How to Obtain a Japanese Birth Certificate: An Easy Guide

There are a few important times when you need your birth certificate for yourself, your child, or other purposes.

This guide will help you understand the steps to receive a Japanese birth certificate. 

What is a Japanese birth certificate?

When someone is born in Japan to at least one Japanese parent, that child will have a birth certificate. 

The Japanese birth certificate must be submitted to your municipal office to be certified and legal.

Why do you need a Japanese birth certificate?

There are a couple of instances where a Japanese birth certificate is required, such as:

• Applying for passports or visas

• Registering for school

• Marriage and other legal purposes

• Immigration processes

• Proving citizenship

How to get your Japanese birth certificate

Japan does not have a traditional birth certificate. Instead, the documents below would suffice as a Japanese birth certificate. 

• Family register (戸籍謄本, koseki tohon): An official document that notes births, deaths, marriages, and family members in Japan. This document is available only if one or both parents are Japanese.

• Birth notification acceptance certificate (出生届受理証明書, shusshō todoke juri shōmei-sho): a government record that the birth certificate has been accepted and registered.

• Certificate of Birth Report (出生届記載事項証明書, shusshou todoke kisai jiko shomei-sho): Another government record that proves your child's birth is registered.

You can request these documents at your local city office; however, verify which document is required.

For any Japanese child born abroad, you will need to update your koseki tohon. Please consult your Japanese Embassy and consult for more specifics.

Registering for a Japanese birth certificate

If you plan on giving birth in Japan, you must take a few steps to ensure your child is properly registered.

This guide will walk you through the process.

Why register a birth in Japan?

Registering your child's birth in Japan is necessary for various legal and administrative purposes, such as obtaining a passport, enrolling in school, and proving citizenship.

You register your child’s birth in Japan by submitting their birth certificate to a government office.

Special cases for children of foreign parents

For children born to one Japanese parent or foreign parents, there will be additional steps:

1. Registering your child's birth with the foreign parent's Embassy: Each has a different birth certificate registration process. Check their respective websites for more information.

2. Dual citizenship consideration: Your child can obtain Japanese citizenship up to the age of 22 if one parent is Japanese. However, if you are considering dual citizenship for your child, you can apply for that by going to the foreign parent's Embassy. 

How to register your child’s birth in Japan

When a child is born in Japan, different steps vary depending on their parent's citizenship:

• When both parents are foreign citizens in Japan: complete steps 1 through 4.

• When one parent is Japanese and the child will have Japanese citizenship: only complete steps 1 and 2.

• If you are considering dual citizenship for your child: complete steps 1, 2, and 4.

1. Fill out the birth registration form

A filled-out example of the Notification of Birth (Shusshou Todoke) from Japan's Ministry of Justice.

You will receive a birth registration form after giving birth in Japan.

The left side is the birth notification (出生届, shussei todoke), which the parents will fill.

The right side is the proof of birth (出生証明書, shussei shoumei sho), which will be filled out at the hospital.

The right side will most often be already filled out, and the left side will be filled out at home.

2. Submit the birth registration form at your municipal office 

Image via Kanagawa International Foundation

Once you complete the birth registration form, you have 14 days to register your child's birth at your Japanese municipal office.

At the same time, you can apply for a child allowance, have your child covered by Japan's national health insurance, etc., at the relevant counters. 

You will need to bring:

• Notification of birth (出生届, shussei todoke)

• Maternal and Child Health Handbook (母子健康手帳, boshi kenko techo)

• Passports of both parents (父と母のパスポート

• Residence Card of the person submitting the document (届出人の在留カード)

There are other requirements from the municipal office, so check your local municipal requirements. 

For immigration purposes, you should request a Certificate of Acceptance of Notification of Birth (出生届受理証明書, shusshō todoke juri shōmei-sho).

For embassy purposes, request the previously mentioned document or a Certificate of Birth Report (出生届記載事項証明書, shusshou todoke kisai jiko shomei-sho).

Confirm with your Embassy or consulate which specific certificate is required.

3. Apply for Japanese residence

Application For Permission To Acquire Status of Residence application form.

Your child's Japanese residence status will differ depending on your current visa status in Japan.

In general, if your status of residence is one of the following, your child's status will correspond as listed:

Information taken from Kanagawa International Foundation

You will need to apply for your child's residency at the immigration office within 30 days of your child's birth. There will be no handling fee.

You will need to bring:

• Permission to Acquire Status of Residence application form (PDF )

• Questionnaire form (PDF )

• Birth notification acceptance certificate (出生届受理証明書, shusshō todoke juri shōmei-sho)

• Resident Certificate (jumin hyo): all household members, including the newborn child.

• Your child's passport (from your home country's Embassy or consulate) or a receipt showing their passport is being processed (Statement example ).

• Taxation Certificate (kazei shomeisho): issued within 3 months

• Certification of Tax Payment (nozei shomeisho): issued within 3 months

• Documents proving the person's occupation supporting the child: employment certificate or a certified copy of the company registry (tokibo tohon), etc.

• Letter of Guarantee: This form is only submitted when one parent has PR, is a spouse or child of a Japanese national, is a permanent resident, or is a long-term resident (PDF ).

• Residence card and passport of the person supporting the child

4. Register your child’s birth for your home country

Always confirm the birth registration documents with your home country's Embassy and consulate. 

In general, you should prepare:

• Birth (abroad) registration application

• Passport application

• Proof of child's birth: koseki tohon, shusshou todoke juri shomeisho, or shusshou todoke kisai jiko shomeisho (English translated if needed)

• Married certificate 

• Proof of parent's citizenship 

You can check if there is a consultation with an administrative lawyer to help you collect and complete the necessary documents.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a copy of my birth certificate in Japan?

You can get two forms from your city hall or municipal office: the shusshō todoke juri shōmei-sho (the Birth Notification Acceptance Certificate) and the shusshou todoke kiasi jiko shoes (the Certificate of Birth Report).

Do Japanese have a birth certificate?

Japan does not have a standard birth certificate. Most Japanese people use their koseki Tohon, a family registry, as their birth certificate. 

What happens if a US citizen gives birth in Japan?

When a foreigner gives birth in Japan, if they are not married to a Japanese person, their child will not receive Japanese citizenship. For citizenship purposes, the foreigner will need to file a report with their home country's Embassy in Japan to receive their respective citizenship.

In closing

While there isn't a typical Japanese birth certificate, as there are other forms that Japanese people use, knowing how to register your child's birth in Japan and the other steps help lessen the mental burden of all the paperwork needed in Japan.

For specific details and forms, please refer to your municipal offices about birth certificates and your home country's Embassy and consult on registering your child's birth abroad.