Bridge
← Back to School

Forms/documents

For foreign children living in Japan, municipalities should work to make schooling opportunities available and guide families through enrollment. The practical route is usually through the municipal board of education / local government, and placement can depend on address, age, prior schooling and local capacity.

What BRIDGE can tell you now

For foreign children living in Japan, municipalities should work to make schooling opportunities available and guide families through enrollment. The practical route is usually through the municipal board of education / local government, and placement can depend on address, age, prior schooling and local capacity.

What to check

  • ✓Confirm which municipal board of education handles the address.
  • ✓Prepare the child’s basic school history and any records you already have; required documents vary locally.
  • ✓Ask what Japanese-language / newcomer support is available at the assigned or nearby schools.

Important

BRIDGE should not promise a specific school or grade placement. MEXT allows flexible handling in some cases and local authorities/schools make the actual decision.

Official sources

Last verified: 2026-08-30

What do you want BRIDGE to do next?

Choose the kind of help you actually need. This creates a help request for the BRIDGE network instead of sending you to a generic contact form.

Research this for me →Ask a provider to research official and reliable sources for your exact situation.Verify this locally →Ask the relevant school, City Hall, bank, hospital, office or local organization to confirm the unresolved point.Call or message for me →Have a provider contact the organization on your behalf using the facts and limits you approve.Get interpretation support →Request real-time language support for a call, meeting or conversation.Get in-person help →Request a local provider to accompany you or help at the location when appropriate.

You may be asked to sign in before creating the request.