Main Stages of Pregnancy and Childbirth in Japan for Foreign Couples: Procedures, Costs, Subsidies, and Child’s Nationality

Stage 1: Pre-Pregnancy and Pregnancy Confirmation

Key Tasks:

Health checkups and pre-pregnancy consultation for both partners
Pregnancy confirmation at a hospital or clinic

Estimated Costs:

Health checkup: ¥10,000–¥20,000 per person
Pregnancy confirmation test: ¥3,000–¥10,000

Subsidies:

Typically none (some companies may cover regular health checks)

Reason:

Early detection of health issues ensures a safer pregnancy and delivery.

Stage 2: Prenatal Care

Key Tasks:

Register at the local city/ward office and obtain the Maternal and Child Health Handbook
Regular prenatal checkups (about 14 times)
Attend prenatal classes and obtain a Maternity Mark badge
Purchase maternity and newborn supplies

Estimated Costs:

Prenatal checkups: About ¥100,000 (mostly covered by government vouchers)
Supplies for mother and baby: ¥50,000–¥100,000
Transportation, classes, etc.: About ¥10,000

Subsidies:

Prenatal checkup vouchers: Around ¥100,000 (varies by region)

Reason:

Regular checkups help detect complications early; classes provide scientific parenting knowledge and reduce anxiety; subsidies greatly reduce financial burden.

Stage 3: Delivery and Hospitalization

Key Tasks:

Choose and reserve a hospital or clinic for delivery
Prepare a hospital bag for delivery
Hospitalization and childbirth (natural or C-section)

Estimated Costs:

Vaginal delivery: National average ¥500,000; Tokyo and major cities about ¥620,000; local areas as low as ¥390,000
C-section or epidural: Additional ¥100,000–¥200,000
Hospital stay and miscellaneous: ¥20,000–¥50,000

Subsidies:

Childbirth Lump-Sum Allowance: ¥500,000 per birth (nationwide standard since 2023)

Reason:

Delivery is expensive, but the lump-sum allowance significantly reduces out-of-pocket costs. Some hospitals offer direct billing.

Stage 4: Postnatal Procedures and Early Childcare (Child’s Nationality and Residency for Foreign Couples)

1. Child’s Nationality

Japanese Law: If both parents are foreign nationals, the child does NOT acquire Japanese nationality at birth.
Child’s Nationality: The child will usually acquire the nationality of one or both parents according to their home country’s laws, by registering the birth with their embassy in Japan.

2. Required Procedures

Birth Registration: Within 14 days, file a birth notification at the local city/ward office (form available at the hospital; free of charge).
Obtain Birth Certificate: Get a birth certificate or certificate of acceptance from the city office (about ¥300–¥500 per copy), needed for embassy and immigration procedures.
Report Birth to Your Embassy and Apply for Child’s Passport: Usually costs ¥5,000–¥10,000, depending on the country.
Apply for Child’s Status of Residence (Visa): Within 30 days, apply at the immigration bureau with required documents (birth certificate, family residence record, parents’ residence cards, proof of income, etc.); no fee.
Receive Residence Card: After approval, your child will receive a residence card and become a legal resident in Japan.

Estimated Costs:

Birth certificate and related documents: About ¥1,000
Passport application: ¥5,000–¥10,000
Residence status application: Free
Translation, notarization, etc.: About ¥5,000

Subsidies:

No Japanese government subsidies for nationality or residency procedures.
After obtaining residency, the child is eligible for Japanese health insurance and local childcare subsidies (such as medical fee reductions and child allowance, amounts vary by region).

Reason:

Ensures your child’s legal status, access to healthcare, and eligibility for social benefits in Japan. Missing deadlines may result in your child being stateless or without legal residency.

Stage 5: Childcare and Ongoing Support

Key Tasks:

Postnatal health checkups and home visits (often free)
Apply for child allowance and daycare if needed

Estimated Costs:

Newborn supplies and first-year childrearing: About ¥500,000
Daycare fees: Varies by region and household income (subsidies available for low-income families)

Subsidies:

Child allowance, daycare subsidies, and other local benefits (amounts depend on region and family circumstances)

Reason:

After obtaining residency, your child can access Japanese social welfare, significantly reducing family financial pressure.

Can a Child of Foreign Parents Obtain Japanese Nationality?

Normal Circumstances: If both parents are foreign nationals, the child CANNOT automatically acquire Japanese nationality at birth.
Exception: Only in extremely rare cases (e.g., both parents are stateless or unknown, and the child is born in Japan) can Japanese nationality be granted.
Naturalization: The child may apply for Japanese citizenship (“kika”) after legally residing in Japan for at least 5 years, demonstrating basic Japanese language skills, a clean record, and stable finances. This process is complex, takes years, and typically costs upwards of ¥300,000 in legal and translation fees. Japan requires renunciation of previous citizenship.

Reason:

Japan follows the principle of jus sanguinis (nationality by blood), not jus soli (nationality by birthplace). Naturalization is possible but involves strict requirements and a lengthy process.

Summary Table

Stage	Key Tasks	Cost Estimate	Japanese Subsidies	Nationality/Status Notes
Pre-pregnancy	Health checkups, pregnancy confirmation	¥10,000–¥30,000	None
Prenatal Care	Checkups, classes, supplies	¥100,000–¥200,000	Checkup vouchers, support
Delivery	Hospitalization, delivery, C-section/epidural	¥400,000–¥700,000	¥500,000 lump-sum
Postnatal	Birth registration, passport, visa, documents	¥10,000–¥20,000	None	No Japanese nationality; can get residency
Childcare	Supplies, daycare, health checks	¥500,000+	Child allowance, daycare	Eligible for social welfare after residency

Important Reminders

Register your child’s birth within 14 days, apply for residency within 30 days, and report the birth to your embassy to avoid statelessness or lack of legal status.
Naturalization is possible after years of legal residency, but requirements are strict and the process is lengthy and costly.
Once your child has residency, they can access Japanese healthcare and childcare subsidies.

By following these steps and making timely applications, foreign couples can ensure their child’s legal status and access to Japan’s social support, even though automatic Japanese nationality is not available.