこと。
If a foreign national is unable to give up their nationality despite their intention, the Minister of Justice may permit naturalization if special circumstances are found concerning a familial relationship or circumstances with a Japanese citizen even if that foreign national does not meet the conditions listed in the preceding paragraph, item (v).
第六条
The Minister of Justice may permit naturalization for a foreign national currently having a domicile in Japan who falls under one of the following items even if that person does not meet the conditions listed in the preceding Article, paragraph (1), item (i):
a child (excluding an adopted child) of a former Japanese citizen, who has continuously had a domicile or residence in Japan for three years or more;
日本国民であつた者の子（養子を除く。）で引き続き三年以上日本に住所又は居所を有するもの
a person born in Japan and continuously having had a domicile or residence in Japan for three years or more or whose father or mother (excluding an adoptive parent) was born in Japan; or
日本で生まれた者で引き続き三年以上日本に住所若しくは居所を有し、又はその父若しくは母（養父母を除く。）が日本で生まれたもの
a person who has resided in Japan continuously for ten years or more.
引き続き十年以上日本に居所を有する者
第七条
The Minister of Justice may permit naturalization of a foreign national who is a spouse of a Japanese citizen and continuously has had a domicile or residence in Japan for three years or more, and currently has a domicile in Japan even if that person does not meet the conditions listed in Article 5, paragraph (1), item (i) and item (ii). The same applies to a foreign national whose spouse is a Japanese citizen, and three years have passed since the date of their marriage, and the foreign national has continuously maintained a domicile in Japan for one year or more.
第八条
The Minister of Justice may permit naturalization of a foreign national who falls under one of the following items even if that person does not meet the conditions listed in Article 5, paragraph (1), item (i), item (ii), and item (iv):
a person who is a child (excluding an adopted child) of a Japanese citizen and has a domicile in Japan;
日本国民の子（養子を除く。）で日本に住所を有するもの
a person who is an adopted child of a Japanese citizen, continuously has had a domicile in Japan for one year or more, and was a minor according to the person's national law at the time of adoption;
日本国民の養子で引き続き一年以上日本に住所を有し、かつ、縁組の時本国法により未成年であつたもの
a person who has lost their Japanese citizenship (excluding a person who has lost their Japanese citizenship after naturalization to Japanese citizenship) and has a domicile in Japan; or
日本の国籍を失つた者（日本に帰化した後日本の国籍を失つた者を除く。）で日本に住所を有するもの
a person who was born in Japan, has been continuously without any nationality since their birth and has continuously domiciled in Japan for three years or more since that time.
日本で生まれ、かつ、出生の時から国籍を有しない者でその時から引き続き三年以上日本に住所を有するもの
第九条
The Minister of Justice may permit naturalization of a foreign national who has distinguished contributions to Japan, with the approval of the Diet, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 5, paragraph (1).