A and B had not acquired Paraguayan nationality by birth under Paraguayan law and were thus stateless. When A was in the seventh grade, A wished to go to Australia for language training but had to give up because a passport could not be obtained. According to the statistics on residence provided by the Ministry of Justice, there were 1,976 people who had “Paraguay” on their foreigner residence cards at the end of December 2016.83 However, according to the Embassy of Paraguay in Japan, 44 children born in Japan were found to be stateless by a survey of Paraguayan residents in Japan conducted in October 2011. Also, based on the 2011 survey results, the Embassy doublechecked the birth registrations in March 2015, and found that 72 people were expected to be stateless.84 Among these individuals expected to be stateless, a significant number had “Paraguay” shown on their alien registration certificates and foreigner residence cards. The Embassy of Paraguay provides notices on its website that a child born in Japan from parents with Paraguayan nationality does not acquire Paraguayan nationality by birth in order to provide accurate information and to avoid misunderstandings in relation to a child’s acquisition of Paraguayan nationality.85 (2) Background The Constitution of Paraguay adopts the jus soli principle. A child born outside of Paraguay with a father or mother with Paraguayan nationality cannot become a Paraguayan national unless he or she becomes a permanent resident of Paraguay (Constitution of Paraguay, Article 146(3)). In order to acquire Paraguayan nationality, A and B must submit an application to the court of first instance in civil and commercial affairs in the jurisdiction of their residence in Paraguay and go through the procedure for acquiring nationality (Law No. 582/95, Articles 2 and 3). The court procedure usually takes six months to one year. 86 The parents of A and B have a job and family life in Japan and have no plans to permanently reside in Paraguay. A and B therefore have no plans to permanently reside in Paraguay and cannot obtain Paraguayan nationality. 83 The number of total foreign national residents, Statistics on Foreign National Residents, supra note 42. Among the 1,976 persons, the total number of persons with the status of residence of “Long-term resident”, such as spouses of Japanese nationals and permanent residents is 1,863; many of them are surmised to have Japanese origin. 84 Inquiry to the Consular Section, Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay in Japan (“Inquiry to Paraguay Embassy in Japan”), 31 March 2015. It is not known if there is any overlap between the “44” and “72” persons. 85 On the website of the Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay in Japan, the following statement is found in Japanese as well on acquisition of nationality: “It is not possible to acquire Paraguayan nationality for a child born outside of Paraguay from a father and/or mother with Paraguayan nationality, by submitting to this Embassy a registration of birth. (See the Constitution and Law No. 582/85 on Nationality)”. The Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay in Japan, “Miseinennitsuite [Regarding Minors]”, at http://www.embapar.jp/ja/sc/menores/#. 86 Inquiry to Paraguay Embassy in Japan, supra note 81. 45