Nationality Act
国籍法
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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).
第十条
When permitting naturalization, the Minister of Justice must provide a public notice to that effect in the Official Gazette.
法務大臣は、帰化を許可したときは、官報にその旨を告示しなければならない。
Naturalization becomes effective as of the date of the public notice stated in the preceding paragraph.
帰化は、前項の告示の日から効力を生ずる。
第十一条（国籍の喪失）
When a Japanese citizen acquires the nationality of a foreign country at their own choice, that Japanese citizen loses Japanese citizenship.
日本国民は、自己の志望によつて外国の国籍を取得したときは、日本の国籍を失う。
A Japanese citizen having the nationality of a foreign country loses Japanese citizenship when they select the nationality of that foreign country according to its laws and regulations.
外国の国籍を有する日本国民は、その外国の法令によりその国の国籍を選択したときは、日本の国籍を失う。
第十二条
A Japanese citizen who acquired the nationality of a foreign country by birth and who was born abroad loses Japanese citizenship retroactive to the time of birth unless they indicate an intention to reserve Japanese citizenship pursuant to the provisions of the Family Register Act (Act No. 224 of 1947).
出生により外国の国籍を取得した日本国民で国外で生まれたものは、戸籍法（昭和二十二年法律第二百二十四号）の定めるところにより日本の国籍を留保する意思を表示しなければ、その出生の時にさかのぼつて日本の国籍を失う。
第十三条
A Japanese citizen having foreign nationality may renounce Japanese citizenship by notification to the Minister of Justice.
外国の国籍を有する日本国民は、法務大臣に届け出ることによつて、日本の国籍を離脱することができる。
The person making the notification pursuant to the provisions stated in the preceding paragraph loses 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失う。
Article 14Selection of Citizenship
第十四条（国籍の選択）
A Japanese citizen having a foreign nationality must select either one of the two before reaching twenty years of age if they obtain the foreign nationality and Japanese citizenship prior to becoming eighteen years of age, or within two years from that time if it is after.
外国の国籍を有する日本国民は、外国及び日本の国籍を有することとなつた時が十八歳に達する以前であるときは二十歳に達するまでに、その時が十八歳に達した後であるときはその時から二年以内に、いずれかの国籍を選択しなければならない。
Other than by renouncing the foreign nationality, the selection of Japanese citizenship is accomplished by making a declaration of the Japanese citizenship selection and the renunciation of the foreign nationality (referred to below as "selection declaration") pursuant to the provisions of the Family Register Act.
日本の国籍の選択は、外国の国籍を離脱することによるほかは、戸籍法の定めるところにより、日本の国籍を選択し、かつ、外国の国籍を放棄する旨の宣言（以下「選択の宣言」という。）をすることによつてする。
第十五条
The Minister of Justice may make a written demand to any Japanese citizen having a foreign nationality, who has not selected Japanese citizenship within the prescribed time period as provided in the preceding Article, paragraph (1), that either selection must be made.
法務大臣は、外国の国籍を有する日本国民で前条第一項に定める期限内に日本の国籍の選択をしないものに対して、書面により、国籍の選択をすべきことを催告することができる。
The demand prescribed in the preceding paragraph may be made by publishing the matters demanded in the Official Gazette, if the location of the intended recipient is unknown or otherwise it cannot be accomplished by sending documents due to unavoidable circumstances. In these cases, the demand is deemed to have arrived on the day after the publication in the Official Gazette.
前項に規定する催告は、これを受けるべき者の所在を知ることができないときその他書面によつてすることができないやむを得ない事情があるときは、催告すべき事項を官報に掲載してすることができる。この場合における催告は、官報に掲載された日の翌日に到達したものとみなす。
The recipient of the demand made pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs loses Japanese citizenship if the selection is not made within one month of receiving the demand upon expiration of the time period; provided, however, that this does not apply if the recipient is unable to select Japanese citizenship within the time period due to a natural disaster or other circumstances beyond the recipient's control, and the selection is made within two weeks of the time when the ability to make the selection is regained.
