Japanese paternity gives nationality to kids born to unmarried foreign mothers

A revised bill of the Nationality Law that allows children born to unmarried Japanese fathers and foreign mothers to acquire Japanese nationality with only the father’s acknowledgement of paternity was enacted on Friday after passing in the House of Councillors plenary session.

In article three of the current law, children of unmarried parents cannot obtain Japanese nationality. However, the Supreme Court ruled the article that requires the marriage of parents unconstitutional. The new law is slated to come into effect early next year.

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