Do Japanese citizens have to use a Japanese passport when entering Japan?
A number of countries including the US require that their citizens must enter using that country's passport, even if they're dual citizens and have other valid passports. Does Japan require this?
Context: This question, where I was advised that it would be "illegal" to enter using another passport. Note that it's possible to legally be a Japanese dual citizen, although only in limited circumstances (mostly underaged children).
Best Answer
Theoretically, yes, you must use a Japanese passport.
According to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Article 60 and 61 on Chapter 7 (English translation):
Article 60?(1)
Any Japanese national (except for crew members) who departs from Japan with the intention of proceeding to an area outside of Japan shall possess a valid passport and shall receive confirmation of departure from an immigration inspector in accordance with the procedures provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, at the port of entry or departure from which such person departs.
(2)
The Japanese national set forth in the preceding paragraph shall not depart from Japan unless he/she has received confirmation of departure from Japan.
Article 61
Any Japanese national (except for crew members) who returns to Japan from an area outside of Japan shall possess a valid passport (a document that certifies Japanese nationality if he/she is unable to possess a valid passport) and shall receive confirmation of his/her return to Japan from an immigration inspector in accordance with the procedures provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, at the port of entry or departure at which such person lands.
However, in practice you don't need it. There are many such underage Japanese who were given birth to by Japanese-foreigner couples yet born outside of Japan, but I have never heard anyone who got denied an entry/return to Japan.
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Answer 2
Japan, like most countries, cannot deny entry to verified citizens of their own.
According to one anecdotal report, a dual national, upon being verified as a dual national (as he didn't have a Japanese passport on them, it took a while), was told that he's "supposed to use their Japanese passport".
So it seems that officials would want your children to use a Japanese passport, but as the person wasn't fined for not having it, they should be fine in the end.
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