Foreign families residing in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, whose children attend designated foreign schools may be eligible for a monthly subsidy of 6,000 yen for the 2026 fiscal year. This municipal support program is designed for residents whose children attend specific foreign elementary and junior high schools and who do not qualify for standard public school assistance. To receive this aid, households must live in Shinjuku Ward and meet strict annual income limits based on their total family size.
What is the Shinjuku Ward foreign school subsidy for 2026?
Shinjuku Ward provides financial support for school attendance (known as *shūgaku enjo*) to families with children enrolled in municipal public elementary and junior high schools who need assistance for economic reasons. For resident families who do not receive this public school assistance because their children are enrolled in eligible foreign schools instead, Shinjuku Ward offers a dedicated subsidy of 6,000 yen per month per child.
This monthly support is specifically provided to eligible families with children attending elementary or junior high school sections established by three recognized educational corporations in Tokyo:
- Educational Corporation Tokyo Korean School (学校法人東京朝鮮学園)
- Educational Corporation Tokyo South Korean School (学校法人東京韓国学園)
- Educational Corporation Tokyo Chinese School (学校法人東京中華学校)
To qualify for the 2026 fiscal year subsidy, the guardian and student must reside within Shinjuku Ward, and the total household income for the previous year must fall at or below the municipal threshold limits set for the fiscal year.
What are the 2026 household income eligibility thresholds?
The eligibility for the 2026 fiscal year foreign school subsidy depends on total household income from the previous year relative to the number of people in the family. Shinjuku Ward has established the following official income limits for Fiscal Year 2026:
- 2-person household: 2.97 million yen or less
- 3-person household: 3.64 million yen or less
- 4-person household: 4.41 million yen or less
- 5-person household: 4.66 million yen or less
- 6-person household: 5.16 million yen or less
- 7 or more person household: Add 550,000 yen for each additional family member above 6 people
If a household's combined income from the preceding year exceeds these specified limits for their family size, they will not qualify for the 6,000 yen monthly benefit.
How is total household income calculated for this program?
Understanding how income is evaluated is crucial when preparing an application for Shinjuku Ward's financial support. Total household income is calculated differently depending on whether income is earned through employment or self-employed business activities:
- For salary earners (salaried employees): Total income refers to the amount remaining after applying the employment income deduction (*kyūyo shotoku kōjo*), as shown on the previous year's withholding tax certificate (*gensen chōshūhyō*).
- For business income earners (self-employed individuals): Total income is determined by subtracting necessary business expenses (*hitsuyō keihi*) from the total annual revenue (*nenkan shūnyū kingaku*) earned during the previous year.
If multiple family members earn an income, their totals are combined to determine whether the household satisfies the 2026 municipal criteria.
What other economic support options exist for students in Shinjuku?
In addition to the foreign school guardian subsidy, Shinjuku Ward outlines several other local and regional educational assistance programs for elementary and middle school students. According to Shinjuku City Financial Support for Students, available educational welfare options include:
- Schooling assistance and entrance preparation allowances for newly enrolled students
- School lunch fee subsidies and private school student support payments
- Special needs education school attendance allowances
- Entrance celebration grants and student scholarship programs
- Learning support for entrance examination challenges
- Tuition reduction subsidies for private junior high schools
- Financial support programs for free school users across Tokyo
For detailed inquiries regarding eligibility, required documents, or application forms for the foreign school subsidy, families should contact the official ward department directly. You can find comprehensive regulatory notices on the Shinjuku City Foreign School Subsidy Page.
Contact details for the office in charge:
- Department: Shinjuku City Office, Regional Promotion Department - Multicultural Society Promotion Division
- Telephone: 03-5273-3504
Finding a place to stay
When moving to Tokyo with a family, securing suitable accommodations before completing municipal registration is an important initial step. OHAYO Stay offers furnished monthly apartments and rooms in Tokyo, providing an easy option for international residents arriving with school-aged children. The booking process is completed online using a passport or ID and a credit card, without requiring a Japanese guarantor, key money, or agency fees. Additionally, the monthly price includes electricity, gas, water, and Wi-Fi, allowing families to settle into Shinjuku without complex contract procedures while arranging school enrollment and local administrative steps.