Tokyo's pre-marital health check subsidy 2026: eligibility, amount, and how to apply, explained simply
The "bridal check" (a pre-marital / preconception health check) is something you may undergo when thinking about marriage or a future pregnancy and childbirth. In Tokyo, there is a program that subsidizes the cost of these tests by up to ¥30,000 (officially the "Subsidy for testing costs related to preconception care"). However, it is not simply a matter of "getting tested at a hospital and submitting the receipt" — it has a distinctive procedure, such as taking a free online course first. This article explains, step by step and in plain terms, who can receive how much, as well as the application flow, required documents, and points to watch out for, based on Tokyo's official information.
・If you are a Tokyo resident aged 18–39, you are eligible regardless of sex or whether you have a partner. The subsidy is up to ¥30,000 each for women and men
・Taking a free online course called "TOKYO Precon Semi" first is a mandatory condition
・You pay the cost yourself up front, and it is later transferred to your bank account — a "reimbursement (pay-later) system"
What is this subsidy? Its relation to the "bridal check"
The "bridal check" is the common name for a health check done ahead of marriage or pregnancy. It refers to tests such as blood tests, and — for women — an AMH test (a guide to ovarian status), and for men a semen test, that help you understand the state of your own body ahead of a future pregnancy and childbirth.
To encourage such tests, Tokyo subsidizes the cost of tests for "preconception care" (health management from before pregnancy)[Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Social Welfare (in Japanese)]. What is commonly called "Tokyo's bridal check subsidy" mostly refers to this program.
How much can you receive? Who is eligible?
| Subsidy amount | Women: up to ¥30,000 / Men: up to ¥30,000 (capped at the test cost actually incurred) |
|---|---|
| Eligible persons | Registered residents of Tokyo aged 18–39 (18 or older and under 40 on the first-visit date of the test). Sex and whether you have a partner do not matter |
| Residency condition | You must have continuous resident registration in Tokyo from the date you take the course through the date you apply |
| How you receive it | Reimbursement (you pay the full amount first, and it is later transferred to your account) |
| Mandatory conditions | Taking "TOKYO Precon Semi" (a free course) and being examined at a medical institution registered with Tokyo |
* If a couple both get tested, if they meet the conditions each of the two can be eligible for up to ¥30,000 (a maximum of ¥60,000 in total).
Tests that are covered (examples)
In addition to first-visit fees, revisit fees, and fees for a doctor's advice and consultation, the following test costs are covered[Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Social Welfare (in Japanese)].
| Women's tests (examples) | Men's tests (examples) |
|---|---|
| Blood tests, urine tests, measles antibody tests, AMH tests, thyroid tests, etc. | Blood tests, urine tests, measles antibody tests, semen tests, etc. |
* The types of tests that are covered are set by Tokyo. Tell the medical institution "for tests covered by Tokyo's subsidy" and confirm what is covered and the fees.
[Most important] The application flow (6 steps)
For this subsidy, the order matters. Simply getting tested at a hospital first will not make you eligible. Proceed in the following flow.
- Apply for and take "TOKYO Precon Semi"
A free online course held by Tokyo (via Zoom, about 2 hours). You learn correct knowledge about pregnancy and your body. When you take it, you receive a certificate of completion[TOKYO Precon Semi (in Japanese)]. - Choose a "registered medical institution" of Tokyo
Only tests taken at a registered medical institution designated by Tokyo are covered by the subsidy. Choose one from the list on the official website. - Get tested at a registered medical institution
After taking the course, within that fiscal year, undergo the covered tests and up to a doctor's advice and consultation based on the test results. - Pay the full cost yourself for now
Pay the test cost yourself at the counter, and be sure to receive and keep the receipt and itemized statement. - Answer Tokyo's survey
As a condition of the subsidy, you must answer the survey conducted by Tokyo. - Apply for the subsidy online → transfer at a later date
From the dedicated application form, submit your certificate of completion, a copy of your resident record, receipts and the like, and your account information. After review, the subsidy is transferred to your designated account (reimbursement).
