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What procedures are needed when a child is born in Japan?

Foreigners Employment Support Organization (FESO) / Published  / Last updated

This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original(日本語版を読む)

Answer

What you have to do is not a 在留届. It is 2 things: a 出生届 at the city or ward office, and a 在留資格取得許可申請 at the 地方出入国在留管理局. There are set deadlines: the 出生届 within 14 days of birth, and the 在留資格取得許可申請 within 60 days of birth.

What is this enquiry about?

A person with 在留資格「家族滞在」 (Dependent) who has given birth in Japan asks what procedures are needed.

What do I do first?

Within 14 days of birth, file a 出生届 at the city or ward office for the place where the child was born.

When your child is born in Japan, you must file a 出生届 at the city or ward office for the place where the child was born, within 14 days. This is an essential procedure that officially records that the child was born in Japan.

What you generally need to bring

If you miss the deadline, you may be asked to submit a 理由書 (written explanation), so please complete the procedure within the deadline. City and ward offices may also ask for documents other than those above, so we recommend checking in advance.

Where do I file the status of residence procedure?

Within 60 days of birth, file a 在留資格取得許可申請 at the 地方出入国在留管理局.

Once the 出生届 has been accepted and your child's 住民票 (residence record) has been created, the next step is to obtain a status of residence for the child. Normally, based on the parent's status of residence (家族滞在), you file a 在留資格取得許可申請 at the 地方出入国在留管理局.

This application has to be made within 60 days of the day the child was born in Japan.

Documents generally needed for the application

Please check the website of the 出入国在留管理庁 for the latest application forms. Depending on the reason for the application and your family's circumstances, documents other than those above may be needed, so we recommend checking in advance with the 地方出入国在留管理局 that covers your area.

What is a 在留届?

A 在留届 is filed by Japanese nationals living abroad with the Japanese embassy or consulate-general there, and it is not needed in this case.

A 在留届 is a notification of an address and contact details, filed by a person living abroad with the Japanese embassy or consulate-general there. Its main purpose is to allow the embassy or consulate-general to make contact in order to protect Japanese nationals if an incident, an accident or a disaster happens abroad.

So for a child born in Japan, filing a 在留届 with the Japanese embassy or consulate-general in the home country is, as a rule, not necessary.

What happens if I do not complete these procedures?

If you do not file the 在留資格取得許可申請 within 60 days, your child may end up staying in Japan unlawfully.

If the 在留資格取得許可申請 is not filed within 60 days of the day the child was born in Japan, that child may end up in a state of unlawful residence. This may affect their residence in Japan in future, as well as leaving and re-entering the country, so please complete the procedure within the deadline.

Filing the 出生届 and filing the 在留資格取得許可申請 are procedures with different bodies, and the deadlines are set separately. It is reassuring to remember it as the 出生届 within 14 days, and the 在留資格取得許可申請 within 60 days.

Related reading: What do I do about the status of residence when a baby is born in Japan?

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to file a 在留届 when my child is born in Japan?

As a rule, no. A 在留届 is filed by a person living abroad with the Japanese embassy or consulate-general there. For a child born in Japan, you file a 出生届 and a 在留資格取得許可申請.

By when, and where, do I file the 出生届?

Within 14 days of birth, at the city or ward office for the place where your child was born. If you miss the deadline, you may be asked to submit a 理由書.

What is the deadline for the 在留資格取得許可申請?

Within 60 days of the day your child was born in Japan. You file it at the 地方出入国在留管理局 that covers your area.

What happens if I miss the 60-day deadline?

Your child may end up in a state of unlawful residence. This may affect their residence in Japan in future, as well as leaving and re-entering the country, so please complete the procedure within the deadline.

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This article provides general information. Immigration rules change, and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Please check the Immigration Services Agency website or consult a qualified specialist.
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.