Q: I'm pregnant. I heard that I can receive some money when I give birth to my baby. What should I do? What will my baby's status of residence be?

 

A: First, please go to the hospital and get a pregnancy certificate, then go to the local municipal health center to have your Maternal and Child Health Handbook issued. Once the Maternal and Child Health Handbook is issued, you will be eligible to receive various services regarding childbirth and child-rearing.

When your child is born, you can receive a Childbirth Lump-Sum Allowance. You can apply for the allowance at the medical institution where you give birth.

 

When your child is born, you will receive a Birth Certificate from the hospital. You must submit the Birth Notification to the local municipal office within 14 days following the child's birth.

You also have to apply for Permission to Acquire Status of Residence of the child at the Immigration Services Bureau within 30 days from the birth of your child. Documents required for the application are: (1) Application for Permission to Acquire Status of Residence form, (2) Questionnaire form, (3) Certificate of Acceptance of Notification of Birth, (4) Resident Certificate where all members of the household are described including the newborn child, (5) Child's passport, (6) Taxation Certificate for resident tax and Tax Payment Certificate of resident tax of the parent, (7) Certificate of Employment of the parent, (8) Residence Card and passport of the parent, ((9) Letter of guarantee). Depending on the status of residence of the parent(s), the child's status of residence differs. Please contact the Immigration Services Bureau (0570-013-904) for more information.

Then, you must register the birth of the child in the country of the parent's nationality. Since Japan is a country that values jus sanguinis, even if your child is born in Japan, the child is not given Japanese citizenship. You need to report the birth of the child to the parent's home country and obtain the child's citizenship.

 

• Nagoya Minato-ku Child-rearing Chart (English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese, Nepali, Urdu, Thai)

＜The Procedures from the Start of Your Pregnancy Until Just After Birth＞

https://www.city.nagoya.jp/minato/page/0000136318.html

＜After the Baby is Born＞

https://www.city.nagoya.jp/minato/page/0000136327.html

 

• Chikusa Ward Child-rearing Support Guide (English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Nepali)

https://www.city.nagoya.jp/chikusa/page/0000140247.html

 

• Parenting in Japan～From pregnancy to enrolling in elementary school～, Kanagawa International Foundation

This website is operated by an organization in Kanagawa Prefecture. It provides easy-to-understand explanations in multiple languages about what to do when a child is born.　

https://www.kifjp.org/child/threeprocedure_jpn