National Pension in Japan for Foreigners (2025)

Japan’s national pension system (国民年金 — kokumin nenkin) applies to all residents aged 20–59, regardless of nationality. You’re enrolled automatically. Here’s what you need to know.

Who Has to Pay?

If you’re a foreign resident in Japan aged 20–59, you are legally required to enroll in and pay the national pension. No exceptions based on nationality.

There are two systems:

• Employees (会社員) — enrolled in Kosei Nenkin (厚生年金) through your employer. Your company pays half.
• Self-employed / freelance / students — enrolled in Kokumin Nenkin (国民年金). You pay the full amount.

How Much Does It Cost?

Kokumin Nenkin (self-employed / not company employee):

Kosei Nenkin (employee): ~18.3% of your salary, split 50/50 with your employer. You pay roughly 9% of your gross salary.

Can You Skip It?

Legally, no. But if you genuinely can’t afford it, you can apply for a payment exemption or reduction at your municipal office. Low-income residents can have payments waived — you still get partial pension credit for those years.

Will You Ever Receive a Pension?

To receive full pension benefits, you need 10 years of contributions minimum. If you’re only in Japan for a few years, you likely won’t reach this.

However: Japan has social security agreements with many countries (Philippines, South Korea, US, UK, Germany, and more). If your home country has an agreement, your contribution years can be combined.

Lump-Sum Withdrawal When You Leave Japan

This is the important part for most foreigners. If you leave Japan permanently and have at least 6 months of contributions, you can claim a lump-sum withdrawal refund (dattai ikkatsu-kin).

How to apply:

1. Leave Japan (cancel your residence registration first)
2. Wait until you’re back in your home country
3. Apply within 2 years of leaving Japan
4. Submit Form to Japan Pension Service (online or by mail)

Refund amount: Based on how many months you contributed, capped at approximately 3–5 years of contributions depending on how long you’ve been enrolled.

You’ll receive roughly 80% of what you paid in (20% is withheld as tax — you may be able to reclaim this via your country’s tax treaty).

Pension Book (年金手帳)

When you start working in Japan, you’ll receive a pension book. Keep it — you’ll need the number for the withdrawal application when you leave.

As of 2022, new pension books are no longer issued. Your pension number is tied to your My Number instead.

Summary

Paying into the pension feels pointless if you’re only here short-term — but the withdrawal refund means you get most of it back. Don’t ignore the letters from the pension office.