Sharing all the experience of giving birth in Japan

| Author of the article: Ms. Phuong Hoa

Pregnancy and childbirth are significant milestones in a woman's life, and they can be quite challenging for foreigners in Japan. When I gave birth to my first child in Japan, I was filled with anxiety and uncertainty due to language barriers. The paperwork was overwhelming and complex, especially without family nearby to help, and my husband was extremely busy with work.

But luckily both times I gave birth, everything went smoothly and easily. To help you imagine more easily, I would like to share all of my experiences in giving birth through this article.

Source: Shutter stock

1. Procedures Before and During Childbirth

a) During Pregnancy

• When you first discover you're pregnant, contact the nearest clinic for confirmation. Depending on the clinic, you may or may not be able to register to give birth there. In my case, the clinic wasn't equipped for deliveries, so they referred me to a hospital.
• One important note is that in Japan, you cannot directly contact a hospital for prenatal care. Therefore, initially, you need to contact a clinic that provides prenatal services. The clinic will then provide you with a referral letter, and only with this referral letter can you register for regular prenatal check-ups and give birth at a hospital.

b) Tips for Giving Birth

• Prioritize choosing a hospital close to where you live for convenience. If possible, you should choose a hospital with both obstetrics and pediatrics departments. This makes it easier for post-natal check-ups for both the mother and the baby, as well as for the baby's vaccinations.
• Once you're certain you're pregnant, visit your local administrative office to submit a pregnancy notification form (妊娠届 - ninshin todoke). After this, the local office will provide you with a Mother and Child Health Handbook (母子健康手帳 - boshi kenko techo). This handbook is used to record the mother's health check results during pregnancy, document the birth process, track the baby's growth and development, and keep a record of the baby's vaccinations. Additionally, you'll receive vouchers for prenatal check-ups when receiving the handbook. This is why regular prenatal check-ups are crucial for both the mother and the baby!

Source: Huggies

2. Procedures After Childbirth

a) Registering the birth and obtaining a passport for your child at your country’s Embassy/Consulate in Japan

• If you want to receive an original birth certificate, I recommend registering the birth at your country’s Embassy in Japan first. In my case, I registered my child's birth with the local Japanese authorities first, so I only received an extract of the birth certificate from my country’s Embassy in Japan.
• To obtain this birth certificate, the embassy will require you to provide the original birth certificate issued by the hospital, and they will not return it. My advice is to request two original copies of this birth certificate from the hospital, as the ward office will also keep one when you register the birth there.

b) Registering your child's birth at the Japanese administrative office

• Deadline: Within 14 days after birth
• Registration location: Local government office (区役所 - kuyakusho). Typically, you'll receive the registration form from the medical facility where you gave birth. After submitting the birth registration (出生届 - shussei todoke), you can also register for a Resident Record (住民票 - juminhyo) and obtain a Birth Registration Acceptance Certificate (出生届け受理書 - shussei todoke juri-sho).
• Tip: You'll need the Resident Record (住民票) and Birth Registration Acceptance Certificate (出生届け受理書) later to register your child's birth at your country's Embassy in Japan and to apply for your child's visa at the Immigration Department. Therefore, I recommend requesting 2-3 copies of each document.

c) Necessary allowances & procedures after childbirth

*Medical Allowance for Children

• You will receive detailed instructions when you register your child's birth at the Ward Office (区役所 - Kuyakusho). This document can be obtained on the same day and at the same place where you register your child’s birth in Japan. It is a free medical examination certificate for your child (医療券 - Iryouken), which can be used at hospitals and medical facilities.

*Monthly Child Allowance

• Deadline: Within 15 days after birth. This is a monthly allowance provided for children. From birth to 3 years old, the allowance is 15,000 yen/month. From 3 years old until elementary school, the allowance is 10,000 yen/month for the first and second child, and 15,000 yen/month for the third child onward. From elementary school to junior high school, the allowance is 10,000 yen/month.
• Registration Location: Ward Office (区役所 - Kuyakusho). Typically, the allowance is paid every 4 months.

*Registering health insurance for your child

• Deadline: Within 1 month after childbirth, but it’s recommended to register as soon as possible.
• Registration Location: Ward Office (区役所 - Kuyakusho).

*Applying for your child's visa at the immigration bureau

• Deadline: Within 1 month after birth.
• Location: Each region has its own immigration office. Search for "入国管理局 + [Your Region]" to find the relevant office.
• Tip: It's advisable to select the parent with the longer residence status as the guarantor since the child’s visa duration will typically match the guarantor's residence status.

The article above shares my personal experiences of giving birth in Japan. I hope it will be helpful for mothers currently preparing for childbirth in the Land of the Rising Sun!