¥10,000 – ¥30,000 per child per monthfrom age 0 through high-school graduation
Official name
National Child Allowance — 児童手当 (jidou teate)
Japan's universal monthly cash benefit for every child from birth until the end of the fiscal year in which they turn 18 (i.e., the March 31 following their 18th birthday — typically high-school graduation).
Under the October 2024 reform: (1) the previous income limits were completely abolished, (2) the upper age was extended from junior-high to high-school graduation, (3) the third-child counting now extends to age 22's March 31, and (4) payments are made 6 times a year (every 2 months) instead of the old 3 times. Apply within 15 days of birth or moving into Minato Ward, otherwise you may lose months of payments.PER CHILD PER MONTH
Ages 0 – under 3 (1st & 2nd child)
15,000JPY
Ages 3 – high school (1st & 2nd child)
10,000JPY
3rd child or later (any age)
30,000JPY
"3rd child" counts all children under age 22 (until the March 31 of their 22nd-birthday year), so a family with a 21-year-old college student, a 14-year-old, and a 5-year-old still qualifies the youngest as "3rd child" → ¥30,000/month.
ELIGIBILITY
Who can claim this
Resident in Minato Ward, raising the child
You must have a residence record in Minato Ward, and you must be the primary caregiver (生計を維持する者). Typically this is the parent with the higher income, but for international families this includes both Japanese and foreign nationals living in Minato.
No income limit (since October 2024)
Before R6.10, high-income households received a reduced "special benefit" or were excluded. That cap is now gone: every household with eligible children gets the full amount.
Child age limit
From birth until the end of the fiscal year (March 31) when the child turns 18. So if a child turns 18 in November, they remain eligible until March 31 of the following year.
Children living overseas (special rule)
Children studying abroad may still be eligible if (1) they were resident in Japan for at least 3 years before going abroad, (2) the parent applies through Minato. Check with the ward office for the latest detail.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
When do you receive the money?
6 times a year — every 2 months — to your designated bank account.
Payment months: February, April, June, August, October, December. Each transfer covers the previous 2 months. For example, the April transfer covers February + March. Example: A 1-year-old in a household with one child → ¥15,000/month × 2 = ¥30,000 deposited every 2 months.
HOW TO APPLY
Application process
First-time application: within 15 days of the child's birth or your move into Minato. Renewals are usually automatic but require a yearly status update (現況届) for some cases.
STEP 1 (within 15 days of birth/move)
Submit the initial application form to Minato Ward
Required: applicant's bank account info, My Number for both parents, the child's birth certificate (if newborn), and a copy of the parent's health insurance card (especially if national/employee insurance differs). Online application via Minato's portal is also possible.
STEP 2 (about 1 month later)
Receive the eligibility decision letter
Minato sends a confirmation letter to your address. Keep this; it is needed for the application of certain other benefits in Tokyo.
STEP 3 (next payment cycle)
First payment lands in your account
If you applied early in a 2-month cycle, you may receive the first deposit at the next payment month (Feb/Apr/Jun/Aug/Oct/Dec). Past months from the eligible date are paid retroactively only if you applied within 15 days; later applications lose months.
EVERY YEAR (June)
Status report (現況届) — only if Minato requests it
Most households now have automatic renewal via My Number; only special cases (separated parents, etc.) need to submit a yearly status report. Minato will send you a notice if needed.
Critical: the 15-day rule. If you apply more than 15 days after the eligibility-triggering event (birth, transfer-in, etc.), you lose the months between the trigger and the application month — these are not refundable. Submit as soon as possible after the birth certificate is filed, even if other documents (My Number for newborn) are not yet available.
FAQ
Common questions
How does this combine with Tokyo's "018" support?
They are separate benefits and stack. Child Allowance (national, this page) is ¥10,000–¥30,000/month. Tokyo's "018 Support" is an additional ¥5,000/month for residents under 18. Both must be applied for independently.
My family income is over ¥20,000,000. Are we still eligible?
Yes. Since October 2024, the income cap has been completely removed. All households receive the full amount based on child age and birth order.
My child is born outside Japan. Can I still apply?
Yes, as long as the child is registered as a Japanese resident (住民登録) or is a Japanese citizen. Minato will need the child's residence registration; this is created automatically when you file the birth certificate domestically. For overseas births, you must first complete the resident registration (transfer-in) for both parent and child.
When my child turns 18, when do payments stop?
Payments continue through the March 31 of the fiscal year of the 18th birthday. So a child turning 18 on April 1 receives almost a full extra year of payments; one turning 18 in March receives only one more month.
Foreign nationals — what extra documentation is needed?
Same baseline: residence registration (住民票) is the key document. You will also need to show the relationship between parent and child (birth certificate from your home country if not registered in Japan, or a Japanese family register record). My Number is required for the parent, but international families without My Number for newborns can still apply if Minato confirms residence registration.
SOURCES