Children, School, and Family Procedures Guide for Foreign Residents in Japan

A simple guide to school, nursery school, child allowance, pregnancy, childbirth, Japanese support at school, and family procedures.

children school Japan foreignernursery school Japan foreignerchild allowance Japan foreignerJapanese support school

Vietnamese / 简体中文
Vietnamese and Simplified Chinese guides are available for Children, school, and family.

Foreign families with children may need to handle school, nursery school, child allowance, medical support, pregnancy, childbirth, and letters from school. If parents are not confident in Japanese, it can be hard to reach support quickly.

This page organizes articles about children and family life in Japan. Keep school and city office letters, and ask early if you cannot understand them.

Read by situation

Start with the situation closest to yours.

Your child enters or changes school

Check enrollment notices, transfer procedures, school supplies, lunch, events, and parent-teacher meetings. Ask about Japanese language support if needed.

You want to use nursery school

Nursery applications have city office rules and deadlines. You may need documents about work, income, and family situation.

You worry about money for children

Child allowance, medical subsidies, school expense support, and scholarships may help. Do not ignore payment problems.

You are pregnant or giving birth

Pregnancy notification, maternal and child health handbook, childbirth support, and city office services are important.

English articles

Start here if you want to read in English first.

Important Japanese articles

These linked articles are in easy Japanese.

Japanese article

外国人が日本で保育園を申し込むときの流れ

外国人 保育園 申し込み 日本について、日本で生活する外国人向けにやさしい日本語で説明します。必要な手続き、持ち物、相談先、公式情報の見方をまとめました。

Japanese article

外国人が日本で妊娠・出産するときの手続き

外国人 妊娠 出産 手続き 日本について、日本で生活する外国人向けにやさしい日本語で説明します。必要な手続き、持ち物、相談先、公式情報の見方をまとめました。

Japanese article

学校で日本語支援を相談する方法を説明します

学校 日本語支援 外国人 子どもについて、子どもの日本語や授業について心配な外国人の保護者向けにやさしい日本語で説明します。必要な確認、相談先、よくある質問もまとめています。

Related Japanese articles

Use these articles when you need more detail.

Related

就学通知書が届いたときの確認を説明します

就学通知書 外国人について、子どもが小学校・中学校に入る外国人の保護者向けにやさしい日本語で説明します。必要な確認、相談先、よくある質問もまとめています。

Related

保育園申込みの書類をやさしく説明します

保育園 申込み 書類 外国人について、保育園に申し込みたい外国人の保護者向けにやさしい日本語で説明します。必要な確認、相談先、よくある質問もまとめています。

FAQ

Short answers to common concerns.

My child does not speak much Japanese. What can I do?

Consult the school about Japanese language support. Some areas have support classes or interpreters.

What if I cannot pay school costs?

Consult the school or city office. School expense support may be available depending on the situation.

What should I do first after pregnancy is confirmed?

Visit a hospital and ask your city office about pregnancy notification and the maternal and child health handbook.