Japan Sets Minimum Age Requirement for Applicants Seeking 10-Year Japanese Passport

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  • The Embassy of Japan in Nigeria published official passport requirements, including a strict age condition for a 10-year passport
  • Applicants under 18 years old are limited to applying for a five-year passport with no exceptions
  • The embassy made both passport application forms available for download through its official website

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Japan has released official guidance on the requirements for obtaining a Japanese passport, drawing attention to a firm age threshold that determines the type of passport an applicant can receive.

Japan outlines age rules for people seeking a 10-year Japanese passport. Photo credit: Pool, Twenty47studio
Source: Getty Images

According to the guidance, applicants must be at least 18 years old to qualify for a 10-year passport. Anyone aged 17 or younger is restricted to a five-year passport, with no room for exceptions based on personal circumstances.

Japanese passport application requirements

The first item on the embassy's requirements list is a completed Japan passport application form. Two distinct versions of the form exist: one for the five-year passport and another for the 10-year passport.

UK Sets Minimum Age Requirement for Applicants Seeking 5-Year British PassportUK child passport rules: under-16s need a separate document, valid for five years. Online applications cost £66.50; postal forms cost £80. Adult route: age 16.04 Nov 2026

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The Japan embassy has made both forms available for download through its official website, allowing applicants to access the correct version based on their age.

The age condition is not a recommendation but a firm rule. Minors aged 17 and below cannot apply for the longer-validity document under any circumstances, making it essential for applicants to confirm their eligibility before beginning the application process.

How to apply from Africa

Those based in Africa, whether Japanese citizens residing in the country or dual-nationality holders, can obtain the relevant forms and review the full list of documentation requirements directly through the official website/

The embassy encouraged all prospective applicants to verify their documentation thoroughly before submission. Incomplete applications risk delaying the processing of a passport, which could affect travel arrangements.

Japan has also been updating several of its entry policies in recent months, including approving new entry requirements for foreign nationals and listing specific countries whose citizens may enter using an ePassport or a machine-readable passport in place of a visa.s

UK Announces the Official Cost of a Five-Year British Passport for ApplicantsUK child passport fees for 2026 are £66.50 online or £80 by post. Learn who can apply, what parental details are required and the rules for children nearing 16.04 Nov 2026

Japan sets rules for permanent residency revocation

YEN.com.gh also highlighted facts about Japan’s new rules for revoking permanent residency, which are set to take effect on 1 April 2027.

The guidelines require authorities to consider each person’s circumstances, including how long they have lived in Japan and the seriousness of any breach, offering a clearer framework for foreign nationals who have built their lives there.

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Source: YEN.com.gh