In Japan child allowance is a social security payment which is distributed to the parents or guardians mainly. In 2010, Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party introduced child-raising support payments called “kodomo teate.” And these payments replaced a previous child support system and were intended to combat the country’s low birthrate by making it easier for families to raise children in Japan. As you already know Japan number of old people in Japan is drastically high, and on the other hand child birth now is very low, therefore this new system has been somehow helped to increase number, though only slightly. Later Japanese government revised child allowance system - law in late 2011, changing payment amounts and eligibility requirements.

In general, parents or guardians, doesn’t matter foreign or Japanese, residing in Japan with their children. The parent with highest income should apply for it at the ward/ city halls where address is registered. Presently, the amount for child allowance is fixed.
From Oct 1, 2011:
* ¥15 000/month for each child under three
* ¥10 000/month for the first two children three or older who haven’t finished elementary school;
* ¥15 000/month for the third or later child in that age range
* ¥10 000/month for junior high school students
If you’re eligible, your local government office will calculate payments from the following month. However, it is not paid on monthly basis but paid every other 4 months together. Foreigners with kids who are also eligible to apply, must have Japanese bank account, and present bank account details when applying for it. Ward office/city hall requires every applicant to provide copy of the bank, mainly first page, where it shows bank account number and etc.
Documents required when applying:
Application form (available at government offices)
Bankbook or other proof of your bank account information
Your health insurance card or pension book
Your personal seal, if you have one.
We do always recommend our foreign clients to apply for child allowance, as it starts to be paid from the time of application, not from the time of arrival in Japan. Procedure itself does not take much time, however, without knowing Japanese it is hard to apply without a translator, or people like us who do provide different foreign support alongside with other relocation services.
As an additional information please note that The Child Allowance Act stipulates that in order to properly implement child and child care support prescribed in Article 7, paragraph 1 of the Law for Supporting Children and Child Care (Law No. 65 of 2012), parents are asked about the primary concerning child rearing Under the basic awareness of having a responsible right, by providing child allowance to those who are raising children, which contributes to the stability of life at home, as well as the healthy growth of children (Article 1). In view of the purpose that child allowances are paid to achieve this objective, those who received child allowance must use this pursuant (Article 2).
"Child" in the Child Allowance Act is a person who is between the date of reaching the age of 18 and the first March 31 and has an address in Japan or a reason stipulated by a Cabinet Office Ordinance, etc. Means not having an address in Japan (Article 3). "Children entering a facility" means those who conduct small-scale residential-type child care business prescribed in the Child Welfare Act (Act No. 164 of 1952) or children entrusted to foster parents prescribed in the same Act (short-term (Excluding those who have been entrusted with a disabled child (within two months)), admission handling facilities for disabled children, designated developmental support medical institutions, infant schools, disabled support facility, Nozomi garden, rescue facility, rehabilitation facility or women's protection facility (Hereinafter referred to as "disabled child entry facility, etc.").
Normally, parents of the children will receive an allowance, but if both parents do not support the child, allowances will be paid to those who are under minor guardians or who are raising children on their behalf. If the beneficiary needs to live in the country and there are circumstances such as studying abroad and both parents living abroad together, which of parents should be the beneficiary of child allowance, live together If there is a person who has one, priority is given to the person living with him, and if it is not decided yet, a person who is high in maintaining the living of the child is a recipient. Children who are entrusted to child welfare facilities or entrusted to foster parents receive facility heads or foster parents. In this case there is no income limit. If a person receiving child allowance dies before receiving the child allowance, the child himself can receive benefits (Article 12).