二重国籍(にじゅうこくせき)

にじゅうこくせき
noun
dual citizenship; dual nationality
lawsociety
1. dual citizenship; dual nationality; the condition of holding two nationalities at once
The status of a person who legally holds the citizenship of two countries simultaneously. A frequent topic in Japan because Japanese law in principle does not allow dual nationality for adults, and individuals with two nationalities are required to choose one before a set age.
彼女(かのじょ)は二重国籍(にじゅうこくせき)を持(も)っている。
She has dual citizenship.
日本(にほん)は原則(げんそく)として二重国籍(にじゅうこくせき)を認(みと)めていない。
Japan does not, in principle, recognize dual nationality.
二重国籍(にじゅうこくせき)の子(こ)どもは、成人(せいじん)までにどちらかの国籍(こくせき)を選(えら)ばなければならない場合(ばあい)がある。
In some cases, children with dual nationality must choose one of the two citizenships by the time they reach adulthood.

Compound of 二重(にじゅう) ('double; two-layered') and 国籍(こくせき) ('nationality; citizenship'). Refers strictly to legal citizenship status, not to ethnic or cultural identity.

Usage

  • A common topic in news, legal commentary, and discussions of globalization.
  • In Japan, the word often appears together with 容認(ようにん) ('acceptance / tolerance') or 解消(かいしょう) ('resolution; elimination'), reflecting ongoing policy debate.
  • Not a casual word — belongs to the register of newspapers, government documents, and formal conversations.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 国籍(こくせき): nationality; citizenship — the basic term.
  • 多重国籍(たじゅうこくせき): multiple nationality — holding three or more citizenships; less common.
  • 帰化(きか): naturalization — the process of acquiring a new nationality, often requiring the renunciation of the old one.
  • 無国籍(むこくせき): stateless — the opposite situation of having no nationality at all.

Related Words

Compare: 帰化(きか) (naturalization)
Compare: 無国籍(むこくせき) (stateless)
Compare: 外国籍(がいこくせき) (foreign nationality)
Related: 国籍法(こくせきほう) (nationality law)
general
Added 2026.4.16 0:57 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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