Child of a Japanese national (simplified naturalization)

Example scenarios

• Mei was born in Japan but does NOT qualify for Art. 2(iii) jus soli — that applies only where BOTH parents are unknown or stateless. Mei's parents are Chinese nationals. She acquired Chinese nationality by descent at birth. She is not stateless. She holds Chinese nationality. For Japanese nationality, she has several routes: (1) Art. 8(i) (JP-CBN-01) simplified naturalization: if one of her parents naturalizes as Japanese, Mei (as the child of a Japanese national) may then apply for simplified naturalization under Art. 8(i) — with the domicile-period, age, and livelihood conditions (Art. 5(1)(i),(ii),(iv)) waived — providing she has a Japanese domicile (which she does). She would need to renounce Chinese nationality. (2) Ordinary naturalization (JP-NAT-01): she will not satisfy the 5-year domicile condition until she is older — she has been in Japan only 12 years but her domicile since birth may count. Her parents' pending naturalization applications create a potential for the Art. 8(i) path becoming available soon.

  Art. 2(iii) inapplicable: parents are Chinese nationals (not unknown or stateless) | Art. 8(i) (CBN-01) available IF parent naturalizes: child of Japanese national with JP domicile | Art. 8(i) waives 5(1)(i) domicile, (ii) age, (iv) livelihood | Ordinary naturalization requires 5-year domicile (she likely has this through birth in Japan)

• When Yu's parents naturalized in 2010, she was 6 years old. At that moment, Art. 8(i) (JP-CBN-01) became available: a child of a Japanese national (her parents became Japanese) with a Japanese domicile may naturalize on relaxed conditions (waiving 5(1)(i), (ii), and (iv)). However, her parents and legal representatives should have pursued Art. 8(i) for her in 2010 when the opportunity arose. Since Art. 8(i) requires a 'domicile in Japan' (not a time limit per se), the question is whether she still has a Japanese domicile now. If she still has a Japanese domicile (she is 21 and living in Japan), Art. 8(i) may still be available — it does not impose an age restriction. She is no longer under 15 so she can act herself (Art. 18 statutory agent rule no longer applies). She should apply for Art. 8(i) simplified naturalization: child of a Japanese national (both parents), Japanese domicile, all other Art. 5 conditions (good conduct, sole-nationality requiring Chinese renunciation, loyalty). No statutory fee.

  Art. 8(i): child of Japanese national (parents) + Japanese domicile → simplified naturalization | No explicit age limit in Art. 8(i) — available at any age if conditions met | Must renounce Chinese citizenship (Art. 5(1)(v)) | Over 15: acts herself (no need for statutory agent under Art. 18)