Job Discussion Forums

[miao]

Hello, I need advice.
I've been living in Japan as a Japanese national for four years now. I have now been offered a job in Tokyo. I am entitled to a British passport, having been brought up and educated in England. My father was British. I wish to take the job as a British national, not Japanese. They have agreed to sponsor my visa, but I am worried about the best procedure to renounce my Japanese nationality.

I haven't paid my pension here for the last four years either because the ward asked me to back pay from working age, even though i was in England at the time. So I am also worried that this will affect my visa application later.

I am about to return to England to claim my British passport and return to Japan on a British passport. Does anyone know if this is a better idea than attempting to get my passport from within Japan from the British Embassy?

Also, I should be entitled to a Child of National Visa, but is this a bad idea because my pension payment history? I wouldn't want my Grandmother to be held responsible for my past pension payments.

If anyone can give me any advice, or if anyone knows anyone who has done this, please let me know. I'm very nervous to do this in case I am refused a visa and lose my Japanese passport at the same time!

Many thanks,
miao

[BenJ]

Lot of risky things there - I'd seek legal advice rather than informal discussion board opinions.

[JimDunlop2]

This is a new one... I've never heard of someone wanting to renounce their Japanese nationality, given that getting visas/immigration/being a gaijin is such a pain in the *ahem*... Whereas Japanese citizens are entitled to many privileges that we are not afforded... Including ease in setting up bank accounts, getting credit cards, or even getting a stinking video rental membership sometimes.

You must have some strong reasons behind your decision, which I can't question, nor which I can't expect you to justify, (though I'm dreadfully curious) but I also think that your best bet is to seek out a good immigration lawyer. Japan seems to have its fair share of them.

JD

[kiracle]

Can you just keep both? Unless countries have a specific law against dual citizenship, you should be allowed to have two passports and two citizenships.

Living in Japan and reaping the benifits of being a Japanese citizen while working as a Brit and reaping other benifits might be pushing the limit but it might not be illegal. I plan to get dual citizenship soon (although not with Japan) and in my case I was told each country will treat me like their citizen and ignore the fact that I am also a citizen in another country.

Does either Japan or Great Britian [i]require[/i] you to renounce your citizenship?

K

[lajzar]

Officially, it is not possible to have dual Japanese and X citizenship. However, as long as the Japanese government has no reason to find out, there is no problem. A Japanese citizen working in Japan while under a foreigners' visa status might raise some eyebrows.

Unless there is some pressing financial reason, it seems to me that you'd be better of working in Japan as a Japanese citizen.