Having a baby in Japan: money, paperwork, and offices to know

Having a baby in Japan usually means coordinating several different offices, not just one “baby benefits” desk. Your ward or city office handles pregnancy notification, the Mother and Child Health Handbook, many post-birth procedures, Child Allowance, local medical subsidies, and daycare. Your health insurer handles the childbirth lump-sum and may handle maternity allowance. Your employer and Hello Work are usually involved in maternity leave, childcare leave, and childcare leave benefits. Tokyo families may also need to check Tokyo-only support such as 018 Support and Baby First. (Bosei Navi)

The quick money and paperwork map

Before birth: ward office, handbook, and hospital costs

Pregnancy Notification (妊娠届)

After pregnancy is confirmed, notify your municipality. MHLW’s Bosei Navi explains that the pregnant person must notify the municipality promptly, and that the municipality issues the Mother and Child Health Handbook. It also notes that procedures vary by municipality. (Bosei Navi)

Ask your ward office:

妊娠届を出したいです。母子健康手帳と妊婦健診の受診票について教えてください。 “I would like to submit a pregnancy notification. Please tell me about the Mother and Child Health Handbook and prenatal checkup coupons.”

Mother and Child Health Handbook (母子健康手帳)

The Mother and Child Health Handbook is a continuous record for pregnancy, birth, infancy, and early childhood. The Children and Families Agency publishes handbook-related information and support materials. (Children and Families Agency)

For foreign or bilingual families, ask whether your ward has foreign-language versions. Shinjuku City, for example, says foreign-language handbooks are available in languages including English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Portuguese, Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Nepali. (Shinjuku Foreign City)

Ask your ward:

外国語版の母子健康手帳はありますか。英語の案内もありますか。 “Is there a foreign-language Mother and Child Health Handbook? Is English guidance available?”

Prenatal checkup coupons

Prenatal checkup coupons and usable facilities are local. Shinjuku City, for example, says it provides prenatal checkup coupons with the Mother and Child Health Handbook and notes that checkups before the handbook is issued are not subsidized under that local system. (Shinjuku City)

Do not assume Shinjuku’s details apply to your ward. Confirm with your ward office.

Hospital and childbirth cost estimate

Japan’s childbirth costs vary by facility. MHLW’s Birth Navi is an official tool for searching childbirth facility costs and services, and it is available in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean. (出産なび‐厚生労働省)

Ask your hospital or clinic:

分娩費用の見積もりをください。出産育児一時金の直接支払制度は使えますか。 “Please give me an estimate of childbirth costs. Can I use the direct payment system for the childbirth lump-sum?”

Money around childbirth

Childbirth and Childcare Lump-Sum Payment (出産育児一時金)

MHLW explains that if you are enrolled in Japanese public medical insurance at childbirth and the birth is at 4 months of pregnancy, or 85 days, or later, you may be eligible for Childbirth and Childcare Lump-Sum Payment, generally ¥500,000 per child. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

Many facilities use the direct payment system (直接支払制度). In that route, the insurer pays the lump-sum directly to the facility, and you pay any remaining difference if the facility cost is higher. If the facility cost is lower, you may receive the difference from your insurer. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

MHLW says the application deadline is within 2 years from the day after childbirth. It also says details and documents vary by insurer: employee health insurance users should ask their insurer, and National Health Insurance users should ask the municipal NHI counter. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

Ask your insurer:

出産育児一時金の対象になる可能性がありますか。直接支払制度と差額申請の手続きを教えてください。 “May I be eligible for the childbirth lump-sum? Please tell me how the direct payment system and any difference claim work.”

Pregnant Support Benefit (妊婦のための支援給付)

The Children and Families Agency explains that the Pregnant Support Benefit combines consultation support during pregnancy and childrearing with economic support, and that the former childbirth/childrearing support grant project has been implemented as a legal system from FY2025. (Children and Families Agency)

The official Children and Families Agency leaflet shows support of ¥50,000 after pregnant-benefit certification and ¥50,000 × the number of babies after reporting the number of babies, with application to the municipality where your resident record is held. (Children and Families Agency)

Ask your ward:

妊婦のための支援給付について、申請時期、必要書類、現金かクーポンかを教えてください。 “Please tell me the application timing, required documents, and whether the Pregnant Support Benefit is paid in cash or coupons.”

