Issued in September, 2022

Sapporo City Entry Guide to Day Care Centers, Etc.
In this guide, authorized daycare centers refer to the following facilities.
1) Authorized daycare centers, 2) Centers for early childhood education and care (day care center functions),
3) home childcare programs, 4) small-scale childcare programs, 5) (authorized) employer-provided
childcare services.
When wishing to use the facilities listed in (1) through (5) above, please read this guide carefully before
completing the procedures.
1. Information on the use of day care centers, etc.
When using authorized daycare centers, parents are required to obtain a certificate of approved classificationfrom the municipal government in their area. (see pg.8).
As shown in Table 1, certification of approved classification is divided into categories according to the ageof the child and the reason for needing childcare services. In order to use an authorized daycare center, the childmust be certified as either type 2 or 3.
（Table 1）Type 2 and 3 Certification
Type 3 Certification
Qualifying Age
Certification
periodNecessarychildcare hours

Type 2 Certification

Until two days before the third birthday of
From a day before the third birthday of
your child.
your child.
This refers to the period during which parents can use day care centers, etc. depending on
the reasons they have given for using such facilities. (Please refer to the Table 2 “Reasons
why parents need childcare services”)
Regular-time childcare (11 hours a day) or short-time childcare (8 hours a day) isavailable. *When wishing longer childcare than the specified hours, users have to pay
extended childcare fees.

(Table 2) Reasons why parents need childcare services№

Reasons

Certification period

Necessary childcare hours*1・2
120 hours or more/month

Regular-time

64 hrs or more but less than 120 hrs/month

Short-time

1

Employment

By the end of the final monthof employment

2

Pregnancy/Childbirth

From 8 weeks before the due
date to the end of the month 8
weeks after the delivery date

Regular-time

3

Illness/Injury

Period necessary forrecuperation

Regular-time

4

Nursing care for those
who live with parents

Period necessary for nursingcare

120 hours or more/month

Regular-time

64 hrs or more but less than 120 hrs/month

Short-time

5

Disaster recovery

Period necessary for disasterrecovery

120 hours or more/month

Regular-time

64 hrs. or more but less than 120 hrs./month

Short-time

6

Job searching(including preparation
for starting a business)

7

Learning/Job training

8

Possibility of abuse ordomestic violence

Around 3 months (by the endof the month including the90th day)

Short-time

By the end of the month of

120 hours or more/month

Regular-timelearning/job training period

64 hrs or more but less than 120 hrs/month

Short-time

Varies by the situation of eachhousehold

Regular-time
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Issued in September, 2022

9
10

(In the case ofcontinuous attendance)
Childcare leave
Similar cases other than
the above items

In principle, by the end of themonth in which childcare
leave ends *3

Short-time

Varies by the reason given

Varies by the reason*1 If one parent or guardian is falling under the category of short-time childcare service and the other parent or
guardian is falling under the category of regular-time childcare service, the short-time childcare service will beapplied.
*2 When falling under the category of regular-time childcare services, you can choose short-time childcare services
at your request. When falling under the category of short-time childcare services, you may choose regular-timechildcare services by applying for special arrangements. ("Application Form for Special Application of RegularChildcare Hours" needs to be submitted.)【Special measures for the use of standard childcare hours】(1) Working hours are 7 hours or more per day for 3 days or more per week or 12 days or more per month.
(2) At least 3 days a week or 12 days a month, either or both starting and finishing times of work, etc. fallunder one of the following categories.
Short-time Childcare hours

Starting time of work, etc.

Finishing time of work, etc.

