Free preschool education and childcare（幼児教育・保育の無償化）

Preschool education and childcare has been made free as of October 1, 2019. Eligibility will be for children in classes for 3 to 5 year olds and children in classes for 0 to 2 year olds from households that are exempt from paying municipal residents' tax. This measure has been taken in light of the important role preschool education plays in children's formative years, as well as to lessen the financial burden of raising and educating children, a measure to help address Japan's low birthrate.

(Children and Families Agency) Page outlining free preschool education and childcare（外部サイト） (available in multiple languages)

1 Child who qualifies for free preschool education or childcare
→Please refer to "3 List of facilities in Yokohama City which qualify for free preschool education and childcare" on this page.
2 Accredited kindergartens and other facilities
→Please refer to "4 Application procedures for approval"on this page.
3 City of Yokohama shall cover payment upon receiving an invoice from guardians or facility
→Please refer to "5 How the subsidy is paid out" on this page.

・Classes for 3 to 5 year olds
　Eligible
・Classes for 0 to 2 year olds from households that are exempt from paying municipal residents' tax
　Eligible

Education
・Classes for 3 to 5 year olds
　Eligible
・3 year old children (children up until the first March 31 from the day they turned 3 years of age)
　Eligible
・3 year old children from households that are exempt from paying municipal residents' tax (children up until the first March 31 from the day they turned 3 years of age)
　Eligible

After-hours childcare
・Classes for 3 to 5 year olds
　Eligible (*)
　(Upper limit of 11,300 yen a month)
・3 year old children (children up until the first March 31 from the day they turned 3 years of age)
　Not eligible
・3 year old children from households that are exempt from paying municipal residents' tax (children up until the first March 31 from the day they turned 3 years of age)
　Eligible (*)
　(Upper limit of 16,300 yen a month)

Education
・Classes for 3 to 5 year olds
　Eligible
　(Upper limit of 25,700 yen a month)
・3 year old children (children up until the first March 31 from the day they turned 3 years of age)
　Eligible
　(Upper limit of 25,700 yen a month)
・3 year old children from households that are exempt from paying municipal residents' tax (children up until the first March 31 from the day they turned 3 years of age)
　Eligible
　(Upper limit of 25,700 yen a month)

After-hours childcare
・Classes for 3 to 5 year olds
　Eligible (*)
　(Upper limit of 11,300 yen a month)
・3 year old children (children up until the first March 31 from the day they turned 3 years of age)
　Not eligible
・3 year old children from households that are exempt from paying municipal residents' tax (children up until the first March 31 from the day they turned 3 years of age)
　Eligible (*)
　(Upper limit of 16,300 yen a month)

・Classes for 3 to 5 year olds
　Eligible (*)
　(Upper limit of 37,000 yen a month)
・Classes for 0 to 2 year olds from households that are exempt from paying municipal residents' tax
　Eligible (*)
　(Upper limit of 42,000 yen a month)

Unlicensed nursery facilities, temporary childcare services, etc.: unlicensed nursery facilities for which notification has already been made (including baby sitters), short-term childcare services, childcare for sick children and children recovering from illness, Yokohama Child-rearing Support System (excluding the use of pickup services only), Yokohama nursery rooms (classes for 3 to 5 year olds), etc.
(*) To qualify for free childcare, the need for childcare needs to be approved.

The requirements for needing childcare through after-hours childcare at private kindergartens etc. in Yokohama City (City-type after-hours childcare) differ in part to the City's criteria for approval.

Free (no usage fees) for children in classes for 3 to 5 year olds
Also free when using kindergartens, day-care centers, certified combined nursery and kindergarten facilities, etc. at the same time
Facilities attended by children with disabilities, etc.: Workplaces providing support for child development, support for medical care-type child development, support for home visit-type child development, welfare-type facilities that admit children with disabilities, and medical-type facilities that admit children with disabilities

Free for children in classes for 0 to 2 year olds from households that are exempt from paying municipal residents' tax
Classes for 3 to 5 year olds are treated as unlicensed nursery facilities, with free usage fees with a monthly cap of 37,000 yen

Free for children in classes for 1 to 2 year olds from households that are exempt from paying municipal residents' tax

The standard usage fee for children in classes for 3 to 5 year olds and children in classes for 0 to 2 year olds from households that are exempt from paying municipal residents' tax is free

Licensed nursery facilities, certified combined nursery and kindergarten facilities, facility-type subsidized kindergartens (education section), subsidized private kindergartens (education section) in Yokohama City are all eligible for free preschool education and childcare.
Some after-hours childcare at kindergartens and unlicensed nursery facilities may not be eligible for free preschool education and childcare. Please inquire directly at the facility in question.

