Adjusting Nationality on Japan Visa Form

Many people fill in the nationality section of the Japan visa application quite quickly, but then pause at the former nationality field. Leaving it incomplete or writing something that does not match your documents can raise questions when your file is checked.

This article explains section 1.4 of the application form clearly, helping you understand what to write, how to write it, and how to review it again before submitting your file.

📄 Which section covers nationality on the Japan visa application?

On the Japan visa application form, section 1.4 contains two pieces of information related to nationality. These two fields are on page 1 of the form, immediately after the sections for gender and marital status.

The first field is Nationality or citizenship, meaning the applicant’s current nationality. The second field is Former and/or other nationalities or citizenships, meaning any former nationality or any other nationality, if applicable.

You can review how to complete page 1 overall in Page 1 of Japan Visa Application Form: Required Fields to see where the nationality section sits within the whole form.

The information on the visa application will be cross-checked against the other documents in your file. The nationality section should therefore not be completed from habit or based on what someone else says, but on the personal documents you currently hold as the applicant.

🧭 State your current nationality and any former nationality clearly

The most important principle is to state your current nationality clearly. This is the nationality you hold at the time you submit your application.

If you previously held another nationality, or you currently hold an additional nationality, you should enter it in the former and/or other nationalities field. Providing complete information helps the reviewing authority understand your nationality history.

If you have no former or other nationality, you should not add information based on guesswork. Fill in the form according to your actual situation and keep the information consistent throughout the file.

For families travelling together, each person must complete the nationality section according to their own documents. Do not use the same answer for every member if each person’s nationality status is different.

You can also prepare your file using the overview in Short-Term Japan Tourist Visa Application File: Required Documents to see which documents the application form belongs with.

Distinguishing the two parts of section 1.4

• Nationality or citizenship: enter the applicant’s current nationality.
• Former and/or other nationalities or citizenships: enter a former nationality or another nationality, if applicable.
• No former nationality: complete the form according to your actual situation, without adding another nationality.
• Nationality has changed: state the former nationality clearly so the information is transparent and easy to cross-check.

Distinguishing these two parts helps the reader of the form understand immediately which country you are currently a citizen of, and whether you previously held another nationality.

🪪 Cross-check nationality against your passport and personal documents

The nationality on your Japan visa application must match your passport. The passport is the original document submitted with a copy of the personal information page in the file for a short-stay visa for tourism.

Before filling in the form, open your passport and check the personal information page. Name, date of birth, place of birth, passport number and nationality should be reviewed together to avoid discrepancies.

If your passport shows your current nationality, the visa application should show the same nationality. If you have a former nationality, consider stating it clearly in the former nationality field rather than leaving it out.

The article Passport and Visa Application for Short Stay Japan Tourism helps you understand the relationship between these two documents in the same file.

In addition to your passport, you should also cross-check against the other personal documents you are using in your file. The aim is for all information about nationality to be consistent, clear and not confusing.

Steps to check before completing the nationality section

1. Open your original passport and look at the personal information page.
2. Identify the applicant’s current nationality.
3. Review whether there is a former or other nationality that needs to be declared.
4. Complete section 1.4 according to its two parts.
5. Read through the whole form again to check consistency with your passport.

Do not sign the form before you have finished checking it. One careful re-read can help you spot spelling errors, nationality selection errors, or missing former nationality information.

💻 Notes for completing a coded form

There are currently a paper version of the Japan visa application form and a coded version that can be completed on a computer. With the coded version, selecting nationality has a specific point to note.

When completing the coded form in Acrobat Reader, nationality must be selected from the list provided. Click the arrow on the right side of the nationality box and use the slider to select, rather than typing directly with the keyboard.

This method of selection helps ensure the code on the form is created in the correct format. After completing the form, you should check the information and the code again before printing it for submission.

If you select the wrong nationality from the list, the information on the form may not match your passport. Select slowly and check the country name again after selecting.

After printing the form, place it next to your passport and read the nationality section once more. A visual check is still necessary, even if you completed the form on a computer.

👨‍👩‍👧 What families and foreign nationals should prepare

For families, each member may have a different nationality status. Parents, children or accompanying relatives do not necessarily share the same current nationality or the same nationality history.

Therefore, the person preparing the file for the whole family should check each person’s nationality separately. Do not copy one person’s information to another person without confirming it first.

For foreign nationals living or working in Vietnam, current nationality should be entered according to the personal documents and passport used when submitting the file. If there is a former nationality, it should also be stated clearly in the relevant field.

When travelling with a group or with family, you should also prepare documents proving the relationship between those travelling together. Each person’s nationality information needs to be clear so the whole group’s file is understood correctly.

If the applicant is not paying for the trip themselves, the file also needs documents identifying the sponsor and documents clarifying the relationship. These documents should also be prepared consistently with the information on the form.

⚠️ Common mistakes when completing the nationality section

One common mistake is to write only the current nationality and omit a former nationality, even though the applicant previously held another nationality. Missing this information can make the file less transparent when it is cross-checked.

The second mistake is to write a nationality that does not match the passport. This may happen because of using an old document, using the place of birth, or confusing nationality with place of residence.

The third mistake is to complete the same answer for every member of the family. Each person needs their own nationality information, and should not share one answer for the whole group.

The fourth mistake is to complete the coded form by typing manually instead of selecting from the list. This may result in an incorrect code or nationality information that the system does not recognise accurately.

To reduce errors, take time to read the form again after completing it. Check the nationality section together with your full name, date of birth, place of birth, passport number and other personal information.

✅ Checklist for the nationality section before submitting

• ☐ You have correctly identified the applicant’s current nationality
• ☐ You have checked whether there is a former or other nationality to declare
• ☐ The nationality on the form matches your passport
• ☐ Each family member’s nationality is completed according to their own file
• ☐ For a coded form, nationality is selected from the list rather than typed manually
• ☐ You have re-read section 1.4 after printing the form
• ☐ Nationality information is consistent with the personal documents in the file

If you are unsure how to write a former or other nationality in your specific case, check your personal documents again and contact your consultant or the file-receiving authority for guidance under the current regulations.

Preparing a visa file requires care and patience. Writing each small piece of information correctly, including nationality, will make your file clearer and more trustworthy.

If you need support reviewing a Japan visa file for your family or yourself, please contact 0347674755 or visit https://paa.vn for further advice on preparing suitable documents.