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Metropolis Japan
2 days ago
- Politics
- Metropolis Japan
Does Japan Allow Dual Citizenship?
Short answer, no, but most people have dual citizenship By Jessie Carbutt Image Credit: Yobab Japan does not officially recognize dual citizenship for adults. According to Japanese law, citizens who hold more than one nationality are required to choose one before turning 22 (or within two years of acquiring a second nationality, if after age 20). This is outlined in Japan's Nationality Act (国籍法). However, the situation in practice can be more nuanced. Under Article 14 of Japan's Nationality Act: ➤A dual national must choose one nationality before turning 22 ➤If they gain a second nationality after age 20, they must choose within 2 years ➤'Choosing' Japanese nationality involves formally renouncing the other nationality In theory, failure to do so could result in losing Japanese nationality. But enforcement of this requirement is rare, which leads to some gray area in practice. What Happens If You Don't Renounce One? In practice, many Japanese citizens who are born with dual citizenship (for example, one Japanese parent and one foreign parent) quietly retain both nationalities, especially if they live abroad. The Japanese government may send a notice asking them to choose, but: ➤Enforcement is inconsistent ➤There are no criminal penalties ➤Some individuals never receive such notice ➤Japan does not automatically revoke citizenship if you fail to act ➤That said, this is not officially permitted—it's more a case of tolerated ambiguity than legal acceptance. Can You Reacquire Japanese Citizenship Later? If a Japanese citizen gives up their citizenship (e.g., to naturalize in another country that doesn't allow dual nationality), they would have to reapply through naturalization if they later wanted to become Japanese again. Japan's naturalization process is lengthy and strict. Requirements include: ➤Living in Japan for 5+ consecutive years ➤Demonstrating financial stability ➤Japanese language ability ➤Renouncing other citizenships In other words, once given up, it's hard to get Japanese nationality back. Children and Dual Citizenship Children born with dual nationality are allowed to keep both citizenships until age 22. Around that time, they are expected to submit a 選択届 (sentaku todoke, Nationality Selection Form) choosing Japanese nationality. However, choosing Japanese citizenship doesn't automatically cancel your other nationality—unless you take the additional step of formally renouncing it with the other country's government. So in many cases, individuals remain technically dual citizens, even if Japan considers them to have 'chosen.' Why Doesn't Japan Allow Dual Citizenship? The Japanese government's official stance is that dual citizenship could cause: ➤Loyalty conflicts ➤Diplomatic complications ➤Issues with military service or taxes in other countries Japan prefers clear, single-national allegiances. This contrasts with countries like Canada, the U.S. and many within the EU, where dual citizenship is legally accepted. How Japan's Policy Compares to Other Countries Japan's position falls somewhere in the middle globally—stricter than many Western countries, but less aggressively enforced than the world's most rigid nations. Here's a comparison: Countries that Freely Allow Dual Citizenship: These countries have no issue with holding multiple nationalities North America: Canada United States Mexico Europe: France Germany (recently liberalized in 2024) Ireland Italy Portugal Sweden UK Finland Greece Belgium Asia: Pakistan Philippines (only with certain countries) Israel Lebanon Bangladesh (under certain conditions) Africa: South Africa Egypt Nigeria (generally accepted) Oceania: Australia New Zealand Latin America: Brazil Argentina Colombia Peru Chile In these nations, dual citizenship is legal, common, and generally lifelong. Countries with Limited or Conditional Dual Citizenship These countries allow it only in certain cases or with restrictions: South Korea – Allows dual citizenship in limited cases (e.g., special talents, spouses of Koreans, children born with two nationalities). Spain – Children born with two nationalities must declare it. Those with nationalities from certain Latin American countries do not have to declare it. South Africa – Requires official permission before acquiring another nationality Austria – Allows dual citizenship for children born with two nationalities Countries That Prohibit or Discourage It These take a hard line against dual nationality: China – Automatic loss of Chinese nationality if another nationality is acquired India – No dual citizenship, though an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) system exists Singapore – Dual citizenship is not allowed; must choose by 21 Indonesia – Dual citizenship is not allowed; must choose by 18 Where Japan Stands: Japan falls into the category of 'soft prohibition' on dual citizenship: ➤Legally, dual citizenship is not permitted. ➤Japanese citizens are required by law to choose one nationality before the age of 22 if they were born with dual citizenship. ➤In practice, however, many individuals who were born with both Japanese and foreign nationality—often due to having one Japanese and one non-Japanese parent—are able to retain both informally. Enforcement is minimal, especially for those living abroad or not drawing legal attention. ➤This informal tolerance does not apply to those who naturalize as Japanese citizens later in life. In these cases, authorities typically require proof of renunciation of the person's original nationality as part of the naturalization process. Is Japan Likely to Change Its Policy? There have been occasional political discussions about modernizing Japan's nationality rules, especially as more international families emerge. But no formal movement has succeeded so far. The law remains strict, even if enforcement is often inconsistent. Public attitudes in Japan still largely favor single nationality, especially among older and more conservative voters, making change unlikely in the near future.
