Important Notice: Stricter Criteria for Naturalization Applications

On March 27, 2026, the government announced a tightening of the review process for naturalization applications. Starting April 1, 2026, the following changes will be implemented:

• Residency Requirement: The standard residency period will be increased from "at least 5 years" to "at least 10 years" in principle.

  
  

• Tax and Social Insurance Records:

  • Review of Resident Tax payment history for the past 5 years.

  • Review of Social Insurance premium payments for the past 2 years.

    
    

While naturalization remains at the discretion of the Minister of Justice based on individual circumstances, "continuity of residence" and "tax compliance status" will be emphasized more heavily moving forward. There is also a possibility of further tightening in the future.

If you meet the requirements and intend to apply for naturalization, we highly recommend proceeding with your application as soon as possible. If you have any concerns regarding your eligibility, please feel free to contact our office for a consultation.

Regarding the status of applications currently in progress, we will provide updates on this website as soon as further details are released.