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I'm Canadian, but haven't lived in Canada for about 10 years. I'm permanently settled in Japan now, and often wonder about if I will ever become a citizen. Th

I'm Canadian, but haven't lived in Canada for about 10 years. I'm permanently settled in Japan now, and often wonder about if I will ever become a citizen. There are very few benefits to being a citizen in ordinary life, and many drawbacks. First Japan requires you to renounce your old citizenship. Not a huge problem, but it means that I would need to get a tourist visa to visit my family in Canada. Since I currently have a visa for Japan, it is easy for me to leave Japan, enter Canada and return to Japan. If I were a Japanese citizen it becomes more difficult in practice. Also, as a Canadian citizen I am legally allowed to work in Canada if, by some stroke of hard luck, I was unable to find work in Japan. Also, due to the free trade agreement with the US, I can work in the US. Also, due to the fact that I am a commonwealth citizen with British ancestry, I can work in the UK (which I did recently). All of that disappears if I become a Japanese citizen. And what do I get in return? I can vote in local elections. And I can't be deported. Although it is naive, it's easy to think "I have a visa and up to this point, I have had no problems at all with the Japanese government. My spouse is Japanese, so surely they won't kick me out, right?" It's easy to think that there are lots of drawbacks with no benefits. But if I am really honest with myself, what would I do if I got kicked out of Japan? I would be seriously unhappy. This is my home and I never want to leave. If I feel that way, I should try to get citizenship, no matter what inconvenience that entails. Of course, I think I've got another 9 years before I can apply, so I have a long time to think about it (I lived here before, but when I went to the UK, I had to restart the timer :-P )

prodmerc 11y ago
It is different from country to country (Japan is notoriously difficult, afaik). Would getting a UK citizenship pose any similar problems?
- mikekchar 11y ago
  Japan is notoriously easy to get a visa for, but notoriously difficult for citizenship. For me UK citizenship would mostly provide upside because I can be dual citizen. It would give me everything and allow me to work anywhere in Europe (until UKIP has their way, of course). Oddly, it has some downside because with an ancestry entry permit (which is what I used to work in the UK previously), it is very easy to get a UK visa for my wife (who is Japanese). If I was a citizen, it is actually slightly more difficult (more expensive, more hoops to jump). Such is the maze of international visas. The OP was of Argentinian decent so given the Falklands war, I don't know what the status is for dual citizenship with the UK (a quick Google search didn't help me). Basically you can't generalize, but I think you are generally correct that if you intend to stay in a country forever you should consider citizenship very seriously. Living abroad is an eye opening experience. You have to really understand that you are a guest in the country and are subject to whatever whims they may have (with no say on your part). Paying taxes, being a good neighbour, providing benefit to the host country does not mean anything.

prodmerc 11y ago

It is different from country to country (Japan is notoriously difficult, afaik). Would getting a UK citizenship pose any similar problems?

mikekchar 11y ago
Japan is notoriously easy to get a visa for, but notoriously difficult for citizenship. For me UK citizenship would mostly provide upside because I can be dual citizen. It would give me everything and allow me to work anywhere in Europe (until UKIP has their way, of course). Oddly, it has some downside because with an ancestry entry permit (which is what I used to work in the UK previously), it is very easy to get a UK visa for my wife (who is Japanese). If I was a citizen, it is actually slightly more difficult (more expensive, more hoops to jump). Such is the maze of international visas. The OP was of Argentinian decent so given the Falklands war, I don't know what the status is for dual citizenship with the UK (a quick Google search didn't help me). Basically you can't generalize, but I think you are generally correct that if you intend to stay in a country forever you should consider citizenship very seriously. Living abroad is an eye opening experience. You have to really understand that you are a guest in the country and are subject to whatever whims they may have (with no say on your part). Paying taxes, being a good neighbour, providing benefit to the host country does not mean anything.