OverseasStay.JP

Regardless of the nationality, those aged between 20 and 59 who own a registered address in Japan must join Japan’s national pension program managed by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Application for Japan’s national pension program can be done at a local municipal office where foreigners are also requested to complete their alien registration.
If a foreigner leaves Japan with no intention to come back for another long-term stay after joining the Japanese national pension or employee pension program for six months or more, they can get a lump-sum refund by sending an application within two years of their departure from Japan.

The qualifying conditions for basic old-age pension for foreigners are the same as those for Japanese people. A person who joined the national pension program for 25 years (300 months) between the ages of 25 and 59 can draw his/her pension at the age of 65, even if he/she lives outside of Japan at the time of receipt.

25 years refers to a total length of period in which a person was a member of the national pension program, and it doesn’t need to be continuous.

Japan is in Social Security Agreement with Germany, the U. K., Korea, the U.S.A., Belgium, France, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain and Italy.
If citizens from these countries join Japan’s national pension, the amount of pension paid in their home country later in life will be no lower than what is paid to those who live the whole life in their home country.

Further information is provided at personnel and pension division at local city hall or social insurance office.