Tokyo Baby First

Tokyo’s childbirth and childrearing support page says that for children born on or after April 1, 2025 whose address at birth is in Tokyo, Tokyo Baby First may provide a gift card for child-raising goods and services. Tokyo also says it can be applied for together with 018 Support after birth. (Tokyo Welfare Bureau)

Before publishing or acting, confirm the current product catalog, amount, application deadline, and portal flow on the official Tokyo page or portal.

Leave and work-related money

Maternity leave (産前産後休業)

MHLW explains that prenatal leave is 6 weeks before birth, or 14 weeks for multiple pregnancy, if requested. Postnatal work is generally prohibited for 8 weeks after birth, with a limited exception after 6 weeks if the worker requests and a doctor approves. MHLW also says maternity leave applies to all female workers regardless of full-time, part-time, or dispatch status. (Bosei Navi)

Ask HR:

産前産後休業の開始日と社内申請期限を教えてください。 “Please tell me the start date and internal application deadline for maternity leave.”

Maternity Allowance (出産手当金)

Maternity Allowance is different from maternity leave. Kyokai Kenpo explains that an insured person who takes leave for childbirth and has no wages may receive maternity allowance for eligible days from 42 days before birth, or 98 days for multiples, through 56 days after childbirth. Kyokai Kenpo’s daily formula is average standard monthly remuneration over the previous 12 months ÷ 30 × 2/3. (Kyōkaikenpo)

This is an insurer-side benefit. If you are not with Kyokai Kenpo, ask your own health insurer.

Ask HR and your insurer:

出産手当金の対象になる可能性はありますか。会社記入欄と健康保険への提出方法を教えてください。 “May I be eligible for maternity allowance? Please tell me how the employer section and submission to health insurance work.”

Childcare Leave Benefit (育児休業給付金)

Childcare Leave Benefit is an employment-insurance benefit. MHLW explains that it generally requires being insured by employment insurance, taking childcare leave to care for a child under age 1, having enough qualifying wage-base months, and staying within work and wage limits during leave. The amount is generally wage daily amount × eligible days × 67% through 180 days, then 50%, with caps and reductions. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

MHLW directs childcare-leave-benefit inquiries and procedures to the Hello Work office with jurisdiction over the employer or workplace, and notes that exact payment dates cannot be answered by the call center. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

Ask HR:

育児休業給付金について、会社がどの書類をいつ準備しますか。管轄のハローワークはどこですか。 “For childcare leave benefit, which documents will the company prepare and when? Which Hello Work office has jurisdiction?”

If daycare non-admission affects leave extension

From April 2025, MHLW changed procedures for childcare leave benefit extension when daycare non-admission is involved. MHLW says the process checks whether the daycare application was made for prompt return to work and may require documents such as an extension-reason declaration, a copy of the daycare application, and the no-admission notice. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

This is a high-risk area for timing and documentation. Confirm with HR, your ward’s daycare office, and Hello Work before relying on any plan.

After birth: ward office and Tokyo paperwork

Birth notification (出生届)

Toshima City, as a Tokyo ward example, says the birth notification period is within 14 days including the birth date. It lists the submission destination as the municipality of the notifier’s location, the child’s legal domicile, or the child’s birthplace, and required items include the birth notification form with doctor or midwife certification and the Mother and Child Health Handbook. (Toshima City)

Ask your ward:

出生届、児童手当、子どもの医療費助成について、出生後に必要な手続きを教えてください。 “Please tell me the required post-birth procedures for birth notification, Child Allowance, and child medical subsidy.”

Child Allowance (児童手当)

The Children and Families Agency says Child Allowance covers children from age 0 through the first March 31 after they reach 18. Children and Families Agency lists monthly amounts of ¥15,000 for children under 3, ¥10,000 from age 3 through high-school age, and ¥30,000 for the third and later child. (Children and Families Agency)

After birth or moving municipalities, apply to the current municipality. If birth or moving happens near month-end, Children and Families Agency’s 15-day special rule can preserve payment timing when you apply within 15 days from the day after birth or transfer. Public servants apply through their employer. (Children and Families Agency)

Ask your ward or employer:

児童手当はどこに申請しますか。出生後15日以内の扱いについて確認したいです。 “Where do I apply for Child Allowance? I want to confirm the 15-day rule after birth.”

