- The complete timeline and checklist for leaving Japan permanently
- How to claim your Japanese pension refund (lump-sum withdrawal)
- What to do with your Japanese bank accounts, credit cards, and investments
- How to cancel your residence registration and return your residence card
- Shipping belongings, selling furniture, and final tax filings
Key tasks when leaving Japan: cancel residence registration at city hall (submit 転出届), apply for pension lump-sum refund within 2 years of departure, file final tax return before leaving, close/transfer bank accounts, and handle your apartment move-out properly. Start the process 2–3 months before departure.
Leaving Japan involves more administrative steps than most countries. The good news: Japan’s systems are well-organized. If you do things in the right order, with enough lead time, the departure process is manageable.
Timeline: When to Do What
| Timeframe | Actions |
|---|---|
| 3 months before | Give notice to landlord (1–2 months required), start selling furniture |
| 2 months before | Book removal company or shipping service, confirm pension refund eligibility |
| 1 month before | Cancel internet/utilities (some require 30-day notice), start selling remaining items |
| 2 weeks before | Cancel insurance, notify employer, arrange final payroll |
| Final week | Ship belongings, deep clean apartment, complete move-out inspection |
| Departure day | Cancel residence registration (転出届) at city hall |
| After departure | Apply for pension refund (within 2 years), file Japanese tax return if needed |
Step 1: Apartment Move-Out
Notice period: Most Japanese leases require 1–2 months’ written notice. Check your contract (賃貸借契約書) for the exact requirement.
Move-out inspection: Schedule the inspection with your landlord/management company. Be present — understand what’s being charged before signing anything. See our complete moving out guide for deposit return rules and what landlords can and cannot charge for.
Selling furniture: Start early with Mercari Japan and local Facebook groups (Tokyo Expats, Osaka Foreigners). Furniture sells better when buyers have a few weeks to arrange pickup. See our Mercari guide.
Step 2: Cancel Residence Registration
Where: Your local city hall (区役所/市役所) What to submit: 転出届 (tenshutsudoke — moving-out notification) When: Submit on your departure day or within 14 days before departure
At the same appointment:
- Return your Residence Card (在留カード) — mandatory when leaving Japan permanently
- Cancel your My Number card or report the change in residence status
- Cancel National Health Insurance enrollment
Important: Do NOT cancel registration weeks before departure and then remain in Japan — you’re legally required to be registered while you’re residing in Japan.
Step 3: Pension Refund — The Money You Can Claim Back
This is one of the most valuable steps and one that many foreigners miss.
Who Is Eligible
If you paid into Japan’s pension system (国民年金 or 厚生年金) for at least 6 months, you can claim a lump-sum withdrawal (脱退一時金) after leaving Japan.
Eligibility conditions:
- Have not had Japanese nationality
- No longer have an address in Japan
- Not entitled to a Japanese pension
- Apply within 2 years of departure
How Much You Get Back
The refund is based on how long you contributed. Full tables are on the Japan Pension Service website, but rough estimates:
- 6 months contribution: ~¥50,000–100,000
- 1 year: ~¥100,000–200,000
- 3 years: ~¥300,000–450,000
- 5 years: ~¥500,000–700,000
Important: Japan withholds 20.42% tax on the refund. You can reclaim some of this by appointing a tax representative (税務代理人) in Japan before leaving — often a Japanese friend or the pension office can explain the process.
How to Apply
- Leave Japan permanently
- Within 2 years, submit the application form to the Japan Pension Service
- Can be submitted by mail from abroad
- Provide: pension number, Japanese bank account details (or foreign bank with SWIFT), copy of residence card return receipt
Forms available: Japan Pension Service website (nenkin.go.jp) — some English documents available.
Getting a pension refund sent to a foreign bank? Wise lets you receive the JPY payment and convert to your home currency at the real rate — avoiding the bank's exchange margin.
Set Up Wise for Your Refund →Step 4: Tax Filing
Requirement: File a final Japanese tax return (確定申告) for the portion of the tax year you lived in Japan.
Deadline: You can file early (before March 15 of the following year) or appoint a tax agent to file on your behalf after you leave.
