After Birth in Japan: Embassy Registration, Passport, and Nationality Deadlines

Information current as of March 2026 based on official embassy websites and Japanese immigration law. For a full pregnancy-to-childcare overview, see our complete guide to having a baby in Japan.

Step 1: Japanese birth registration (出生届) — within 14 days

This is the very first thing you must do, regardless of your nationality. The hospital will give you a 出生証明書 (shussei shoumeisho — birth certificate) filled out by the attending doctor. Take this to your local ward office (区役所 / 市役所) and submit the 出生届 (shussei todoke — birth notification).

What to bring:

• 出生届 form (available at the ward office or hospital)
• 出生証明書 from the hospital (attached to the 出生届 form)
• 母子手帳 (boshi techo — Mother and Child Health Handbook)
• Your residence card (在留カード)
• Your health insurance card
• Your personal seal (印鑑 / inkan) or signature

Deadline: 14 days from the date of birth (day of birth = day 1). If day 14 falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline extends to the next business day. Missing this deadline can result in a ¥50,000 fine (過料).

After filing, the ward office will issue a 出生届受理証明書 (shussei todoke juri shoumeisho — certificate of acceptance of birth notification). Request several certified copies — you'll need them for the embassy. For details on the baby's visa and residence status, see our guide to getting your newborn's Japan visa within 30 days.

Step 2: Report the birth to your embassy

Your baby does not automatically become a citizen of your country just because you are. Most countries require you to actively register the birth at your embassy or consulate in Japan. The process, timeline, and required documents vary by country.

United States

Apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) at the US Embassy in Tokyo or the US Consulates in Osaka, Naha, Sapporo, Fukuoka, or Nagoya.

• Appointment required: Yes — book online through the embassy website
• Both parents must appear in person with the child
• Fee: $100 (as of 2026)
• Documents: Japanese birth certificate (出生届受理証明書), parents' passports, parents' marriage certificate, evidence of US parent's prior physical presence in the US
• Recommended timeline: Apply as soon as possible after birth. The CRBA can be issued at any point before the child turns 18, but you need it to get a US passport

United Kingdom

Register the birth with the UK government through the online registration service.

• In-person visit: Not always required — much can be done online or by post
• Fee: £150 (standard), additional for certified copies
• Documents: Japanese birth certificate (with certified English translation), parents' passports, parents' marriage certificate
• Timeline: No strict deadline, but register before applying for a UK passport

Philippines

• Report of Birth at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate
• Deadline: Within 1 year (late registration after 1 year requires additional documents)
• Documents: Japanese birth certificate, parents' passports, marriage certificate, Report of Birth form

China

• Apply for a Chinese travel document (旅行证) for the child at the Chinese Embassy
• Both parents must appear in person
• If one parent is Chinese and one is Japanese, the child may be eligible for Chinese nationality under Chinese law — but Japan's 出生届 automatically registers the child as having the Japanese parent's nationality

Other nationalities

The process is similar for most countries: report the birth at your embassy or consulate in Japan, provide the Japanese birth certificate (with translation if needed), and apply for a passport. Check your embassy's website for specific requirements and fees. If you can't find the information in English, try calling and say: 子供が日本で生まれました。出生届の手続きについて教えてください (Kodomo ga Nihon de umaremashita. Shussei todoke no tetsuzuki ni tsuite oshiete kudasai) — My child was born in Japan. Please tell me about the birth registration procedure.

If dealing with multiple embassies and gathering translated documents feels overwhelming, you can post your question on LO-PAL for free — a local helper can assist with making phone calls to embassies, translating documents, or even accompanying you to appointments.

Step 3: Apply for your baby's passport

Your baby needs a passport from your home country. This is separate from the birth registration. In most cases, you can apply for the passport at the same embassy visit where you register the birth.

Country	Passport fee (approx.)	Processing time	Notes
United States	$135	4–6 weeks	Apply at embassy. Both parents must appear. Expedited service available for additional fee.
United Kingdom	From £56 (overseas rate)	3–8 weeks	Apply online after registering birth. Posted to your Japan address. Check gov.uk for current fees.
Philippines	¥3,200	4–8 weeks	Apply at embassy after Report of Birth is processed.
Brazil	¥7,000	2–4 weeks	Apply at consulate. Consular birth registration required first.
Vietnam	Varies	4–6 weeks	Apply at embassy. Birth registration certificate required.

Nationality and dual citizenship

Japan follows jus sanguinis (right of blood), not jus soli (right of soil). This means:

• If both parents are foreign nationals: Your baby does NOT receive Japanese nationality. The baby gets citizenship from the parents' country/countries.
• If one parent is Japanese: The baby automatically receives Japanese nationality at birth. The baby may also receive the foreign parent's nationality, resulting in dual citizenship.
• Dual citizenship for children of Japanese parents: Japan's Nationality Act requires individuals with dual nationality to choose one nationality before the age of 22. However, enforcement is minimal, and many dual nationals in practice retain both.

For families where both parents are foreign: Your child has zero claim to Japanese citizenship regardless of being born in Japan. Your child's nationality depends entirely on your home country's laws. Focus on embassy registration and getting the baby's passport and Japan residence status.

Complete timeline after birth

Deadline	Action	Where
Within 14 days	Submit 出生届 (birth notification)	Ward office (区役所 / 市役所)
Within 15 days	Apply for 児童手当 (child allowance) — 15-day special provision	Ward office
Within 14 days	Enroll baby in health insurance	Ward office (NHI) or employer (Shakai Hoken)
Within 30 days	Apply for baby's 在留資格 (residence status)	Immigration bureau
ASAP	Register birth at embassy	Your home country's embassy/consulate
ASAP	Apply for baby's passport	Your home country's embassy/consulate
ASAP	Apply for baby's My Number Card	Ward office or online

Related articles

• Having a Baby in Japan? Every Step Foreign Parents Need to Know
• How to Get Your Newborn's Japan Visa Within 30 Days
• Japan Child Allowance After October 2024: No Income Cap
• My Number Card for Foreigners in Japan

Get Help With Embassy Paperwork and Translations

Coordinating between the Japanese ward office, immigration bureau, and your home country's embassy — all while caring for a newborn — is one of the most stressful experiences for foreign parents in Japan. Post your question on LO-PAL for free: a local Japanese helper can make calls, prepare documents, and accompany you to government offices. You only pay when you accept task help.