Terms of Use

1. Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, installing, or using the Naturalize Japan iOS app, or by accessing the Naturalize Japan web app at naturalizejapan.com, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use either platform.

These Terms constitute a binding legal agreement between you ("User") and the developer of Naturalize Japan ("Developer", "we", "us").

2. Description of the Service

Naturalize Japan is a personal organization and reference tool designed to assist individuals in tracking their Japanese naturalization (帰化申請) application journey. Both the iOS app and web app provide:

• A residency progress tracker based on user-entered dates
• A personal document checklist
• A phase-based application timeline
• Milestone-based reminder alerts counting down to your target application date
• Sample templates, guides, and educational reference materials related to the naturalization process

The web app additionally provides a user account with cloud-synced profile and Pro status, powered by Firebase. The iOS app stores all data locally on your device with no account required.

The Service is intended to supplement — not replace — professional immigration advice.

3. Disclaimer — Not Legal Advice

The information, content, templates, guides, checklists, and materials provided in the App are for general informational purposes only. Nothing in the App constitutes legal, immigration, or professional advice of any kind.

In particular:

• Naturalization requirements and procedures may change. Always verify current requirements directly with the 法務局 (Legal Affairs Bureau).
• Document requirements vary by individual circumstances, nationality, prefecture, and specific 法務局 office. The checklists in the App are general guides only.
• Translation formats shown in the App are examples only and may not satisfy all requirements of every 法務局 office.
• The timeline and milestone alerts are based on a general model and may not apply to your specific situation.

Always consult a qualified 行政書士 (gyoseishoshi — administrative scrivener), 弁護士 (attorney), or accredited immigration consultant for advice tailored to your individual circumstances.

4. Accounts and Authentication Web App only

Accessing the web app's personalized features requires creating an account using a valid email address and password, managed by Google Firebase Authentication. The iOS app does not require an account. You are responsible for:

• Providing accurate information when creating your account
• Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• All activity that occurs under your account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or are used in a fraudulent or abusive manner.

To request deletion of your account and associated data, email us at naturalizejapan.contact@gmail.com. We will process the request within 30 days.

5. License to Use

Subject to your compliance with these Terms, we grant you a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable, limited license to access and use the Service through a supported web browser, solely for your personal, non-commercial purposes.

You may not:

• Copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works of the App or its content
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract the source code of the App
• Use automated tools (bots, scrapers) to access or extract content from the App
• Share, sell, or sublicense access to your account or Pro features
• Use the App for any commercial purpose without our written permission
• Remove any copyright, trademark, or proprietary notices from the App

6. Pro Upgrade and Payments

One-Time Purchase

The Pro upgrade is a one-time, non-recurring payment that permanently unlocks Pro features. There are no subscriptions or recurring charges.

What Pro Unlocks

The Pro upgrade unlocks access to all templates, sample documents, and advanced guide content. The specific features included are described within the App at the time of purchase.

Payment Processing Web App — Stripe

On the web app, payment is processed by Stripe, Inc. You will be redirected to Stripe's secure hosted checkout. We do not store your payment card details. By completing a purchase, you also agree to Stripe's Terms of Service.

Payment Processing iOS App — Apple

On the iOS app, payment is processed entirely by Apple through the App Store in-app purchase system. All payment terms, billing, and refund requests are governed by Apple's App Store policies. We have no ability to process payments or refunds directly on iOS.

Refunds

Web App: Due to the digital nature of the product, all sales are final. If you experience a technical issue preventing access to Pro features after a confirmed payment, contact us at naturalizejapan.contact@gmail.com and we will resolve it promptly.

iOS App: Refund requests must be directed to Apple through the App Store.

Restore Access

Web App: Pro access is tied to your account and restored automatically when you sign in. If you experience any issue accessing Pro features after a confirmed purchase, contact us at naturalizejapan.contact@gmail.com and we will resolve it promptly.

iOS App: Use the "Restore Purchase" option within the app to restore your Pro access using the same Apple ID used for the original purchase.

Price Changes

We reserve the right to change the price of the Pro upgrade at any time. Changes will not affect purchases already completed.

7. Acceptable Use

You agree to use the App only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You agree not to:

• Use the App in any way that violates applicable Japanese, local, national, or international laws or regulations
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the App or its backend services
• Manipulate URL parameters, API calls, or client-side state to bypass payment verification or unlock Pro features without a valid purchase
• Use the App to store or transmit harmful, fraudulent, or illegal content
• Interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of the App or its infrastructure
• Attempt to access another user's account or data

8. User Data and Privacy

By using the App, you grant us a limited license to store and process the personal data you enter for the sole purpose of providing the Service to you. We do not sell, share, or use your data for any purpose beyond operating the Service.

Your use of the App is also subject to our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Please read it carefully — it explains what data is collected, where it is stored (on-device for iOS; Firebase/Firestore and browser local storage for the web app), and your rights regarding that data.

You are responsible for the accuracy of the information you enter into the App. We are not responsible for incorrect calculations resulting from inaccurate user-entered data.

9. Intellectual Property

The App, including its design, code, content, guides, templates, text, icons, and all other materials (excluding user-entered personal data), is the intellectual property of the Developer and is protected by applicable copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

The templates, guides, and sample documents provided in the App are original works created for educational reference. You may use them for your own personal naturalization application but may not redistribute, sell, or publish them.

"Naturalize Japan" and associated logos are the property of the Developer. Nothing in these Terms grants you any right to use our trademarks.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE APP IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ACCURACY, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We do not warrant that:

• The App will be uninterrupted, error-free, or always available
• The information in the App is accurate, complete, current, or suitable for your specific situation
• The App will produce a successful naturalization outcome
• The templates and guides meet the requirements of every 法務局 office in Japan
• Cloud-stored data (Firebase/Firestore) will never be lost due to third-party service failures

Naturalization requirements are determined solely by the Japanese Ministry of Justice and individual 法務局 offices. We have no affiliation with the Japanese government.

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE DEVELOPER BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH:

• Your use of or inability to use the App
• Reliance on any information, template, guide, or content provided in the App
• Any immigration decision, application outcome, or government action
• Loss of data due to browser clearing, account deletion, or third-party service failures (web app: Firebase/Stripe; iOS app: device failure or app deletion)
• Any unauthorized access to or alteration of your account or data

Our total liability to you for any claim arising from these Terms or your use of the App shall not exceed the amount you paid for the Pro upgrade (if any).

12. Changes to the Service and Terms

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the App (or any feature thereof) at any time without notice. We may also update these Terms at any time. We will indicate the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.

Your continued use of the App after any changes to these Terms constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, stop using the App.

13. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable laws. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be resolved through good-faith negotiation. If resolution cannot be reached, disputes shall be submitted to the competent courts of the jurisdiction in which the Developer is established.

14. Contact

If you have any questions about these Terms, requests regarding your account or data, or issues with Pro access, please reach out to us.