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When Your Baby Is Born

When your baby is born, there are several procedures, such as a birth registration, health insurance, and the Child Allowance.

When your baby is born, there are several procedures, such as a birth registration, health insurance, and the Child Allowance.

If your baby has foreign nationality and plans to live in Japan for more than 60 days, they will also need to obtain a residence status.

A birth registration must be filed within 14 days of the birth.
A birth registration must be filed within 14 days of the birth.

Birth registration

When your baby is born, submit a birth registration (shussho todoke) to your city, town, or ward.

If the birth takes place in Japan, submit it within 14 days from the day of birth.

Check with the hospital where you gave birth or your municipality about the documents you need.

A list of the main procedures to check after a baby is born (birth registration, health insurance, residence status, child allowance, vaccinations).
A list of the main procedures to check after a baby is born (birth registration, health insurance, residence status, child allowance, vaccinations).

Health insurance

Complete the procedures for the health insurance your baby will use.

Where you go for this depends on which health insurance you are enrolled in.

How a baby joins health insurance depends on the family's work situation.
How a baby joins health insurance depends on the family's work situation.

Child Allowance

An application is required to receive the Child Allowance.

Apply to your municipality within 15 days from the day after the birth.

If you are a public servant, the procedure is done through your workplace.

Even if you submit the birth registration to a different municipality — for example, where you are staying with family after giving birth — you still need to apply for the Child Allowance separately, at the municipality where you actually live.

Residence status for babies with foreign nationality

If a baby with foreign nationality plans to live in Japan for more than 60 days after birth, apply for permission to acquire residence status within 30 days from the day of birth.

Check with the regional immigration services bureau responsible for where you live.

In some cases — for example, if you leave Japan within 60 days of the birth — the application is not required.

Does your baby with foreign nationality plan to live in Japan for more than 60 days?

Plans to live more than 60 days

Check the application for permission to acquire residence status

For example, leaving Japan within 60 days of birth

The application may not be required in some cases

Where you complete health insurance procedures depends on which insurance you are enrolled in. For notifications to your home country, check with the embassy or consulate based on nationality.

Infant checkups and vaccinations

Your municipality will send information about checkups and vaccinations for your baby.

Check that your address and contact information are correctly registered.

Notifying your home country

You may need to notify your home country's embassy or consulate about your baby's nationality, passport, and similar matters.

Check with your own country's embassy or consulate.

What you can check next

  • Infant checkups, vaccinations, and the Child Allowance
  • Health insurance in Japan
  • Basics of residence status and Residence Cards
  • Nursery schools, Certified Centers for Early Childhood Education and Care, and kindergartens

Main places to check

  • Your municipality
  • Children and Families Agency
  • Immigration Services Agency
  • Your country's embassy or consulate

Last checked: August 2026