Expecting in Japan? This easy guide explains your babyโs citizenship options, how Japanโs nationality law works, and the exact steps and deadlines (14/30/60 days) to secure a status of residence, a koseki (for Japanese citizens), and documents for smooth everyday life.
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Citizenship by parent, not by birthplace. In Japan, a child is Japanese if either parent is Japanese at the time of birth (with narrow special cases). Japan does not grant citizenship just because the child is born in Japan.
If both parents are foreign nationals, the baby is not Japanese. You must register the birth at city hall within 14 days, and if the baby will stay in Japan longer than 60 days, you must apply to Immigration within 30 days for a status of residence.
Out-of-wedlock recognition is covered. If a Japanese parent recognizes the child (acknowledges paternity/maternity), the child can acquire Japanese nationality by notification (generally up to age 20).
Dual nationality for children. If your child holds more than one nationality, Japan requires a โchoice of nationalityโ later (normally by age 20 if the multiple nationality existed before age 18, or within two years if acquired after age 18).
Japanese citizen babies go on the koseki. A koseki (family register) is the official proof of Japanese nationality and family ties; it is created/updated after birth registration.
If a Japanese parent recognizes the child (acknowledges paternity or maternity), the child can acquire Japanese nationality by notification to the Minister of Justice. This path is available for children under 20 provided conditions in the Nationality Law are met.
This area has been shaped by court rulings to remove discrimination against children born out of wedlock, reinforcing access to nationality where a Japanese parent has recognized the child.
Children often hold multiple citizenships from birth. Japan requires people with more than one nationality to choose:
If multiple nationalities exist before age 18 (e.g., from birth), choose by age 20.
If multiple nationalities are acquired on/after age 18, choose within two years of acquiring the additional nationality.
Japanโs official guidance also notes that if a person declares the choice of Japanese nationality but cannot immediately renounce the foreign one, they should strive to do soโthis is a practical nuance to know.
Use this table as your quick checklist after birth in Japan.
Deadline
What to do
Where
Key documents
Why it matters
Within 14 days
Submit Birth Notification (ๅบ็ๅฑ)
Your city/ward office (ๅธๅฝนๆ/ๅบๅฝนๆ)
Hospital birth certificate (doctorโs statement), form for birth registration, parentsโ IDs/residence cards
Creates the official record of birth. For Japanese citizens, it updates/creates the koseki; for foreign citizens, it records birth in the resident system.
Within 30 days
Apply for โPermission to Acquire Status of Residenceโ (if your baby is not a Japanese citizen and will stay in Japan)
Regional Immigration Services Bureau
Application form, babyโs passport or proof of nationality from consulate (if available), parentsโ passports/residence cards, juminhyo (resident record), tax/employment docs depending on status
Without this, the baby has no status; if staying beyond 60 days, the baby would overstay unless status is granted.
By day 60
Status granted or baby leaves Japan (for non-Japanese babies)
Immigration Bureau / international travel
โ
If the baby remains in Japan beyond 60 days without a granted status, itโs treated as an overstay. Act early.
Ongoing
Register the birth with your home country (if you want your baby to hold your nationality, passport, etc.)
Your embassy/consulate in Japan
Documents vary by country; often birth certificate copies from city hall
Needed for the babyโs foreign passport and recognition by your country.
Tip: When you register the birth at city hall, you can usually request a Birth Registration Acceptance Certificate and a Certificate of Recorded Matters for the birth notificationโembassies often ask for one or both.
If your baby is a Japanese citizen
What happens right after birth
Submit the Birth Notification within 14 days at your city/ward office. The baby is then entered on the koseki (family register) of the Japanese parent.
The koseki is the official proof of Japanese nationality and family relationships. You can obtain koseki-derived certificates for passport and other procedures.
Passport: Apply for a Japanese passport at your prefectural passport office/passport center using the appropriate certificates. (Exact documents can vary by prefecture.) The U.S. Embassyโs primer explains kosekiโs role as Japanโs authoritative family record.
If your baby holds another nationality as well, remember Japanโs choice of nationality rules later on (usually by age 20 if multiple nationality existed before 18). Keep records from both countries to make the future process simple.
When both parents are foreign nationals, your newborn does not receive Japanese nationality simply by being born here. You must secure a status of residence if the baby will stay longer than 60 days.
Step-by-step to get your baby a status of residence
Register the birth at city hall (within 14 days). Get copies of the acceptance/record certificates for embassy and Immigration use.
Report the birth to your embassy/consulate. Obtain or start the process for the babyโs passport (or proof of nationality).
Apply to the Immigration Services Bureau (within 30 days). The application is called โPermission to Acquire Status of Residenceโ. This process allows a baby born in Japan to obtain the correct status for living here.
Understand the 60-day rule. If your baby will leave Japan within 60 days, you generally do not need to apply. If your baby will stay, apply within 30 days so the status can be issued in timeโstaying beyond 60 days without status counts as overstay.
Most common when neither parent is PR or Japanese. Work is restricted for dependents (older children may need permission to work limited hours).
Permanent Resident (PR) or Long-Term Resident (LTR)
Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident (sometimes PR is possible in Japan-born cases, but check with ISA)
Requirements vary; many families choose โSpouse or Child of PR.โ Consult Immigration for your situation.
