Child Nursing and Related Leave in Japan: Eligibility, Days, Pay, and Urgent Requests

Eligibility extends through the end of elementary grade three

The scheme covers workers raising a child through completion of the third year of elementary school. It is available to fathers as well as mothers. Workers employed on a daily basis are excluded.

Part-time and arubaito labels do not automatically exclude someone. A labour-management agreement may, however, exclude workers whose scheduled working days are two or fewer per week.

From April 2025, the eligible age range expanded from children below elementary-school age to children through completion of elementary grade three. The provision allowing a labour-management agreement to exclude workers with less than six months of continuous employment was also abolished. Being a recent hire does not by itself make this leave unavailable.

These conditions differ from the conditions for receiving annual paid leave. If care is needed shortly after joining, ask HR about eligibility and the application procedure.

Five days for one eligible child, ten for two or more

The statutory allowance is up to five days per leave year for one eligible child, or ten days in total for two or more. Three children do not create a fifteen-day entitlement. For multiple eligible children, the worker uses the shared allowance as needed.

Unless the employer specifies another leave year, it runs from April 1 to March 31. Confirm the balance and renewal date because some employers use a calendar year or another period.

An employer may offer more days or broader eligibility. Distinguish the statutory scheme from additional company childcare leave when reading the work rules.

Covered reasons include more than illness

Infection-related closures and the specified ceremonies were added in April 2025. Not every school event qualifies. Sports days, classroom observation, and elementary-school graduation ceremonies are not automatically statutory grounds. Unless company rules extend coverage, discuss annual paid leave or another arrangement.

Describe the actual reason rather than assuming any school-related appointment is covered.

Leave can be taken by the day or in one-hour units

The scheme allows whole-day leave and one-hour units. Hourly leave normally means a continuous period from the start of work or a continuous period ending at the end of work.

The law does not universally require an employer to allow leaving in the middle of the working day and returning afterward. Employers may provide more flexible arrangements, including such mid-day absences.

A labour-management agreement may exclude hourly use for duties that are difficult to perform in hourly segments. That does not automatically remove access to whole-day leave.

For a morning medical appointment, explain the hours needed from the start of the shift and the expected arrival time. If the child's condition may change, make clear that the return time is an estimate and agree on how to report changes.

Payment depends on the employer's rules

There is no universal statutory requirement to pay wages during this leave. Whether it is paid or unpaid depends on the employer's work rules and related arrangements. Eligibility for leave and payment for the absent hours are separate questions.

If it is unpaid, ask payroll how deductions are calculated, including hourly absences. Do not assume a particular daily or hourly deduction formula without checking the rules.

This leave is separate from annual paid leave. Requesting child nursing and related leave does not automatically reduce your annual paid leave balance. If you prefer to request annual paid leave because of the income effect, clearly identify the leave category in the application. See the annual paid leave guide.

For an urgent illness, contact the employer first

For urgent cases, oral notification followed by written paperwork is an accepted arrangement. Do not delay contact simply because advance notice was impossible.

1. State that you are requesting child nursing and related leave and explain the qualifying reason.
2. Give the requested day or hours and the expected return, as far as known.
3. Discuss how you can be contacted and who can receive urgent handovers.
4. Confirm the application form and any necessary supporting information.

For example: “My child has a fever, so I would like to take one day of child nursing and related leave today. I will update you about tomorrow after the appointment. Today's deadline materials are in the shared folder.” You do not need to promise to maintain a normal workload while providing care.

This is a different scheme from ordinary advance applications for annual paid leave. For that process, see the guide to annual leave application deadlines.

If the allowance is running out

Discuss annual paid leave, additional company leave, or an agreed absence before the statutory allowance is exhausted. A different category does not automatically take over.

Checking the eligible child, leave year, balance, pay rules, hourly arrangements, and emergency contact in advance makes an urgent request easier to handle.

_{Sources: MHLW: Child nursing and related leave · MHLW: Revised Child Care and Family Care Leave Act leaflet · MHLW glossary: Payment and leave rules · MHLW: Overview of the Act, printed page 40}