27 Nov Planning to enroll your child in a daycare facility (Hoikuen) for April 2025? Apply by November
To apply for admission starting April 1, 2025, please complete your application for the first round of admission coordination and screening by submitting the documents to the Children & Family Welfare Section (健康・子ども課 Kenko-Kodomo Ka ) of the regional health center by 5:15 p.m. on November 29, 2024.
The first round of applications is already open for submission.
To apply, you need to submit the Application for Certification for Approval, documents necessary to prove the reasons why parents need childcare services, and documents to confirm your identity and personal number (My Number).
However, additional requirements may be needed depending on your household situation so please be sure to consult the regional health center in advance for detailed information.
You are required to visit the facility you want to apply to for your child beforehand. This is to confirm the childcare policies which may differ among the facilities.
Even if your baby has not been born by the enrollment deadline, you may still apply for admission in April. Children must be 57 days old or older for application as of April 1st, 2025. Please note that this enrollment deadline applies only to April admission. You cannot enroll your child before April. Please show the maternal and child handbook called Boshi-Techo of your baby-to-be when applying to the regional health center. You can fill in your due date as his/her birthday and leave his /her name blank on the application form.
Please refer to the PDF materials below or contact the regional health center for more information.
Applications for enrolling in childcare facilities (Excluding April Enrollment)
Applications for enrolling in childcare facilities (保育園 Hoikuen ), excluding April enrollment, are accepted anytime, and screening is conducted upon examining the contents of the applications. With the application deadline on Friday every week, applications two months ahead will be accepted and screened after the weekend. It will also depend on whether there is a spot available in the daycare center you have applied for.
The first day to attend the childcare facility is the date the applicant requests. If there is no vacancy in the facility of the applicant’s choice at the requested date, the applicant will be placed on a waiting list. Please refer to the following PDF.
・Application for Approval for Childcare Services (in English)
・Sapporo City Entry Guide to Day Care Centers, Etc. issued in September, 2023 (in English)
・What you need to do if you need Childcare Service in Sapporo 2021 (in English)
(Material used in Childcare seminar “Applying to Public Daycare Centers” on Oct. 8. 2021.)
・Frequently asked questions about the use of daycare centers and kindergarten (in English)
Consultation, Inquiries and Applications
For more information, please contact the Children & Family Welfare Section of the regional health center between 8:45 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. except on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays.
Sapporo Community Interpreters are available for interpretation when you receive explanations and/or go through procedures regarding enrollment in nurseries (childcare facilities) at regional health centers or daycare facilities. Contact here.