Tokyo 018 Support

Tokyo 018 Support continues in FY2026. Tokyo says eligible children are aged 0 through the first March 31 after reaching 18, have or had an address in Tokyo during FY2026, and there is no income limit. The amount is ¥5,000 per month, up to ¥60,000 per year, based on eligible resident months. (Tokyo Welfare Bureau)

Tokyo lists FY2026 scheduled payments in August 2026 for April–July, December 2026 for August–November, and April 2027 for December–March. (Tokyo Welfare Bureau)

Child medical subsidies in Tokyo

Tokyo has child medical subsidy frameworks, including infant/young child medical subsidy and high-school-age medical subsidy. Tokyo’s pages make clear that municipal rules such as income limits and copay handling can vary, and application is through the municipality. (Tokyo Welfare Bureau)

Ask your ward:

子どもの医療費助成の対象、自己負担、申請書類を教えてください。 “Please tell me the eligibility, copay, and required documents for child medical subsidy.”

Residence status and nationality caution

This article does not provide immigration advice. The Immigration Services Agency says that a foreign national born in Japan who will stay in Japan for more than 60 days must apply for acquisition of residence status within 30 days of the event. (Ministry of Justice Japan)

Foreign or multinational families should confirm their family’s specific case with the Immigration Services Agency, their embassy or consulate, and the ward office.

Who handles what?

What to ask in Japanese

Ward office

妊娠届を出したいです。母子健康手帳と妊婦健診の受診票について教えてください。 I would like to submit a pregnancy notification. Please tell me about the Mother and Child Health Handbook and prenatal checkup coupons.

出生後に必要な手続き（出生届、児童手当、医療費助成）を教えてください。 Please tell me the required procedures after birth: birth notification, Child Allowance, and medical subsidy.

外国語版の母子健康手帳や英語の案内はありますか。 Are foreign-language Mother and Child Health Handbooks or English guides available?

HR

産前産後休業と育児休業の申請期限・社内書類を教えてください。 Please tell me the application deadlines and internal forms for maternity leave and childcare leave.

出産手当金や育児休業給付金に必要な会社記入欄・賃金証明の手続きはどう進めますか。 How do we handle employer sections and wage certificates for maternity allowance and childcare leave benefit?

私は雇用保険・健康保険の対象ですか。 Am I covered by employment insurance and health insurance?

Health insurer

出産育児一時金の直接支払制度は使えますか。差額がある場合の手続きは何ですか。 Can I use the direct payment system for the childbirth lump-sum? What is the procedure if there is a difference?

出産手当金の対象になる可能性がありますか。必要書類と提出先を教えてください。 May I be eligible for maternity allowance? Please tell me the required documents and where to submit them.

Hospital or clinic

分娩費用の見積もりと直接支払制度の利用可否を教えてください。 Please tell me the childbirth cost estimate and whether direct payment is available.

出生証明書や入院費の明細はいつ受け取れますか。 When can I receive the birth certificate section and hospital fee statement?

Hello Work

育児休業給付金について、私の勤務先を管轄するハローワークはどこですか。 For childcare leave benefit, which Hello Work office has jurisdiction over my workplace?

保育所に入れなかった場合の延長手続きに必要な書類を確認したいです。 I would like to confirm the documents needed for extension procedures if my child is not admitted to daycare.

Bilingual glossary

Next-action checklist

1. Confirm your ward or municipality.
2. Ask the ward office about Pregnancy Notification (妊娠届), Mother and Child Health Handbook (母子健康手帳), prenatal coupons, and language support.
3. Ask your hospital for childbirth cost estimate and direct payment availability.
4. Ask your insurer about Childbirth and Childcare Lump-Sum Payment (出産育児一時金).
5. Ask HR about maternity leave, childcare leave, wage certificates, and whether employment insurance applies.
6. Ask your insurer about Maternity Allowance (出産手当金), if relevant.
7. Ask HR and Hello Work about Childcare Leave Benefit (育児休業給付金), if relevant.
8. After birth, ask the ward about birth notification, Child Allowance, child medical subsidy, and daycare timing.
9. If in Tokyo, check 018 Support and Baby First on official Tokyo pages.
10. If your child’s nationality or residence status needs confirmation, contact Immigration Services Agency, your embassy or consulate, and the ward office.