The Star
31-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Multicultural families in South Korea show signs of deeper integration, but disparities remain
SEOUL: Families with multicultural backgrounds in South Korea are experiencing greater integration into Korean society, with notable progress in children's education, household income and social inclusion, according to the latest government survey. On Thursday (July 31), the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family released the 2024 National Survey on Multicultural Families, conducted on a sample of 16,014 households nationwide. Under Korean law, a multicultural family refers to a family comprising an immigrant by marriage and a person who has acquired Korean citizenship by birth, acknowledgement or naturalisation, as outlined in Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Nationality Act. A sharp rise in higher education enrollment was recorded among multicultural children. The rate of those entering college or university jumped from 40.5 percent in 2021 to 61.9 percent last year, a dramatic increase of over 21 percentage points. The education gap between multicultural youth and their peers has narrowed from 31 percentage points in 2021 to just 13 points in 2024. 'These statistics suggest that children from multicultural families are now transitioning from being recipients of aid to active participants in society,' said Choi Sung-ji, director of youth and family policy at the Ministry. 'We must now focus on unlocking their full potential.' Household income has also improved. About 65.8 percent of multicultural households reported a monthly income of over 3 million won (US$2,200), up from 50.8 percent in 2021. It was the first time this income bracket became the most common, marking a shift in economic standing, the survey showed. Longer-term settlement is also becoming the norm. More than half, or 52 percent, of respondents said they have lived in Korea for over 15 years, up 12.7 percentage points from three years ago, while those residing in the country for 20 years or more accounted for 28.3 percent. Employment rates for foreign-born spouses and naturalized citizens also increased, reaching 62.7 percent. However, 39 percent remained in low-wage manual labor, an increase from 2021, highlighting continued occupational stratification. Experiences of discrimination have declined modestly but persist. In 2024, 13 percent of respondents had experienced discrimination, down from 16.3 percent in 2021. However, most said they chose to "put up with it" rather than respond, reflecting a lack of redress or support mechanisms. Some 71.6 percent of youth and young adults (aged 13 to 24) hoped to attend a four-year university or go on to higher education, a 10-point rise from three years ago. Reports of school bullying dropped slightly to 1.9 percent from 2.3 percent three years prior, while discrimination reports edged up to 4.7 percent, rebounding from a drop during the pandemic. Cultural differences and marital conflicts between spouses slightly declined compared to the last survey, and more parents reported having fewer difficulties raising children. Among those with children aged 5 and under, 27.3 percent said they had no significant parenting challenges. For children aged 6 to 24, that figure rose from 11.9 percent in 2021 to 21.8 percent in 2024. The most common challenges cited were access to emergency child care for younger children and financial burdens related to raising older children. As multicultural families move toward long-term settlement, the government said it will pivot its focus from short-term adaptation to long-term support tailored to each family's needs. This includes educational programs, bilingual learning, psychological counseling and job training, to be available at around 240 family centers nationwide. 'Multicultural families should no longer be viewed merely as vulnerable groups,' said Choi. 'The change in perception that they are part of Korea's future in enriching our society with various strengths and potential is needed." The government also plans to scale up programs that help multicultural youth with an emphasis on career development, emotional well-being and social inclusion. The survey respondents included different types of multicultural households. Of the total, 72.8 percent were families with married immigrants who are foreign nationals or naturalised citizens married to Koreans; 16.5 percent were families with other types of naturalized citizens; and 10.6 percent were households without a married immigrant or naturalized parent, but with children of multicultural backgrounds. The survey, conducted every three years, assesses the status of multicultural families in areas such as education, income, parenting, employment and social experience. - The Korea Herald/ANN
Korea Herald
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Multicultural families in Korea show signs of deeper integration, but disparities remain
Higher education enrollment rates for multicultural youth see biggest improvement, while household income levels and long-term residency also increase Families with multicultural backgrounds in South Korea are experiencing greater integration into Korean society, with notable progress in children's education, household income and social inclusion, according to the latest government survey. On Thursday, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family released the 2024 National Survey on Multicultural Families, conducted on a sample of 16,014 households nationwide. Under Korean law, a multicultural family refers to a family comprising an immigrant by marriage and a person who has acquired Korean citizenship by birth, acknowledgement or naturalization, as outlined in Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Nationality Act. A sharp rise in higher education enrollment was recorded among multicultural children. The rate of those entering college or university jumped from 40.5 percent in 2021 to 61.9 percent last year, a dramatic increase of over 21 percentage points. The education gap between multicultural youth and their peers has narrowed from 31 percentage points in 2021 to just 13 points in 2024. 'These statistics suggest that children from multicultural families are now transitioning from being recipients of aid to active participants in society,' said Choi Sung-ji, director of youth and family policy at the Ministry. 