Naturalization and Job Stability in Japan: What if You Changed Jobs or Work Non-Regularly?【2025 Update】

Introduction

When applying for naturalization in Japan, the most fundamental requirement is being able to live a stable life in the country. For this reason, immigration officials place great importance on an applicant’s job stability. In particular, if you have recently changed jobs or are employed in a non-regular position, additional checks are often conducted to assess whether your employment can be considered “stable.”
This article explains the key points to keep in mind when applying for naturalization as someone who has recently changed jobs, or who works as a temporary, contract, or part-time employee.

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What Does “Job Stability” Mean in Naturalization?

When reviewing a naturalization application, the Legal Affairs Bureau does not look only at your current job. Instead, several factors are evaluated comprehensively:

• Whether your current employment is continuous and stable
• Whether there are significant gaps in your work history
• Whether job changes or resignations are too frequent
• Whether your income is sufficient to meet the financial self-sufficiency requirement

In other words, what matters most is whether you have a steady occupation and income that enables you to maintain a sustainable life in Japan. Therefore, if you have just changed jobs or are in non-regular employment, it is essential to prepare evidence showing stability.

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Points to Note When Applying Right After Changing Jobs

If you apply for naturalization soon after changing jobs, immigration authorities may judge that your work situation is not yet stable. Generally, the following patterns are seen:

Situation	Likely Evaluation	Recommended Action
Within 1–2 months after a job change	Often judged unstable	Wait several months, prepare at least 3 months of pay slips
Around 6 months after a job change	Considered relatively stable	Provide employment certificate, pay slips, and contract
Job change within same industry (career advancement)	Stability more likely to be recognized	Prepare a résumé and detailed career history

In particular, if your new position is in the same industry or field as your previous job, continuity can be emphasized, making approval more likely. Supplementary documents explaining your career path are highly effective.

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How Immigration Views the Reason for Job Change

Changing jobs itself is not automatically considered negative. The reason for the change is critical. For example, leaving a company due to circumstances beyond your control—such as bankruptcy or contract termination—is unlikely to be a problem if properly explained. On the other hand, repeatedly resigning for personal reasons in a short period may be seen as a sign of instability.
Therefore, it is advisable to prepare a simple written explanation of your job change reason, and when possible, submit supporting documents such as a resignation certificate or notice from the employer to show that the change was unavoidable.

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Non-Regular Employment (Temporary, Contract, or Part-Time)

Being in non-regular employment does not mean naturalization is impossible. However, the evaluation of stability becomes stricter. Immigration authorities focus on the following:

1. Whether there is a track record of contract renewals (continuous employment)
2. Whether monthly and annual income are sufficient for independent living
3. Whether you are financially dependent on family members

For example, a contract employee who has been working for more than three years with continuous contract renewals may be treated as practically equivalent to a regular employee. On the other hand, repeatedly switching short-term part-time jobs is more likely to be considered unstable.

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Self-Employment and Freelance Work

Like non-regular workers, self-employed individuals and freelancers often face stricter scrutiny, since there is no single employer. The key is to provide clear evidence of income stability. Required documents may include:

• Copies of tax returns and blue form (青色申告) statements
• Sales ledgers or invoices
• Contracts with clients or proof of ongoing transactions
• Proof of enrollment in social insurance or national health insurance

If your income fluctuates significantly, you may need to explain how you can continue supporting yourself. Business plans and long-term contracts with clients can serve as strong evidence of stability.

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How to Strengthen Proof of Job Stability

Even if you are a recent job changer or a non-regular employee, stability can be reinforced by preparing the following:

• Employment contract and certificate of employment
• Pay slips for the last 3–6 months
• Proof of enrollment in employment or social insurance
• Withholding tax slips or tax returns for the past several years
• Company brochure or information showing your employer’s stability

If you have dependents, it is also useful to show that the household as a whole is financially stable, for example by providing your spouse’s employment certificate or income statement.

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Real-Life Cases of Rejection and Improvement

There are indeed cases where applications were rejected due to concerns about job stability. Some examples include:

• Case 1: Applied immediately after changing jobs and was rejected for “lack of proof of stable employment.” → Reapplied after 6 months with pay slips and was approved.
• Case 2: Rejected after repeatedly doing short-term temporary work with unstable income. → Later became a full-time employee, built a 1-year record, and was approved.
• Case 3: Freelance applicant failed to show sufficient proof of income. → Reapplied with proper tax returns, invoices, and explanation of long-term client relationships, and was approved.

These examples show that even if job stability is questioned at first, preparing better evidence and reapplying can lead to approval.

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Conclusion

In naturalization applications, “job stability” is judged not just by your employment type, but by an overall assessment of continuity of work, stability of income, and household living conditions. If you have just changed jobs, waiting a few months before applying is usually safer. For non-regular employees or freelancers, submitting sufficient proof of income and continuity can make approval possible. The most important point is: never leave doubts unaddressed—explain your situation clearly and provide documentation to support your case.

Ishinagi Administrative Scrivener Office

If you want to obtain Japanese nationality quickly and securely, or if you feel uncertain about preparing the required documents, please feel free to consult our office in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka.
We handle requests from all over Japan and provide the most suitable support based on our experience with immigration procedures and applications to the Legal Affairs Bureau.

If you wish to proceed with your naturalization application smoothly and with confidence, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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