I’m trying to find some quick info on behalf of my Japanese/Korean mother -this may not be the right subreddit but thought id give it a try.
My mother was born in Japan to a Korean father and a first generation Japanese mother who’s parents migrated from Korea. She lived her whole life in Japan and then moved to the US her early 30’s – she’s now in her 60’s so she’s been out of Japan for over 30 years.
I’m aware that Japan is incredibly strict in regards to citizenship and naturalization, but I’ve wondered if it might be possible for her to obtain Japanese citizenship now as opposed to back in the day. It seems crazy to me that she has a Korean passport but doesn’t speak Korean and has never been to Korea.
Was wondering if anyone perhaps is close to or has experienced a similar situation, or is more aware of these laws and what the process might be like?
Thank you !
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/ylk0u2/obtaining_japanese_citizenship/
2 comments
She maybe eligible for the “Special Permanent Resident” (SPR) visa.
I am not too sure about the process of applying for it though.
In some cases SPR is maybe better than Japanese citizenship, because it’s *almost* Japanese citizenship (not quite). But instead of been overseen by the ‘Nationality Act’, it’s overseen by the ‘special act on the immigration control of, inter Alia, those who have lost Japanese nationality pursuant of the treaty of peace with Japan’: https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3705/en
What that essentially means is that SPR is better than PR (permanent residency…. Which is the best possible “normal” visa available). SPR is not quite Japanese citizenship, but it’s *almost* the same. With the added bonus that SPRa are not overseen by the ‘Nationality act’ which restricts dual nationality
(Japanese citizens are bound the to nationality act. PRs and all other visas are bound to the ‘immigration control and refugee recognition act’…. Where as SPRa have their own kind of law and special treatment).
More information here though: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_permanent_resident_(Japan)
Try r/movingtojapan
Also; short answer is maybe. It depends on if your grandmother had a koseki (which she likely would if her parents naturalized then had her) and if she registered your mother in said koseki.