I read through the recent https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/14s6wy9/japanese_passport_application_with_dual/
as well as jbanker’s fantastic response on handling Japanese passport renewals for those with another citizenship (https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/8iczg8/renewing_japanese_passport_as_a_dualcitizen/), but neither thread seems to cover a scenario I recently observed.
Here’s the scenario:
Suppose you have an older US/Japan dual national parent who needs to renew their 5-year old child’s Japanese passport (perhaps renewal isn’t necessary; this could be the first time it’s being applied for). The parent was born in the US to Japanese parents, and chose Japanese nationality at 20 years of age; so their koseki tohon indicates as such. However they never successfully rescinded their US passport; so they were able to get their child a US passport by virtue of the child being born to a US national (and passing the relevant checks to pass-on US citizenship, etc).
On the Japanese passport renewal application, in an effort to be fully compliant, the parent checks the box that the child has another passport, and for the reason, selects that it was passed down from the parent. However when they submit the application, the ministry of foreign affairs officer (civil servant?) says something is wrong because the parent had already selected Japanese nationality when they were 20, so the child could not have received a second nationality, and to check with the ministry of justice (“法務省と確認してください”).
What would be the suggested course of action in this scenario? As mentioned in earlier posts, the ministry of foreign affairs isn’t sync’d with the ministry of justice; so it’s not clear what answer exactly the foreign affairs officer would expect from the MoJ (and ostensibly through the parent as conduit). It’s almost as if the officer is giving an “out” to reapply again at another application center.
Is this a circular situation that’s impossible to both be truthful and obtain a Japanese passport for a child of a dual national ?
2 comments
There is nothing illegal with what the dual national parent has done. They can check with the MoJ as requested and get the proper approval.
Currently there is no legal requirement to prove relinquishment of the other nationality and to “endeavor” for it.
That’s just my opinion though, I have no evidence to back this up
The MOFA person was correct. Since nationality matters are handled by the MOJ, the best course of action would be to consult with them and see what both of their citizenship status is.