'We must now focus on unlocking their full potential.' Household income has also improved. About 65.8 percent of multicultural households reported a monthly income of over 3 million won ($2,200), up from 50.8 percent in 2021. It was the first time this income bracket became the most common, marking a shift in economic standing, the survey showed. Longer-term settlement is also becoming the norm. More than half, or 52 percent, of respondents said they have lived in Korea for over 15 years, up 12.7 percentage points from three years ago, while those residing in the country for 20 years or more accounted for 28.3 percent. Employment rates for foreign-born spouses and naturalized citizens also increased, reaching 62.7 percent. However, 39 percent remained in low-wage manual labor, an increase from 2021, highlighting continued occupational stratification. Experiences of discrimination have declined modestly but persist. In 2024, 13 percent of respondents had experienced discrimination, down from 16.3 percent in 2021. However, most said they chose to "put up with it" rather than respond, reflecting a lack of redress or support mechanisms. Some 71.6 percent of youth and young adults (aged 13 to 24) hoped to attend a four-year university or go on to higher education, a 10-point rise from three years ago. Reports of school bullying dropped slightly to 1.9 percent from 2.3 percent three years prior, while discrimination reports edged up to 4.7 percent, rebounding from a drop during the pandemic. Cultural differences and marital conflicts between spouses slightly declined compared to the last survey, and more parents reported having fewer difficulties raising children. Among those with children aged 5 and under, 27.3 percent said they had no significant parenting challenges. For children aged 6 to 24, that figure rose from 11.9 percent in 2021 to 21.8 percent in 2024. The most common challenges cited were access to emergency child care for younger children and financial burdens related to raising older children. As multicultural families move toward long-term settlement, the government said it will pivot its focus from short-term adaptation to long-term support tailored to each family's needs. This includes educational programs, bilingual learning, psychological counseling and job training, to be available at around 240 family centers nationwide. 'Multicultural families should no longer be viewed merely as vulnerable groups,' said Choi. 'The change in perception that they are part of Korea's future in enriching our society with various strengths and potential is needed." The government also plans to scale up programs that help multicultural youth with an emphasis on career development, emotional well-being and social inclusion. The survey respondents included different types of multicultural households. Of the total, 72.8 percent were families with married immigrants who are foreign nationals or naturalized citizens married to Koreans; 16.5 percent were families with other types of naturalized citizens; and 10.6 percent were households without a married immigrant or naturalized parent, but with children of multicultural backgrounds. The survey, conducted every three years, assesses the status of multicultural families in areas such as education, income, parenting, employment and social experience.
American Military News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- American Military News
Supreme Court hands Trump ‘Giant Win' in birthright citizenship case
The Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump a 'GIANT WIN' on Friday by ruling against 'universal injunctions' and limiting court injunctions after a lower court issued a preliminary injunction against the president's executive order blocking birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants. In a 6-3 ruling on Friday, the Supreme Court wrote, 'Universal injunctions likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has given to federal courts. The Court grants the Government's applications for a partial stay of the injunctions entered below, but only to the extent that the injunctions are broader than necessary to provide complete relief to each plaintiff with standing to sue.' In Friday's ruling, Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett claimed that the 'universal injunction was conspicuously nonexistent' for the majority of U.S. history. 'Its absence from 18th- and 19th-century equity practice settles the question of judicial authority,' Barrett wrote. 'That the absence continued into the 20th century renders any claim of historical pedigree still more implausible.' Barrett explained that the Supreme Court's ruling does not address whether the president's executive order on birthright citizenship violates the Nationality Act of the Citizenship Clause. Instead, Barrett said the issue presented to the Supreme Court 'is one of remedy: whether, under the Judiciary Act of 1789, federal courts have equitable authority to issue universal injunctions.' READ MORE: Supreme Court issues major deportation ruling Barrett added, 'A universal injunction can be justified only as an exercise of equitable authority, yet Congress has granted federal courts no such power.' In a concurring opinion, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh explained that the court's decision will now require district courts throughout the country to 'follow proper legal procedures' with regard to injunctions. 'Most significantly, district courts can no longer award preliminary nationwide or classwide relief except when such relief is legally authorized,' Kavanaugh stated. Following Friday's Supreme Court ruling, Trump issued a statement on Truth Social, saying, 'GIANT WIN in the United States Supreme Court! Even the Birthright Citizenship Hoax has been, indirectly, hit hard. It had to do with the babies of slaves (same year!), not the SCAMMING of our Immigration process.' Vice President J.D. Vance also released a statement regarding the Supreme Court's decision, describing it as a 'huge ruling.' Vance claimed that the ruling will stop the 'ridiculous process of nationwide injunctions' that Democrat judges have used to continually block the president's executive orders. 'Under our system, everyone has to follow the law–including judges!' Vance tweeted.
