Ryoiku Techo (certificate for people with intellectual disabilities) procedures

How to apply for the Ryoiku Techo issued to people with intellectual disabilities, how the assessment works, and what to report after you receive it.

Last verified October 23, 2026

This page was compiled by AIRI from official national government pages and covers the procedures that are the same nationwide. It is not operated by the national government or by any municipality. For the actual procedure, follow the guidance of the municipality where you live.

1.What is the Ryoiku Techo?

The Ryoiku Techo is a certificate issued to people who have been assessed as having an intellectual disability by a child guidance center (jido sodanjo) or an Intellectual Disability Rehabilitation Counseling Center (chiteki shogaisha kosei sodanjo). Together with the Physical Disability Certificate and the Mental Health and Welfare Certificate, it is one of the "disability certificates" (shogaisha techo).

Holders of a Ryoiku Techo can more easily receive disability welfare services under the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act, as well as services offered by municipalities and private businesses.

The name and grades differ by region

The Ryoiku Techo is issued by prefectures and designated cities, each of which sets its own rules, such as the assessment criteria. For this reason some regions issue it under a different name, like Tokyo's "Ai no Techo", and some grade the degree of disability more finely.

2.From application to issuance

The application is made by the person concerned or their guardian. The disability welfare counter of your municipality (city, ward, town or village), the welfare office (fukushi jimusho), accepts it, and the certificate is issued after an assessment.

  1. 1

    Consult and apply at your municipal counter

    Attach a photo to the application form and write your My Number (individual number) on it. Ask your municipal counter what you need to bring and whether you must book the assessment in advance.

  2. 2

    Take the assessment

    Children under 18 are assessed at a child guidance center and people aged 18 or over at an Intellectual Disability Rehabilitation Counseling Center. The assessment determines whether there is an intellectual disability and how severe it is.

  3. 3

    Receive the certificate

    Issuance is decided based on the assessment result, and the certificate is handed over through the counter where you applied.

If you have already been assessed

If you have already been assessed at a child guidance center or an Intellectual Disability Rehabilitation Counseling Center, the procedure may go ahead based on that result.

3.Degree of disability and reassessment

Grades in the national notice
GradeShown on the certificate asRough guide
SevereAA disability that requires constant care in daily life
OtherBA disability that does not count as severe

Some regions use finer grades, such as "moderate" (Tokyo's Ai no Techo has grades 1 through 4).

Because the degree of disability is checked again after issuance, the certificate shows the date of your next assessment. As a rule this is every 2 years, but a longer interval may be set depending on your condition. Have a new assessment at the time specified.

4.If you move, change your name, or lose the certificate

Notifications after issuance
SituationWhat to do
The holder's name or address changedReport it at your municipal counter and bring the certificate. The entry on the certificate is corrected.
The guardian changed, or the guardian's name or address changedLikewise, report it at your municipal counter and bring the certificate.
You moved to another prefecture or designated cityReport it at the municipal counter of your new home. Depending on the new region's decision, a new certificate may be issued.
The certificate is torn or dirty, or the record pages are fullApply for reissuance and bring that certificate.
You lost the certificateApply for reissuance. You need a document that proves your identity (such as your My Number Card).

Moving procedures

5.When you turn 20

People who have had an intellectual disability since childhood may be able to receive the Basic Disability Pension (shogai kiso nenkin) from age 20. If a Ryoiku Techo has been issued, the disability is treated as confirmed before age 20. Claim it after you turn 20 at the National Pension counter of your municipality (city, ward, town or village).

Basic Disability Pension procedures

What differs by municipality

The following items differ from one municipality to another, so they are not covered on this page. Check the official website or counter of the municipality where you live.

  • The name of the Ryoiku Techo (Ai no Techo, Midori no Techo, etc.) and how finely the degree of disability is graded
  • Where the application counter is and its hours
  • How to book the assessment and how long it takes to get one
  • What you need to apply (photo size, etc.)
  • Services and discounts offered only by your municipality to Ryoiku Techo holders

You can look up the main phone number and office hours of your municipality in the Municipal Office Phone Directory.

Sources

Change history

First edition.

Other procedures

Related pages

This guide is a general explanation of nationwide systems, compiled by AIRI (operated by LIVERUSH Co., Ltd.) from official pages of the national government and related bodies. It is not operated by the national government or by any municipality. For your individual procedure, the guidance of the municipality where you live takes precedence. The content reflects the situation as of the last-verified date shown at the top of the page.

If you notice an error or outdated content, please let us know through the correction request form. We check it against the sources, correct it, and record the change in the change history.

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