Baby Visa In Japan

In my years serving as an immigration lawyer, I have assisted many Japanese and foreign families in obtaining permission (permission to enter/stay in Japan is required for your baby/child) for their children under the age of 18 to come to Japan for short-term visit. If you are interested in obtaining permission for your children to live in Japan permanently when the Baby is older, please ask us about Special Permanent Residence for the Child.

The number of foreign pregnant women coming to Japan is steadily increasing. This is due to a sharp increase in foreign spouses, as well as a growing number of foreign women married to Japanese citizens giving birth; in addition, a large number of married couples who have had one child born in Japan are coming back to give birth to their second child.

Some countries follow the principle that nationality should be determined by place of birth, regardless of the parents’ nationality. Here in Japan, the principle is that nationality should be determined by the parents’ nationality. For example, if the parents are both American a new born baby’s nationality is American.

If you are both non-Japanese, expecting a baby in a couple of months, it would be wise to be aware of what processes you need to follow for the baby to be legally registered in Japan. This is quite tiring paper work, especially at one of the busiest times in your life!

1. Birth Report / Registration

If one of the parents is a Japanese national, the baby automatically becomes a Japanese national. If both parents are non-Japanese, the baby needs to get a status of residence to live in Japan. But either way, the first thing you have to do is to submit the application form for a Birth Report to a city / ward office which deals with the area in which you live within 14 days after the baby has been born.

In order to register the birth of your baby, you have to prepare:

1. The application form for a Birth Report ( Shussei todoke ) and Birth Certificate ( Shussei shoumei sho )
   * This is actually one sheet of paper. One side will be filled out by the doctor / midwife about your baby, the other side is for the parents to fill out things such as your name, baby’s name, address etc.
2. Mother and Child Health Handbook ( Boshi kenkou techou )
3. National health insurance card ( Kenkou hoken sho )
4. Both parents’ Passport and Residence Card
   * If you have a hanko ( your name stamp ), please take it with you.

When you prepare these, take them to a city / ward office in your area and once it is accepted, please get the certificate of acceptance of Birth Report ( Shussei todoke juri shoumei sho ).