Birth Registration (出生届)

You are legally required to register your baby's birth within 14 days at the municipal office. This creates a family register entry (Japanese nationals) or resident record (foreign nationals), and the baby's My Number will be mailed afterward.

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Documents needed

✓Birth Notification Form (Shussho-todoke — issued by the hospital/midwife with birth certificate attached)

✓Maternal and Child Health Handbook (Boshi Kenkou Techo)

✓Notifier's ID (My Number Card, passport, etc.)

✓Notifier's Residence Card or Special Permanent Resident Certificate

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Steps

After birth, obtain the Birth Notification Form (with birth certificate attached) from the hospital or midwife

Within 14 days, submit the form in person at the municipal office of the child's registered domicile, the notifier's address, or the place of birth

If you bring the Maternal and Child Health Handbook, ask the staff to record the birth details

Once accepted: Japanese children are registered in the family register (koseki); foreign children are registered in the resident record (jumin-hyo)

A few weeks later, the baby's My Number notification will be mailed to your address

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Important notes

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The office accepts submissions 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (use the guard desk or after-hours window on nights and holidays) — though the review happens the next business day

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Many municipal offices handle child allowance (jido-teate), medical subsidy, and health insurance enrollment in the same visit

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Nationality: If both parents are foreign nationals, the child cannot acquire Japanese nationality. If one parent is Japanese, the child is automatically Japanese (covered by this registration)

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A foreign-national child who plans to remain in Japan beyond 60 days after birth must apply for a status of residence within 30 days of birth — see the separate 'Residence Status for Foreign-Born Child' procedure

🔗 Related procedures

Child Allowance Application (児童手当)

A monthly government allowance paid to parents raising children from birth through high school. Apply within 15 days from the day after birth (15-day special rule) — missing the deadline delays payments by one month. Applying on the same day as birth registration is strongly recommended.

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Child Medical Expense Subsidy (子ども医療費助成)

Your local municipality subsidizes out-of-pocket medical costs for children. Once the baby's health insurance card or Certificate of Qualification (資格確認書) arrives, apply as soon as possible to receive a 'Child Medical Certificate' (Kodomo Iryo-sho). Coverage age limits and benefit levels vary by municipality.

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Residence Status Application for Foreign-Born Child

A child born in Japan to foreign-national parents (who does not acquire Japanese nationality) and who plans to remain in Japan beyond 60 days after birth must apply for permission to acquire a status of residence within 30 days of birth. Complete birth registration first, then apply at the Immigration Services Agency promptly.

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