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 ruleand 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. How it is calculated depends on which scheme you paid into.

How much: National Pension (FY2026 figures)

JPS gives the formula as the premium for the fiscal year containing the last month you paid × 1/2 × the number used for the calculation (translated; the Japanese reads 「最後に保険料を納付した月が属する年度の保険料額×2分の1×支給額計算に用いる数」). So the year that matters is the one in which youlast paid, not the year you claim. For people whose last paid month falls betweenApril 2026 and March 2027, JPS publishes these amounts:

These follow from the FY2026 National Pension premium, which JPS gives as ¥17,920 a month (¥17,920 × ½ × 6 = ¥53,760). If you last paid in an earlier fiscal year, the amount is slightly different — for example ¥525,300 for 60 months if your last payment was in FY2025. JPS keeps the full year-by-year table. Months you left unpaid (without an approved exemption) do not count; partly-exempt months count at ¾, ½ or ¼. If your last payment was in March 2021 or earlier, the cap is 36 months.

How much: Employees’ Pension Insurance

If you were an employee, the payment is your average standard remuneration × a payment rate. The average includes bonuses for periods from April 2003. The payment rate is half of the pension premium rate multiplied by a number set by how long you were covered; for people whose last month of coverage is April 2021 or later, JPS lists these rates:

Illustration only, using the formula above: an average standard remuneration of ¥300,000 and 36 months of coverage gives ¥300,000 × 3.3 = ¥990,000 before tax. Your own average is on your pension record; ask JPS if you are unsure.

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.