8：00～16：00

Before 8：30

After 15：30

8：30～16：30

Before 9：00

After 16：00

9：00～17：00

Before 9：30

After 16：30

・Please refer to the List of Sapporo City Authorized Day Care Centers and Similar Facilities for the
short-time childcare hours.
*3 Childcare leave certification shall be by the end of the month in which the last day on which parents wish totake childcare leave falls. However, if a child for whom parents take childcare leave cannot use authorized
day care centers, you can extend childcare leave by six months upon application: When your child become
12 months old, you can take childcare leave until your child becomes 18 months old, and when your childbecome 18 months old, you can take childcare leave until your child becomes 24 months old.
2 Opening hours and eligible ages at day care centers, etc.
Opening hours and eligible ages vary by the childcare facility. For further details, see the List of Sapporo City
Authorized Day Care Centers and Similar Facilities. The age of the child will be determined by the age of thechild at the beginning of the fiscal year (April 1) in which the child wishes to enroll.
Some day care centers provide extended childcare services for children who need to be looked after longer
than the specific hours due to their parents’ working hours, commuting time or other circumstances. Some also
provide night-time childcare services until 10:00 p.m. or 12:00 midnight (in Chuo-ku and Nishi-ku only*1). If
you wish to use such services, please contact the Health & Children Affairs Section in your ward.
(If you require extended childcare services, you are required to separately apply for them after entering day
care.)*1 Night-time childcare can only be used if both parents or guardians are "employed" or "enrolled in school or
vocational training" and the time required for these activities is at least three days a week until 7:00 p.m. orlater. In some cases, night-time childcare may not be available due to the childcare system of the facility.
(Table 3) Admission for Year 2022 and Year 2023
Date of BirthYear 2022

Year 2023

under 1 year

under 1 year old

April 2, 2021 ~ April 1, 2022

old

1 year old

April 2, 2020 ~ April 1, 2021

1 year old

2 years old

April 2, 2022~

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Issued in September, 2022

April 2, 2019 ~ April 1, 2020

2 years old

3 years old

April 2, 2018 ~ April 1, 20193 years old

4 years old

April 2, 2017 ~ April 1, 2018

4 years old

5 years old

April 2, 2016 ~ April 1, 2017

5 years old

3 Screening and entry date
Applications for childcare services are accepted at any time, and screening is conducted upon examining thecontents of the applications. With the application deadline on Friday every week, applications two months ahead
will be accepted and screened after the weekend. (Entry screening in the new fiscal year (April 1) will be
conducted all together by setting an application period around November.)Based on the screening standards, priority will be put to those who are in dire need of childcare services at
the time of intended entry. Since applicants’ situations are primarily taken into consideration in each screening,users are not decided on a first-come and first-served basis, nor is priority put to any of the choices applicants
make (from the 1st choice to the 5th choice).
Whether an applicant is admitted to an authorized day care center is determined according to approved
screening results. Based on the screening results, approved users conclude a usage agreement with childcare
facilities, including centers for early childhood education and care (day care center functions), home childcare
programs, small-scale childcare programs and (authorized) employer-provided childcare services.
The entry date shall be the date on which users wish to enter, in principle, but if there is no vacancy at theintended day care center, users have to wait until a place opens up.
For the flow from application to notification on screening results, see the next page information: Proceduresfrom Use Application to Entry Decision.
4 Trial childcare
Many daycare centers and similar facilities provide trial childcare services where the childcare hours become
gradually longer for children who have newly entered, so they can gradually adjust to the new routine.
Trial childcare periods vary by the child’s condition, the family’s situation, the intended day care center’s
policy and other factors. In the event parents have difficulty taking care of their children due to employment
status or other reasons, they should discuss the issue with their childcare facility to find a solution.
When a parent starts a new job or childcare leave ends, children can receive trial childcare services atchildcare facilities before parents begin working. For further details, please inquire with the Health & Children
Affairs Section in your ward.
【When receiving trial childcare before starting work (school) or before returning to work after childcare leave】(Example) In the case of admission on April 1, 2023 (start working by April 14)
Sun.

Mon.

Tue.

Wed.

Thu.

Fri.

Sat.
1

Day 1

2

3

Day 2

4

Day 3

5

Day 4

6

Day 5

7

Day 6

8

Day 7

9

10

Day 8

11

Day 9

12

Day 1013

Day 11

14

Day 1215

If the reason for needing childcare is work or school, parents or guardians must start work (school) or
return to work by the 13th day counting from the day of admission to the authorized daycare center, etc.
If parents or guardians are unable to start working, etc., the admission may be cancelled. For details on
the actual trial childcare, please decide with the authorized daycare center, etc. where the child will beenrolled.
*In principle, authorized daycare centers are open Monday through Saturday, excluding national holidays.
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Issued in September, 2022

If you wish to enroll your child in an authorized daycare center that is closed on Saturdays, you must startworking by the 13th day of the month excluding Saturdays. If the 13th day falls on a holiday at yourplace of work (school), please start working (going to school) on the most recent work day (school day)after the 13th day.
5 Childcare fees
See the separate document How Childcare Fees are Determined.
6 Procedures from application to entry decision
Visit to authorized facilities
Please visit your desired facilities with your children after a prior inquiry. Childcare policies vary dependingon the childcare facility. Please visit the desired facilities before applying for them.