Get a tax representative: If you’re leaving mid-year, appoint a 納税管理人 (tax agent) in Japan before departure. This person will handle your tax filing and any correspondence from the tax office. Can be a trusted friend, colleague, or paid tax advisor.
Refund possibility: If your employer withheld more tax than you owe (common when leaving mid-year), filing a return generates a refund. This is worth doing.
Step 5: Bank Accounts
Options when leaving:
- Keep open if possible — some Japanese banks allow non-residents to maintain accounts. Useful for receiving pension refund.
- Transfer balance to Wise — use Wise to convert and transfer JPY to your home currency at the real exchange rate.
- Close the account — final option. Transfer all balance out first.
Before closing:
- Cancel all automatic payments (口座振替) — electricity, gas, insurance, subscriptions
- Transfer balance out
- Request account closure at a branch in person
Rakuten Bank / Online banks: Can be closed online in Japanese. Balances transfer to linked account.
Step 6: Utilities, Insurance, and Subscriptions
Electricity (電気): Call your electric company and specify a closure date (解約). Can often be done in Japanese by phone or online. Final bill estimated based on your meter.
Gas (ガス): Must be done in person OR by phone — a technician visits to read the meter and disconnect. Schedule this before your move-out date.
Water (水道): Contact your municipality (水道局). Usually handled when you cancel residence registration.
Internet: Most broadband providers require 30–60 days’ notice. Check your contract. If you leave mid-contract, an early cancellation fee may apply.
National Health Insurance: Cancelled automatically when you submit your residence cancellation at city hall.
Private insurance: Cancel Japanese life, renters, and supplemental health insurance policies. Get a refund for any prepaid portion.
Rakuten Card / Credit cards: Cancel Japanese credit cards before closing bank accounts. Ensure all balances are paid.
Step 7: NISA and iDeCo
NISA: You cannot maintain a NISA account as a non-resident. Before leaving:
- Sell holdings (no tax on gains within NISA)
- Transfer cash to your bank account
- Close NISA account at your brokerage
iDeCo: iDeCo is locked until age 60. When you leave Japan:
- Your iDeCo balance remains in the account
- You stop contributing
- At age 60, you can withdraw regardless of where you live
- Early withdrawal (脱退一時金) is possible if you meet specific conditions (fewer than 10 years of Japan pension enrollment and other conditions — check with your iDeCo provider)
See our NISA vs iDeCo guide for details.
Step 8: Sell or Ship Belongings
Shipping options:
- Japan Post (EMS/SAL): For packages up to 30kg. Cost-effective for smaller shipments.
- Yamato Kuroneko International: Door-to-door service, English support available
- International moving companies (Allied, Crown, Nippon Express): For whole-house moves. Quote 2–3 months in advance.
Air vs sea freight:
- Air: 1–2 weeks, expensive (~¥5,000–10,000/kg)
- Sea: 4–8 weeks, much cheaper but slow
What to sell before leaving: Furniture (Mercari), electronics (Mercari/Hard Off), books (Book Off), appliances. Price them to sell — you can usually recover 30–60% of value on Mercari.
Large item disposal: Items you can’t sell need proper disposal (粗大ゴミ / sodai gomi). Register online or at your ward office, pay the fee (¥500–2,000/item), attach a sticker, and leave on the designated collection day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get a pension refund when leaving Japan? Yes — if you contributed to Japan’s pension system for at least 6 months. Apply within 2 years of departure to the Japan Pension Service. The refund ranges from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yen depending on contribution length. A 20.42% withholding tax applies, which you may be able to reclaim.
Do I need to file a Japanese tax return when leaving? Yes — you should file a final tax return for the portion of the year you lived in Japan. If you leave mid-year, your employer’s withholding may have over- or under-taxed you. A return is required and may result in a refund.
What happens to my Japanese bank account when I leave? It’s best to transfer your balance out using Wise before closing or leaving the account. Some accounts can remain open for non-residents to receive the pension refund. Once all refunds are received, close the account at a branch in person.
How long before leaving should I start the departure process? Start 2–3 months before departure. Landlord notice (1–2 months), internet cancellation (30–60 days), shipping bookings, and furniture sales all require lead time.