Download Kika Shinsei Application Forms & Filled Samples

​When applying for Japanese naturalization (Kika Shinsei), the Legal Affairs Bureau (法務局) strictly evaluates your application based on accuracy and consistency. A single formatting error or mismatched date can delay your application or result in a request to rewrite your documents.

Before downloading the sample templates and filling out your paperwork, you must understand the strict rules enforced by the Japanese government.

1. Universal Formatting Rules

Before filling out any specific form, you must follow these absolute rules across your entire application:

• Use Black Ink Only: All documents must be completed using a black pen or ballpoint pen. Erasable pens (like Frixion) and pencils are strictly prohibited.

• No Correction Fluid: If you make a mistake, do not use correction fluid or correction tape. You must follow the Legal Affairs Bureau's specific instructions for crossing out and correcting errors.

• Use the Japanese Calendar (和暦): Do not use the Western calendar (e.g., 2026). All dates regarding birth, graduation, employment, and travel must be written using the Japanese era calendar (Showa, Heisei, Reiwa).

• Addresses Must Match Official Records: Write your address exactly as it appears on your Resident Certificate (Juminhyo - 住民票). Do not abbreviate using hyphens (e.g., write "1丁目2番3号" instead of "1-2-3").

• No Alphabet Characters: All foreign names, including your own and your family members', must be written in Katakana or approved Japanese Kanji. The English alphabet is not allowed on the application forms.

2. Form-Specific Guidelines

The Application Form (帰化許可申請書)

• Do Not Date or Sign at Home: Leave the application date and signature fields completely blank. You must sign and date the document in front of the official during your final Legal Affairs Bureau appointment.

• Photographs: You must attach two identical 5cm x 5cm photos taken within the last 6 months, featuring a plain background and no hats.

Personal History & Resume (履歴書)

• No Blank Periods: You must document your chronological history seamlessly. If you had periods of unemployment, job hunting, or extended trips outside of Japan, you must state them to ensure there are no unexplained gaps in your timeline.

• Start from Elementary School: Your educational history should begin from your entrance into elementary school.

• Declare All Traffic Violations: The "Rewards and Punishments" (賞罰) section includes traffic violations. You must declare all violations, even minor ones, exactly as they appear on your official Driving Record Certificate.

Family Outline (親族の概要)

• Separate by Location: You must fill out separate sheets: one for family members living inside Japan, and one for relatives living abroad.

• Include Deceased Relatives: You must list all relevant family members, including parents, spouses, and children, even if they are deceased or if you are divorced from them.

Overview of Livelihood (生計の概要)

• Balance Income and Expenses: Your listed monthly expenses (rent, food, loans, insurance, education) must realistically balance with your declared take-home income. Do not artificially adjust numbers to make your finances look better; the Bureau will check these amounts against your tax and bank records.

Motivation Letter (帰化の動機書)

• Must Be Handwritten: Unless you are under 15 years old or a Special Permanent Resident, this letter must be handwritten by you in Japanese. It cannot be typed on a computer.

• Use Your Own Words: Do not simply copy a template from the internet. The officer will ask you to explain your letter during the interview, so it must accurately reflect your genuine personal history, living situation, and true reasons for wanting to become a Japanese citizen.