Documents necessary to apply for childcare facilities
The staff at the Health & Children Affairs Section in your ward will ask about your family conditions andgive you the necessary application forms. According to the reasons applicants have given for receiving
childcare services, some documents need to be prepared in advance.
Example: an employment certificate drawn up by your company and a medical certificate by your hospital.
Application
In principle, please send the documents necessary to apply for admission to an authorized daycare center,etc. to the Health & Children Affairs Section in your ward by mail (you can also bring the documents inperson.) The date of receipt at the Health & Children Affairs Section is the date of acceptance, so please makesure to submit the documents in advance of the deadline.
Declining to enroll your child after he/she has been accepted will cause a great deal of inconvenience toother applicants and daycare centers.
We ask for your cooperation in indicating on the application form only those daycare facilities to which you
can take your child(ren).
aIssuance of certification
After confirming the reasons why users need childcare services with certain childcare hours, the Health &Children Affairs Section in your ward issues certification.
Please note that certification proves applicants need childcare services, but does not admit their children tochildcare facilities.
Notification of screening results*
The Health & Children Affairs Section of each ward will adjust the use of the daycare facilities you haverequested based on the Screening and Coordination for Authorized Childcare Facilities. If you are accepted,
you will receive a "Notification of screening result (Acceptance)". If you are not accepted, you will receivea "Notification of screening result (deferral)". In the case you are approved for childcare services during thecurrent fiscal year, an official will inform you of it by phone. (if we are unable to reach you, we may givepriority to the next applicant).
*Notes on entry deferral
The City of Sapporo will send "Notification of screening result (deferral)" only at the time of the firstadjustment of the daycare center and when the child's admission is suspended on April 1. If you need tosubmit documents proving that you cannot enter a daycare center again for reasons such as submitting to
your employer or Hello Work when extending your childcare leave, please contact The Health & Children
Affairs Section of your ward.

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After screening results〇 Parents have to contact the facility their child will enter to arrange an orientation session before the entry
date. (Since many parents and children are expected to enter on April 1, please wait for information on
an orientation meeting held at each facility.)〇 In case of deferral, the facility you are waiting to enter will try to find a place for your child in the future.
In the event there are any changes to your family status or working conditions or you wish to change
facility, please contact the Health & Children Affairs Section in your ward.
７

Documents necessary to apply for the use of childcare facilities
To apply for the use of childcare facilities, applicants are required to prepare Application for Certification forApproval (Type 2 ・ 3 certification) and the following three documents.
① Documents necessary to prove the reasons why parents need childcare services— Attached table 1② Documents necessary to conduct a screening and determine childcare fees — Attached table 2③ Documents to confirm your identity and personal number (My Number) —Attached table 3① Documents necessary to prove the reasons why parents need childcare services
Either of the following documents is needed depending on the reason parents give for receiving childcare
services. Please prepare the documents necessary to prove the reason why you need childcare services on
the date when you wish to start using childcare services. Excluding part-time employment for childcare andtemporary absence from work for childcare, if there are any changes to employment conditions (such as
workplaces or working hours) after an informal entry decision, the informal decision may be cancelled.
(Attached table 1) List of documents necessary to prove the reasons why parents need childcare services
Reasons why parents need childcare services

Category
Other

MotherFatherNecessary documents

Employment certificate
(*1)

Work
Employed

Selfemployed●●Childbirth●

Medical certificate (*1)

Application and consent
for job searching status(*1)

School certificate (*2)

Disability

Jobsearching

Learning

Nursing

Only if you are self-employed, attach a document
showing that you are running a business (e.g., a copy ofthe business opening notice).