Spouse or Child of Japanese National (held by the non-Japanese parent)
Baby is Japanese because the other parent is Japanese; register the birth in the koseki
Status planning depends on each parentโs visa. Confirm with ISA.
Important: The Immigration Services Agency decides the appropriate status case-by-case. Always confirm the latest rules with your local bureau.
Documents youโll likely need at Immigration
Application for Permission to Acquire Status of Residence (ISA form)
Babyโs passport (or embassy proof of nationality if the passport is pending)
Parentsโ passports and residence cards
Resident record (ไฝๆฐ็ฅจ) listing the household (get it from city hall)
Proof of the supporterโs situation, such as employment certificate and recent tax certificates (whatโs required varies by status)
Pro tip: Bring extra copies of the birth registration acceptance and recorded matters certificates from city hall; many embassies and officers ask for them.
Understanding koseki, passports, and the residence card
Koseki (family register) applies only to Japanese citizens. It records identity and family ties and is the public proof of Japanese nationality.
Passports are issued by each country. A Japanese citizen baby applies for a Japanese passport; a foreign citizen baby applies at their parentsโ embassy/consulate.
A Residence Card (ๅจ็ใซใผใ) is the ID for foreign residents in Japan. For babies who acquire a status domestically, the card is issued after Immigration approves the application. Adults 16+ must carry it at all times.
Your baby is Japanese at birth. File the birth notification within 14 days at city hall; your baby will be added to the koseki. Then apply for a Japanese passport if you plan to travel. If your baby also acquires your countryโs nationality, note the future โchoice of nationalityโ requirement.
2) Both parents are on work visas (no PR)
Your baby is not Japanese. File the birth registration at city hall within 14 days and apply at Immigration within 30 days for Permission to Acquire Status of Residence, aiming for a Dependent status. Make sure the status is issued before day 60 if the baby will stay in Japan.
3) One parent is a Permanent Resident
Many families choose โSpouse or Child of Permanent Resident.โ Some cases may pursue PR for a Japan-born child, but requirements and timing are strictโconfirm directly with Immigration for your case.
Do we really have only 14 days to register the birth?
Yes. The Birth Notification must be submitted to your city or ward office within 14 days of birth (count the day of birth). Late filings can cause problems for later steps.
Our baby is not a Japanese citizen. Can we wait and apply later?
If your baby stays in Japan beyond 60 days without a status of residence, that is treated as an overstay. Apply to Immigration within 30 days of birth if the baby will remain in Japan.
What if a Japanese parent recognizes the baby after birth?
Children under 20 whose Japanese parent acknowledges paternity/maternity can acquire Japanese nationality by notification, as long as the legal conditions are met. Consult your city hall and the Ministry of Justice for the process and documents.
My child will have two nationalities. When do they need to choose?
Japan requires people with multiple nationalities to chooseโby age 20 if they had multiple nationalities before turning 18; within two years if they acquire another nationality at or after 18.
Whatโs the koseki, and why is it important?
For Japanese citizens, the koseki is the official record of identity and family relationships from birth to death. Itโs also the public document proving Japanese nationality; youโll often use koseki certificates for passports and other procedures.
Do we need to report the birth to our embassy?
If the baby will hold your countryโs nationality or you need a foreign passport, yesโyou should report the birth to your embassy/consulate in Japan, which often requires Japanese documents from city hall.
Can our baby travel while the status application is pending?
International travel generally requires a passport. If your non-Japanese baby will depart Japan within 60 days, a residence status is not required; but you still need a passport issued by your country. If the baby will stay, apply promptly for status.
Step-by-step checklist you can copy
At the hospital: Get the doctorโs birth certificate and the form for the Birth Notification.
At city/ward office (within 14 days): File the Birth Notification and request extra copies of the acceptance and recorded-matters certificates.
For Japanese citizen babies: Confirm the koseki entry and apply for a Japanese passport if needed.
For non-Japanese babies: Visit your embassy/consulate for nationality/passport steps.
Immigration (within 30 days if staying): Apply for Permission to Acquire Status of Residence, and confirm the right category (Dependent, Spouse/Child of PR, etc.).
By day 60: Ensure status is granted (or depart Japan).
After approval: Collect the Residence Card (for foreign babies), update resident records, and add the baby to health insurance.
File Birth Notification (14 days) โ baby is added to koseki โ apply for Japanese passport if traveling. If baby also has another nationality, remember the future โchoiceโ rule.
Both parents are foreign nationals
No
File Birth Notification (14 days) โ apply at Immigration within 30 days for Permission to Acquire Status of Residence โ ensure status is granted before day 60 if staying.
Parents unknown/stateless; child born in Japan
Yes (special case)
File Birth Notification and consult your city hall/Immigration for documentation supporting Article 2(iii) of Nationality Act.
Common mistakes to avoid
Waiting too long. Donโt miss the 14/30/60 timelineโlate action can risk overstay and complicate insurance and benefits.
Assuming birthplace confers citizenship. Japan does not grant citizenship based on birthplace alone.
Not preparing embassy paperwork. Many embassies need specific city hall certificates; order extra copies during your first visit.
Final thoughts
Having a baby in Japan is joyfulโand the paperwork can be straightforward when you know the rules. Focus on the 14/30/60 timeline, understand whether your child is Japanese under the Nationality Act, and choose the proper status of residence if needed. Keep copies of city hall certificates, and talk to both Immigration and your embassy early if anything is unclear. Youโve got this.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
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