前二項の規定による催告を受けた者は、催告を受けた日から一月以内に日本の国籍の選択をしなければ、その期間が経過した時に日本の国籍を失う。ただし、その者が天災その他その責めに帰することができない事由によつてその期間内に日本の国籍の選択をすることができない場合において、その選択をすることができるに至つた時から二週間以内にこれをしたときは、この限りでない。
第十六条
A Japanese citizen who makes the selection declaration must try to renounce their foreign nationality.
選択の宣言をした日本国民は、外国の国籍の離脱に努めなければならない。
If a Japanese citizen having made the selection declaration and not having lost foreign nationality assumes the post of a government employee of that foreign country (with the exception of a post that may be assumed by a person not having the nationality of that country) on their own will, the Minister of Justice may pronounce loss of Japanese citizenship against the person if it is found that the assumption of the post is directly contrary to the gist of the selection of Japanese citizenship.
法務大臣は、選択の宣言をした日本国民で外国の国籍を失つていないものが自己の志望によりその外国の公務員の職（その国の国籍を有しない者であつても就任することができる職を除く。）に就任した場合において、その就任が日本の国籍を選択した趣旨に著しく反すると認めるときは、その者に対し日本の国籍の喪失の宣告をすることができる。
The proceedings on the date of the hearing pertaining to the pronouncement stated in the preceding paragraph must be conducted open to the public.
前項の宣告に係る聴聞の期日における審理は、公開により行わなければならない。
The pronouncement stated in paragraph (2) must be made by placing a public notice in the Official Gazette.
第二項の宣告は、官報に告示してしなければならない。
The person subjected to the pronouncement stated in paragraph (2) loses Japanese citizenship as of the day of the public notice stated in the preceding paragraph.
Article 17Reacquisition of Nationality
第十七条（国籍の再取得）
A person who has lost Japanese citizenship pursuant to the provisions of Article 12 and is under eighteen years of age may acquire Japanese citizenship by notification to the Minister of Justice while domiciled in Japan.
第十二条の規定により日本の国籍を失つた者で十八歳未満のものは、日本に住所を有するときは、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。
A person who receives the demand pursuant to the provisions of Article 15, paragraph (2) and loses Japanese citizenship pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) of that Article may acquire Japanese citizenship if they meet the conditions listed in Article 5, paragraph (1), item (v) by notification to the Minister of Justice within one year from the date of knowing the loss of Japanese citizenship; provided, however, that if notification cannot be made within that time period due to a natural disaster or other circumstances beyond the person's control, that time period is one month from the time when the ability to make the notification is regained.
The person making notification pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs acquires Japanese citizenship at the time of the notification.
前二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。
Article 18Notification by a Legal Representative
第十八条（法定代理人がする届出等）
The notification of acquisition of citizenship pursuant to the provisions in Article 3, paragraph (1) or paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, application for naturalization permission, selection declaration, or notification of citizenship renouncement is made by a legal representative if the person acquiring nationality, making selection, or renouncing is under fifteen years of age.
The provisions of Article 36-3 of the Administrative Procedure Act (Act No. 88 of 1993) do not apply to a demand pursuant to the provisions of Article 15, paragraph (1).
第十五条第一項の規定による催告については、行政手続法（平成五年法律第八十八号）第三十六条の三の規定は、適用しない。
Article 19Delegation to Ministerial Order
第十九条（省令への委任）
Procedures relating to acquisition and renouncement of citizenship as well as other required matters in effectuating this Act, not provided in this Act, are prescribed by Ministry of Justice Order.
この法律に定めるもののほか、国籍の取得及び離脱に関する手続その他この法律の施行に関し必要な事項は、法務省令で定める。
第二十条（罰則）
Regarding notification provided pursuant to the provisions of Article 3, paragraph (1), a person making a false notification is punishable by not more than one year of imprisonment or a fine of not more than two hundred thousand yen.
第三条第一項の規定による届出をする場合において、虚偽の届出をした者は、一年以下の拘禁刑又は二十万円以下の罰金に処する。
The offense stated in the preceding paragraph is governed by the Penal Code (Act No. 45 of 1907), Article 2.
前項の罪は、刑法（明治四十年法律第四十五号）第二条の例に従う。