Copy of Maternal andChild Health Handbook

Copy of Physical/mental
disability certificates

Illness

Cover page and the page on which the
expected due date is written●
A copy of a section that includes thename, grade, and the next
judgement period on a physical/
mental disability certificate, or
medical care handbook●●●

Documents that show the curriculum (e.g., schedule)(*3)●

Declaration ofnursing/caring (*1)●

*1 When submitting the above documents, please use the forms designated by Sapporo City. Individual forms
can be downloaded from the Sapporo City Application Form and Notices Download Service.
Sapporo City Application Form and Notices Download Service

SearchURL ⇒ http://www3.city.sapporo.jp/download/shinsei/*2 There is no designated form for a school certificate. Please ask your school to issue a form.
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*3 If there is no curriculum such as a schedule for online correspondence, please attach a statement with theaverage amount of time devoted to study to a petition form.
*4 If you are unsure about any part of this procedure, such as if you are planning to get divorced with difficulty
submitting documents that can confirm the reason for your spouse's need for childcare, please consult with the
Health & Children Affairs Section of your ward.
② Documents necessary to conduct a screening and determine childcare fees
（In the event you wish to enter childcare facilities from September 2022 to August 2023）(Attached table 2) List of documents necessary to conduct a screening and determine childcare fees
Person who has tosubmit documents
FatherMotherCategories

Necessary documents

Other

To conduct a screening
Those who wish to use the childcare of authorizedfacilities after childcare leave ends
Those who wish to start using childcare facilities
before finishing the designated period of childcare
leave
Those who have family members
physical/mental disability certificates

with

(*1)
Declaration form (designated forshortening the period of childcare
leave)
Copy of a section that includes thename, grade, and the next judgement
period on a physical/ mental disability
certificate, or medical care handbook

To determine childcare fees
Those who have completed resident registration in
Sapporo as of January 1, 2022

Nothing in principle (*2)

Those
who
have
A) Notices of 2022 municipal andmunicipal inhabitant tax
prefectural
inhabitantspecialThose who have not deducted
from
their
collection taxes
completed resident income
registrationin Those who pay municipalB) Notices of 2022 municipal andSapporo as of January inhabitanttax
byprefectural inhabitant taxes
1, 2022 (*3)
themselves*Those who have Those who are exempt C) Certificates of 2022 municipal andregistered
their from municipal inhabitant prefectural inhabitant taxes*Certificates showing an income-based
residency
in tax
In case you cannot submit residents’ tax, total income, breakdown
governmentdesignatedmajor or have lost a tax notice or of deductions and the number andcities are required to other cases
details of sustainers are needed.
submit the necessary Those
whocannot Certificate of workplace (pay slip, etc.)
document C).
produce a tax statement *Documents and translation to certify
because they were living annual income from January toabroadDecember in 2021
Written notification on tax reduction
Children whose brothers and sisters attend the for households with more than one
support for children with disabilities.
child, attendance certificate, entry
decision notice, etc.

*1 In principle, points will be added after childcare leave if it can be confirmed that the applicant is "applying for
an approved daycare center upon returning to work from childcare leave" based on No. 13 on the Employment
Certificate. Therefore, no additional documents are required. However, please note that points will not be added
without the submission of additional documents in the following cases.

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(1) If you are not an employee (self-employed, etc.)
If it can be confirmed that you started your business before the birth of your child for whom you are applying
for admission to an authorized daycare facility, etc., it will be considered as the end of your childcare leave.
☐ Necessary documents: A copy of the business opening notice (with the seal of acceptance at the tax officeprior to the date of birth of the child) or a copy of the tax return for the previous year.
(2) If you are an employee but cannot use the childcare leave system
If you resigned from your former employer after finding out that you were pregnant with the child for whom
you are applying for admission to an authorized daycare facility etc. (you received the Maternal and Child Health
Handbook), but are scheduled to work for the same employer (*), only those whose expected return to work day
is before the child’s 1st birthday, it will be considered as the end of your childcare leave. (*This includes cases
where you work at a different branch but the same company, or at a different office but the same company, etc.)☐ Necessary documents: Employment certificate (Showing the following two things: that you were
working before your baby was born, and that you will be working in the future. Please ask your employer
to fill in the blanks for your previous employment history.)*2 Those who does not declare municipal and prefectural inhabitant taxes, or those who have registered theirresidency in Sapporo but on whom taxes are imposed in other municipalities in FY 2022, may have to submit
some additional documents if Sapporo City cannot confirm their income status.
*3 About the above written A～C certificates, if the following “③ Documents to confirm your identity andpersonal number (My Number)” written below are available, you can omit the above A～C documents. In
this case, an inquiry on municipal tax will be made to the municipality where the resident was registered as ofJanuary 1, 2022, using personal number (My Number). This inquiry may take a certain amount of time.
Additional documents may be requested in cases where the municipal/provincial tax has not been declared
or could not be confirmed by the inquiry.
③ Documents to confirm your identity and personal number (My Number)
Based on the regulations of the Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in Administrative
Procedures and the enforcement regulations of the Children and Child Rearing Support Act, applicants haveto enter their Social Security and Tax Number (personal number) in certification procedures. When you submit
applications, please be sure to enter your personal number on the form for attaching My Number and bring thefollowing documents necessary to confirm your identity and personal number.
In case applicants have difficulty entering their personal number because they do not know it, or they do nothave the documents necessary enough to confirm their identity and personal number, they can submit
documents without entering their personal number on the form for attaching My Number. (In this case, Sapporo
City will confirm their personal number based on the information of the Basic Resident Register.)(Attached table 3) Documents to confirm your personal number
Documents required
The Form for attaching My Number
Documents to confirm your personal number (see the Attached table 4)Documents to confirm your identity (see the Attached table 4)

