Birth of Children

If you and your spouse have a child in Japan, please be sure to follow the procedures outlined below.

Registration

1) Birth Notification

When your baby is born, you will need to register the birth at your local ward office within fourteen days. After you submit the birth notification to the municipal / ward office, a certificate of residence is issued to you.

Necessary documents;

1. Birth Certificate (Your doctor will fill out the right side of the certificate)
2. Your ‘Maternal and Child Health Handbook’

2）Enrollment in National Health Insurance

Enrollment can be completed when submitting birth notification at your municipal/ward office.

Necessary documents;

1. Your ‘Maternal and Child Health Handbook’
2. Insurance Card

3）Status of Residence

If your new-born baby will stay in Japan for more than sixty days, you must apply for a residency permit at your local Immigration Bureau within thirty days of the birth.
If you fail to apply for a residency permit by deadline the new-born baby is considered as illegal residual and the certificate of residence will be terminated.

Necessary documents;

1. Infant’s passport (or a document explaining the reason for not having a passport)
2. Application for Certificate of Eligibility
3. Certificate of acceptance of the birth registration issued from your local municipal / ward office.
4. Residence Cards of both parents
5. Passports of both parents
6. A photocopy of the Certificate of Residence or Certificate of Items Stated in Resident Register. If you submit Certificate of Residence or Certificate of Items Stated in Resident Register, you do not need to notify of your address at the municipal / ward office.
7. Certificates relevant to the parents’ status of residence (Certificate of Enrollment, Course registration etc.).

4）Passport: Please ask the embassy/consulate of your country for details.

Assistance Programs

1）Lump-Sum Birth Allowance

When a mother gave birth, a lump-sum birth allowance is available.

2）Infant Medical Assistance Program

Reductions on medical expenses for children up until they graduate from junior high school are available.
*There are income restrictions
*From April 2025, children up to the first March 31 after they turn 18 years old are eligible for the subsidy.

3）Child Allowance

Child allowances are available for children up until they graduate from junior high school.
*There are income restrictions

Please contact your local municipal/ward office for details of any further assistance available.