Japan to double residency period for naturalization to 10 yrs starting Wed.

The Japanese government said Friday it will double the minimum residency requirement for naturalization to 10 years starting April 1.The Justice Ministry said it will also extend the verification period for tax payments to five years and for social insurance premiums to two, both from one year currently. Those who have already applied will also be subject to the changes.Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi in November to tighten the rules on acquiring Japanese nationality, saying the current conditions were too lax.The country's Nationality Act sets th…READ FULL ARTICLE