Japan has brought the argument of single citizenship versus dual citizenship to the forefront.
This week a Japanese court upheld a ban on dual citizenship. The government argued that there was no national interest in permitting multiple citizenships. However, Hitoshi Nogawa, a plaintiff in the case, argued otherwise, stating that being forced to give up one’s nationality was a “painful experience.” Nogawa was forced to give up his nationality when he obtained a Swiss nationality due to job requirements.
According to Japanese law, holding dual citizenship holds no national interest as permitting multiple citizenships allows people to have voting rights or diplomatic protection in other countries.
The presiding Judge, Hideaki Mori, said “Dual citizenship could cause conflict in the rights and obligations between countries, as well as between the individual and the state.”
The Japanese Nationality Act stipulates that a child born to a Japanese parent is legally Japanese. However, some nations determine a child’s nationality based on the birth country and allow them also to hold their parent’s nationality.
The Japanese law requires anyone born with or obtained multiple nationalities before the age of 20 to pick one before their 22nd birthday. Those who acquire citizenship of another country after turning 20 must decide which one to keep within a two-year period.
Why is the Japanese passport the strongest in the world?
Japanese passport holders may enter 191 countries visa-free or visa-on-arrival, making the passport one of the world’s strongest travel documents.
Governments take several factors into account when determining whether to grant exemptions to people from other countries, such as refugee flows, economic situation, diplomatic ties, and crime prevalence. Japan scores well on all these criteria as it is politically and economically stable, few Japanese seek refugee status, and it has a low crime rate. Thus, countries across the globe see the benefits of strengthening their ties with Japan.
All these factors contribute to the global perception that Japanese are safe visitors. Likewise, these factors make it an attractive country for foreigners looking to move. Obtaining Japanese citizenship can be a lengthy and difficult process.
Individuals wanting to obtain Japanese citizenship should meet the following requirements:
- Continued residence in Japan for more than five years
- Be over the age of 20 years old
- Be of good moral character
- Must be financially independent
- Agree to hold only Japanese citizenship and lose any other nationalities one may have
- Have no involvement in political violence against the Japanese government
Investing in dual citizenship
Japan has brought the argument of single citizenship versus dual citizenship to the forefront. Japanese citizens enjoy many benefits, such as a strong passport, a stable government, and first-world social services.
However, not all countries enjoy those benefits, and this is where second citizenship can boost an individual’s prospects around the globe.
Being bound to a single country and its government can limit one’s freedom. Many countries experience political unrest, economic instability and rising insecurity. Investing in second citizenship of another stable country allows one to enjoy the benefits of global freedom, expanded business opportunities, secured future, financial security, and the chance to build a legacy for one’s family.
Read also: The Advantages of Having Dual Citizenship
Known as the Cradle of Citizenship by Investment, St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment programme stands as the oldest, and of the most trusted, successful programme of its kind. Since 1984, it has allowed individuals and their families from all over the world to legally obtain citizenship to one of the Caribbean’s most idyllic locations.
Developed in 1993 and reformed in 2014, the Commonwealth of Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment Programme has been ranked as the number one CBI initiative for three consecutive years by the CBI Index, a publication of the Financial Times’ Professional Wealth Management (PWM) magazine.
These are robust, well-established programmes, emerge year on year as the most reputable and respected CBI Programmes, and hinge the integrity of their programmes on their stringent due diligent processes.
We recommended speaking to an expert at CS Global Partners before starting your journey to a second citizenship.