Fox News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
SCOTUS rules on Trump's birthright citizenship order, testing lower court powers
The Supreme Court granted a partial stay Friday of President Donald Trump's request to block lower courts from issuing universal injunctions, granting a par victory for the administration as it looks to execute many of its top priorities via executive order and action. Justices ruled 6-3 to allow the lower courts to issue injunctions in certain cases. "The applications do not raise—and thus we do not address—the question whether the Executive Order violates the Citizenship Clause or Nationality Act," Justice Amy Coney Barrett said, writing for the majority. "The issue before us is one of remedy: whether, under the Judiciary Act of 1789, federal courts have equitable authority to issue universal injunctions." "A universal injunction can be justified only as an exercise of equitable authority, yet Congress has granted federal courts no such power," she added. The Supreme Court agreed in April to hear the consolidated cases, which focused on three lower court judges in Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington state who issued "universal" injunctions against Trump's birthright citizenship executive order. But that wasn't the main focus of the appeal, or the May 15 oral arguments before the high court. Rather, the justices considered whether lower courts should have the authority to issue nationwide injunctions at all, or whether doing so exceeds their authority, as argued by U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer. The ruling is expected to have sweeping implications for U.S. district courts, and comes at a time when presidents, including both Democrat and Republican administrations, have sought to use executive orders as a means of sidestepping a clunky, slow-moving Congress. Federal judges across the country have blocked Trump's ban on transgender persons serving in the U.S. military, ordered the reinstatement of core functions of the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID and halted Elon Musk's government efficiency organization, DOGE, from oversight and access to government agencies, among other things. Justices across the ideological spectrum appeared to agree during oral arguments this month that the use of universal injunctions has surged in recent years — but after more than two hours, remained split on how to proceed. No easy solution emerged to the thorny legal problem, as the justices wrestled with a tangle of procedural questions over whether to scale back the use of universal injunctions and what legal standard should govern them. Sauer argued that lower court judges have used universal injunctions to act beyond their authority and block the lawful powers of a sitting president. But Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted that blocking or limiting lower court injunctions could invite hundreds or thousands of new individual lawsuits. "Your theory here is arguing that Article III and principles of equity [clause] both prohibit federal courts from issuing universal injunctions to have your argument," she said later, adding: "If that's true, that means even the Supreme Court doesn't have that power." Justice Elena Kagan, meanwhile, pointed out the practical challenge of expecting the Supreme Court to weigh in on every issue now handled by lower courts, which have already faced hundreds of federal lawsuits during Trump's second term. She also noted to Sauer that the Trump administration has lost every federal lawsuit challenging the birthright citizenship executive order, including under judges Trump appointed during his first term. As expected, several conservative justices on the court, including Justice Clarence Thomas, expressed criticism of universal injunctions. New Jersey Solicitor General Jeremy Feigenbaum, representing the states, acknowledged that there could be alternative remedies for federal courts other than nationwide injunctions — though he suggested that in certain cases, the class action alternative presented by the Trump administration may not move fast enough to grant relief in certain cases. "We are sympathetic to some of the concerns the United States has about percolation, about running the table in particular cases," he said. "We just don't think that that supports a bright line rule that says they're never available." Roberts and Sotomayor questioned Feigenbaum more in depth on how to determine in what cases universal injunction should not be the preferred remedy and how to ensure district courts are following that. Lawyers for the Trump administration asked the high court to review the case earlier this year, arguing that the three lower courts, each of which blocked Trump's birthright citizenship order from taking force nationwide, acted beyond the scope of their authority. U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer stressed this point during oral arguments earlier this month, telling justices that universal injunctions "require judges to make rushed, high-stakes, low-information decisions." "They operate asymmetrically, forcing the government to win everywhere," he said, and "invert," in the Trump administration's view, the ordinary hierarchical hierarchy of appellate review. The Supreme Court decision will have sweeping implications, both in the near- and longer-term, with knock-down effects on the the more than 300 federal lawsuits that have challenged White House actions since Trump's second presidency began on Jan. 20, 2025. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
