Checked against the official page on 2026-10-20. Part of Oak’s directory of Japanese business grants.
Before you apply
- The money is not up front. You pay for the whole project yourself. The grant reimburses a share of it (often half to two-thirds) after a completion report has been checked, typically 6 to 18 months after applying.
- Do not spend before approval. Costs ordered, contracted or paid before the official grant decision (交付決定) are usually not eligible.
- Strict conditions. Employment grants are paid only if every condition is met and documented on time. A missed deadline or an incomplete record can void the claim.
- Obligations continue after payment. Reports for up to five years, inspections, and targets in your plan. Missing them can mean repaying part or all of the grant.
| Japanese name | 両立支援等助成金 |
|---|---|
| Level | National · Nationwide |
| Administered by | MHLW |
| Type | Childcare/care leave (joseikin) |
| Maximum amount | Paternity: ¥200,000 first person, ¥600,000 rate-increase; care-leave ¥400,000–600,000; childcare return ¥300,000+¥300,000; cover staff up to ¥990,000; women's health ¥300,000 each |
| Subsidy rate | Fixed |
| Who can apply | Mostly SMEs (特定事業主 ≤300 employees for some courses) |
| Support organisation | None |
| How to apply | Portal or paper |
| Rounds and deadlines | Rolling |
| Adoption rate | n/a |
Can a foreign-owned company apply?
Any employer running a 雇用保険適用事業所 can apply, including foreign-owned companies and registered Japanese branches of foreign companies (no Japanese-HQ test). SME vs non-SME rate is judged on enterprise capital OR regular headcount (小売/サービス/卸/その他 thresholds), so a branch of a large foreign group usually gets the lower 中小企業以外 rate.
Points to note
R8 guide.
Grant rules, amounts and deadlines change every round. Always work from the current application guidelines (公募要領) on the official page. This page is general information, not advice on your eligibility.
How Oak can help
Employment and training grants (助成金) from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare are filed by licensed labour and social security attorneys (sharoshi), not by gyoseishoshi. Contact us and we will point you to a qualified sharoshi; we can still check the rest of your grant options.