List of facilities in Yokohama City which qualify for free preschool education and childcare（in Japanese）

In order to receive free preschool education and childcare, you need to receive approval for subsidized use of facilities, etc.
Please see the below link for more details on the necessary procedures (in Japanese).
Application forms and other documents required to make an application for approval are available at the Children and Families Support Division of your nearest ward office.

'- Those using after-hours childcare at subsidized private kindergartens, facility-type subsidized kindergartens, or certified combined nursery and kindergarten facilities (educational use)
'- Those using unlicensed nursery facilities, temporary childcare services, etc.

'- Licensed nursery facilities
- Education section of kindergartens and certified combined nursery and kindergarten facilities, etc.
- City-type after-hours childcare section of kindergartens and certified combined nursery and kindergarten facilities, etc.
- Children in classes for 0 to 2 year olds from households that are exempt from paying municipal residents' tax that use Yokohama nursery rooms
- Children in classes for 0 to 2 year olds from households that are exempt from paying municipal residents' tax that use childcare services limited to certain fiscal years only
- Exempt or reduced portion of fees among City of Yokohama temporary childcare services, temporary childcare services for holidays, and 24 hour emergency temporary childcare services
- Exempt or reduced portion of fees among childcare for sick children and children recovering from illness

*Please inquire directly at the facility in question if you use childcare services run by companies. (You do not need to send an invoice to the City.)

'- Unlicensed nursery facilities, temporary childcare services, etc.
- After-hours childcare provided by kindergartens and certified combined nursery and kindergarten facilities, etc. (excluding City-type after hours childcare)

[Instructions for invoices]
1 Hand over the Certificate of Provision to the kindergarten your child used, and have it certify the amount you paid, etc.
2 Enclose your invoice and Certificates of Provision for each month in an envelope and send them to the specified address.
Please make sure your documents arrive by the set deadline.
3 Your request will be reviewed by the City, and you will receive payment into the bank account you specified approximately 2 months later.

*1 In the event you miss the deadline for receipt of invoices for the billable usage month or earlier, please submit your application as soon as the documents are ready, regardless of the billing period.
*2 If your application is not postmarked by the last day of the deadline for receipt of invoices, the payment schedule will be delayed for several months because the review of your application will be conducted after the completion of reviews submitted during the period for receipt of invoices.
*3 There have been a number of cases where applications were not received by the deadline for receipt of invoices because the individual had not paid the correct postage fees. Please make sure to purchase enough stamps to send your application.
*4 Applications that require extra time to review, such as those with missing or incomplete documents such as invoices, or those that start or end in the middle of a month, will be paid one month or more later than the above scheduled date.
*5 The statute of limitations for the right to receive facility usage benefits is two years. If the statute of limitations is about to expire, please apply as soon as the documents are ready, regardless of the acceptance period.

[Where to send documents]
〒231-0015 横浜市中区尾上町1-8 　関内新井ビル9階
横浜市こども⻘少年局保育・教育給付課 　施設等利用費給付(償還払)担当

[Forms]
■ Application Form (in Japanese)
'- Unlicensed nursery facilities, temporary childcare services, etc.

- After-hours childcare provided by kindergartens and certified combined nursery and kindergarten facilities, etc. (excluding City-type after hours childcare)

■　Certificate of Provision (in Japanese)

[Please note the following when filling out the form]
Do not use an erasable ballpoint pen or correction fluid.
If you wish to make any corrections, please cross out the section in need of correction with a double line and then fill in the correct information.