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Issued in September, 2022

(Attached table 4) Details of documents to confirm your identity and personal number
Personal number confirmation
Those who
need tosubmitIdentity confirmation

Only those whose name should be written as the “guardian” in the Application for Certification
for Approval (Type 2・3 certification)
Either of the following must be produced
Personal number card
☐ Personal number card
Notification card（It is valid if the name and ☐ Driver’s license
address match the most recent information） ☐ Photo ID card（employee ID card etc.*☐ Copy of residence certificate including
Including your name and birth date）
personal numbers* Individual Number Notice cannot be used to Two documents from the following must be
producedconfirm Personal number.
☐ Insurancecard(national
healthinsurance, health insurance, careinsurance etc.)☐ Receipt of utility charges☐ Certificates regarding tax (tax certificate
or withholding certificate)☐ Copy of household registration appendix
or copy of residence certificate☐ Medical care certificates issued by
Sapporo City, ID card (employee card
etc.)
☐
☐

Example of
documents

８

The handling of stamps on employment certificate (including certificates of childcare leave)
The seal of the employer can be omitted. However, it may be a crime should a parent or guardian forge or alter

the employment certificate, etc. (creates or alters without permission).
Please note that we may call the employer to confirm the contents of the certificate.
Consultation and inquiries about the entry of childcare facilities
Please contact the Children and Family Welfare Division, Health & Children Affairs Section in yourward. (Open from Monday to Friday except for the year-end and new year’s holidays(Dec.29 – Jan.3) andnational holidays; 8:45 to 17:15)
Ward

Zip code

Address

Chuo Ward

060-8612

Chuo Ward Office 5F, Odori Nishi 2-chome 9, Chuo-ku

205-3354

Kita Ward001-0025

Kita Health Center 2F, Kita 25-jo Nishi 6-chome, Kita-ku

757-2563

Higashi Ward065-0010

Shiroishi Ward003-8612

Atsubetsu Ward004-8612

Toyohira Ward062-8612

Kiyota Ward004-8613

Higashi Health Center 2F, Kita 10-jo Higashi 7-chome, Higashiku
Shiroishi Ward Office Ccomplex 4F, Nango-dori 1-chome
Minami 8-1, Shiroishi-ku
Atsubetsu Ward Office 3F, Atsubetsu Chuo 1-jo 5-chome 3-2,
Atsubetsu-ku
Toyohira Ward Office 3F, Hiragishi 6-jo 10-chome, Toyohira-ku
Kiyota Ward Office Complex 2F, Hiraoka 1-jo 1-chome, Kiyotaku

Tel711-3214861-0336
895-2499
822-2473
889-2051
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Minami Health Center 3F, Saiwai-machi 1-chome 3-2,

Minami Ward005-0014

Nishi Ward063-0812

Nishi Health Center 3F, Kotoni 2-jo 7-chome 1-20, Nishi-ku

621-4242

Teine Ward006-8612

Teine Ward Office 2F, Maeda 1-jo 11-chome, Teine-ku

688-8597

Makomanai, Minami-ku

522-5780◆ For those who wish to use the volunteer interpretation service (Sapporo Community Interpreters), pleasecontact to Sapporo International Communication Plaza Foundation(SICPF), International Community Bureau.
For more details, please refer to the webpage below. (Consultations and applications are available on our website.)
HP: https://www.sapporolife.info/en/article/?id=32#id17833a0b4e92f
TEL: 011-211-2105 FAX: 011-232-3833

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