Japan Childbirth Lump Sum (出産一時金): How to Claim ¥500,000 as a Foreign Resident

Japan Childbirth Lump Sum (出産一時金): How to Claim ¥500,000 as a Foreign Resident

If you give birth in Japan while enrolled in Japanese health insurance, you are entitled to a lump-sum payment of ¥500,000 (出産育児一時金, shutsusan ikuji ichijikin). This applies to foreign residents on the same basis as Japanese nationals.

The payment is substantial — roughly half the average cost of childbirth at a normal hospital in Japan — and yet many foreign residents miss out because they do not know about it, apply incorrectly, or receive it via the wrong channel.

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What Is the Childbirth Lump Sum?

The 出産育児一時金 (shutsusan ikuji ichijikin) is a payment from your health insurance fund to cover the cost of childbirth. It was increased from ¥420,000 to ¥500,000 in April 2023 as part of the Japanese government's effort to address declining birth rates.

¥500,000 is the standard amount. There are no income thresholds, residency length requirements, or nationality conditions beyond the insurance enrollment requirement.

A related payment, 出産手当金 (shutsusan teate-kin, maternity leave allowance), is separate and only available to employees enrolled in shakai hoken (company health insurance) — not covered in this guide.

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Who Is Eligible

You qualify for the childbirth lump sum if:

1. You are enrolled in Japanese health insurance — either:
   • Shakai hoken (社会保険) — employer-based insurance, or
   • Kokumin kenko hoken (国民健康保険, NHK) — national health insurance (ward-based)
2. The birth occurs at a hospital, clinic, or midwife center in Japan (or overseas in some circumstances — see below)
3. The pregnancy reaches at least 12 weeks (85 days) gestation, including cases of stillbirth or miscarriage at that stage

Foreign residents on any valid visa status who are enrolled in health insurance qualify. Enrollment in health insurance is mandatory for registered residents in Japan.

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How the Payment Works: Two Methods

Method 1: Direct Payment (直接支払制度) — Recommended

In most cases, the hospital or clinic where you give birth arranges for the lump sum to be paid directly from your insurer to the hospital. This is the standard system at most medical institutions.