Japan does not permit dual citizenship. What the statute actually says, the notification duties that go with it, and what it means if you are considering a second passport.
Whether you can keep your Japanese passport while holding another one is decided by Japan, not by the country issuing the second document. This page sets out the current position, the statute behind it, and what it means in practice for someone considering a second citizenship.
Short answer: Japan does not permit dual citizenship. The detail below matters more than the headline, because the consequences of getting it wrong fall on the individual — usually years later, at a passport renewal or a border.
No. Japan does not permit dual nationality for adults. A Japanese citizen who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality loses Japanese nationality automatically.
The rule to establish first is always the one that applies to you at home. A second country can only grant its own status; it cannot preserve a nationality that your own law terminates. What a prohibition means in practice — and what it does not — is explained in the guide to dual citizenship rules, with the country-by-country table.
| Question | Position in Japan |
|---|---|
| Dual citizenship | Not permitted |
| Governing law | Nationality Act, arts. 11 and 14 |
| Status of a second nationality | Not recognised once the choice deadline passes |
| Effect on the original nationality | Japanese nationality may be lost if the choice is not made in time |
| Basis of taxation | Residence |
| Military service obligation | No |
Article 11 of the Nationality Act provides that a Japanese national who acquires a foreign nationality by their own choice thereby loses Japanese nationality. Article 14 requires a person holding more than one nationality to choose. Since the adult age was lowered to 18 in April 2022, the choice must be made by the age of 20, or within two years of acquiring the second nationality where that happens at 18 or later.
The authoritative source is the Japanese Ministry of Justice. Rules in this area change by amendment and by notification, so the position should be confirmed at the time you act, not from any article.
The mistakes below account for most of the cases where people discover a problem years after the event, typically when renewing a passport or crossing a border.
For Japanese citizens, a Vanuatu passport is not an addition — under Article 11 it would replace Japanese nationality. That makes the programme unsuitable for anyone who intends to remain Japanese, and we tell Japanese enquirers so directly.
If you are weighing this up anyway, start with a conversation rather than with the price list: the first question is whether you would be giving up a status you intend to keep.
The same question, answered for comparable jurisdictions:
Before applying anywhere, get the rule for your own citizenship confirmed in writing. We do that check first and tell you if the answer is no.