Japan’s pension for foreign residents

If you live in Japan, you’re part of its pension system — and if you leave, you may be able to claim some of it back. This guide covers the two things that matter most to foreign residents: the enrolment rule and the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment, plus the important trade-off with social-security agreements. It’s based on the Japan Pension Service (JPS) and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW).

Enrolment is mandatory — for everyone

“All people who are registered to reside in Japan and aged between 20 and 59, irrespective of their nationality, must be covered by the National Pension system and must pay contributions by law.” (Japan Pension Service)

• National Pension (kokumin nenkin) — the base tier for residents (self-employed, students, unemployed, etc.). You register at your municipal office; the monthly contribution is a fixed amount set each fiscal year.
• Employees’ Pension Insurance (kosei nenkin) — if you’re an employee, your employer enrols you automatically and deducts the contribution from your salary. The rate is 18.3% of your standard monthly remuneration, split evenly between you and your employer.

Narrow exceptions: people on medical-stay or long-stay sightseeing visas are excluded from mandatory National Pension enrolment.

The Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment (dattai ichijikin)

If you leave Japan without qualifying for a Japanese pension, you can claim part of your contributions back. The core conditions are:

• You are not a Japanese national;
• You paid in for at least 6 months;
• You have not met the 10-year minimum to qualify for a Japanese pension, and have no disability-pension entitlement;
• You no longer have an address in Japan; and
• You claim within 2 years of losing that address.

“If you are non-Japanese, you may file a claim for the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payments within two years after you register to leave Japan (no longer Japanese resident).” (Japan Pension Service)

The amount is based on how many months you contributed, up to a current maximum of 60 months (5 years) — this cap was raised from 3 years to 5 years in April 2021. Exact yen amounts are set each fiscal year, so check the current JPS table.

The big trade-off: totalization agreements

Japan has social-security agreements with many countries. Some let you combine (“totalize”) your Japanese and home-country coverage periods so you can qualify for a pension; a few only prevent double coverage. Here’s the catch:

“Please note that once you receive a lump-sum withdrawal payment, your periods of coverage before you claim for it will be no longer valid for future benefit entitlements. Please carefully consider the possibility of receiving future pension benefits before the claim.” (Japan Pension Service)

In other words, claiming the lump-sum erases that Japanese period even for totalization, permanently. If you’re from a totalization country, might return to Japan, or are near the 10-year mark, this is a real decision — get individual advice (e.g. via JPS) before you claim. The list of agreement countries changes over time, so check the current status page.

How to claim

1. Before/when leaving, file a move-out notification and end your National Pension coverage at your municipal office.
2. After leaving, complete the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment Claim Form (available at municipal offices, JPS branches, and on the JPS website in multiple languages including English).
3. Mail it by airmail to the Japan Pension Service headquarters in Tokyo.

Frequently asked questions

Contribution amounts, benefit figures and the agreement-country list are updated periodically — confirm current details on nenkin.go.jp. This guide is general information, not individual advice; for a decision that depends on your own record (especially the lump-sum vs totalization choice), consult the Japan Pension Service (NENKIN Dial) or a qualified professional.