A Japanese friend is contemplating becoming a US citizen. Japan does not permit dual citizenship, so if he becomes a US citizen he will no longer be a Japanese citizen. He’s trying to find information on how that will affect two things:
1. Japanese social security. Apparently in Japan the system is a bit different than in the US: a person’s parents pay into the system, and then when the child becomes a senior citizen, he withdraws that money. If my friend becomes a US citizen, will he still be entitled to that money, or does he forfeit it somehow?
2. Inheritance. My friend is pretty sure his parents don’t have a will. What happens to his inheritance rights if he is no longer a Japanese citizen? When his parents die, will he automatically inherit their estate? Can a [naturalized] US citizen own property in Japan?
My gut feeling is that he will still be entitled to the SS money, and can inherit/own Japanese real estate, but then my gut feeling is that Hello Kitty is way more popular than it ought to be, so what do I know?
Anyone got some answers, or know where I can turn to for help?
Thanks…
Sounds like questions that he ought to address to the nearest Japanese consulate. There’s about ten of them scattered around the United States, primarily for processing visas and assisting Japanese nationals living abroad. Another option is to talk to an immigration attorney who works in these areas. The consulate is free, attorneys are not.
On an important matter like this, I would urge your friend to actually talk to experts rather than finding an answer on the internet.
How would it matter if Japan does not allow dual citizenship? How would they know?
First of all, the easy part: U.S. citizens can own real estate in Japan.
Regarding dual citizenship, this is a link to English info on the topic from the Japanese Ministry of Justice:
http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/information/tnl-01.html
Under my nonexpert reading of this info (Article 14 in particular), if your friend is under 20, he will have until he is 22 to choose one or the other nationality. If your friend is over 20, he will have two years to “choose” (notify the Japanese government) from the day he acquires foreign nationality.
Regarding the situation you described in question #1, he should contact a professional familiar with those issues, or at least the Japanese consulate. In 2004 the U.S. and Japan signed a treaty regarding social security benefits, so if he does the proper paperwork, etc., he very well may be able to retain those benefits. But it may be a situation where failure to act in a timely fashion may result in loss of benefits, so he should definitely consult a professional before proceeding.
Regarding question #2, I can not speak to Japanese inheritance rights and citizenship in a legal sense, but I would ask is your friend an only child, and if not, does he have good relationships with his siblings in Japan? Sometimes, as a practical matter, the nature of sibling relationships will be have a big impact on what happens to his inheritance, especially if he is living overseas. Other than that, again, he should contact a professional.
Does your friend really want to rely on the advice from random strangers on an American message board when making this important decision? As others said, contact the consulate, or an attorney expert in Japanese inheritance and social security laws.