Key points on how to apply and required documents
You apply via Tokyo's online form. What is generally required is: (1) your certificate of completion for TOKYO Precon Semi (data), (2) a copy of your resident record (without your My Number, issued within the last 3 months, etc.), (3) copies of the receipt and itemized statement for the test cost, (4) your survey response, and (5) a document showing the account to receive the transfer. The document requirements (issuance timing and required items) are set in detail, so before applying, always confirm the latest designations in Tokyo's official guidance.
Watch out here (points where people trip up)
(1) Taking TOKYO Precon Semi comes first. Tests taken before the course are not covered. (2) Tests at anywhere other than a registered medical institution are not covered. (3) The test cost is paid out of pocket for now (advanced) and reimbursed later. (4) You must complete the tests, the advice, and the application within the fiscal year in which you took the course (for FY2026, by March 31, 2027 (Reiwa 9)). (5) Because capacity and course dates are limited, we recommend booking your course early.
Is the subsidy you receive taxable?
A subsidy received by an individual from a local government is, for tax purposes, treated as occasional income. Occasional income has an annual special deduction of ¥500,000, so if it stays within ¥500,000 combined with other occasional income, it is not taxed and no tax return is needed[National Tax Agency No.1490]. There is almost never a situation where this subsidy of a few tens of thousands of yen alone requires you to worry about taxes.
Note that tests with no subjective symptoms (health checks) are, in principle, not eligible for the medical expense deduction. However, if a test finds an abnormality that leads to treatment, that test cost can also become eligible for the medical expense deduction. In that case, you calculate by subtracting the subsidized amount from your medical expenses as an "amount that is compensated." For details, see How to calculate the medical expense deduction.
Summary
FAQ
How much can I receive from Tokyo's bridal check subsidy?
Up to ¥30,000 each for women and men. It is capped at the covered test cost actually incurred, and it is a reimbursement (pay-later) system in which you pay the cost yourself first and it is later transferred to your account. If you are a couple, each of the two can be eligible if the conditions are met.
Who is eligible? Can I use it even if I'm not married?
Registered residents of Tokyo aged 18–39 (18 or older and under 40 on the first-visit date of the test) are eligible, and sex and whether you have a partner do not matter. Even if you have no plans to marry, you can use it as preconception care ahead of a future pregnancy and childbirth.
Can I apply just by getting tested at a hospital?
No. It is mandatory to first take the free "TOKYO Precon Semi" (an online course), after which you must undergo the tests and a doctor's advice and consultation at a registered medical institution of Tokyo. Tests taken before the course or at anywhere other than a registered medical institution are not covered.
How do I apply? What do I need?
You apply in principle via an online form. You need your certificate of completion for TOKYO Precon Semi, a copy of your resident record, the receipt and itemized statement for the test cost, your survey response, and a document for the account to receive the transfer. The document requirements are set in detail, so before applying, confirm the latest designations in Tokyo's official guidance.
Is the subsidy taxable?
A subsidy received by an individual from a local government is occasional income, but within the annual special deduction of ¥500,000 it is not taxed and no filing is needed. There is almost no need to worry about taxes for this subsidy of a few tens of thousands of yen alone. Note also that the test cost is in principle not eligible for the medical expense deduction (except where it leads to treatment).
Reference links (sources)
This article is based on the following official materials (as of July 2026). Amounts, eligibility, deadlines, and procedures change by fiscal year, so before applying, always confirm the latest information on Tokyo's official pages.
- Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Social Welfare — Preconception care (subsidy for testing costs) (in Japanese)
- TOKYO Precon Semi (official) (in Japanese)
- National Tax Agency — Tax Answer No.1490 Occasional income (in Japanese)
* This article is general information, not medical, tax, or administrative-procedure advice. For whether the subsidy applies, the amount, and the procedures, please confirm with Tokyo, a registered medical institution, a tax office, or another authority.