# The Japanese pension for foreigners: pay, exemption, refund or agreement

URL: https://japanhow.com/money/pension/japan-pension-foreigners/
Author: japanhow editors
Updated: Oct 21, 2026

## Summary

Every resident of Japan aged 20 to 59 must join the public pension, regardless of nationality. Employees are enrolled in the Employees' Pension by their employer; everyone else pays the National Pension, ¥17,920 a month in FY2026 (as of October 2026). Low earners can apply for exemption, and students for the Student Special Payment System. Unpaid pension can hurt visa reviews and counts against permanent residency. When you leave, you choose between the lump-sum refund and keeping your years.

## Key facts

- Who must join: All residents aged 20 to 59
- National Pension, FY2026: ¥17,920 a month
- Old-age pension needs: 10 years in total
- Totalization agreements: 20 countries

Japan's public pension is compulsory for foreigners too: **every resident aged 20 to 59 must join**, whatever your nationality or visa. If you are an employee, your employer enrolls you in the Employees' Pension (厚生年金). Otherwise you pay the National Pension (国民年金), **¥17,920 a month** in FY2026, as of October 2026. You can apply for an exemption if your income is low. Unpaid months can hurt visa reviews and permanent residency.

## How does the Japanese pension system work?

Japan has two layers. Which one you pay depends on your work, not your nationality.

| You are | Category | What you pay | How you join |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company employee | Category II | Employees' Pension: 18.3% of your standard pay, half paid by your employer | Your employer enrolls you |
| Self-employed, freelancer, student, unemployed, aged 20 to 59 | Category I | National Pension, ¥17,920 a month (FY2026) | You apply at the city office within 14 days |
| Dependent spouse of a Category II employee, aged 20 to 59, living in Japan | Category III | Nothing extra | The spouse's employer registers you within 14 days |

The Employees' Pension rate has been fixed at **18.3%** since September 2017. You and your employer each pay half, so 9.15% comes out of your pay. Employees in it are also covered by the National Pension automatically.

### Is pension mandatory for foreigners in Japan?

Yes. The Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) says the National Pension covers everyone with an address in Japan aged 20 to 59, **regardless of nationality**. That includes the gap between arriving and starting a job, and any gap after you leave one. By law you must enroll and pay for those months too.

## How do I pay the National Pension?

Each month's premium is due by the **end of the following month**. You can pay with the Japan Pension Service's payment slip, by bank transfer, credit card, smartphone app or Nenkin Net. Paying several months in advance earns a discount.

## Can I get an exemption from the National Pension?

Yes, if your income is low. You apply at your **city office**. The decision is generally based on the **previous year's income** of you, your spouse and the head of household. The Japan Pension Service notes your first year in Japan may qualify.

| Type | You pay a month (FY2026) | Income limit, previous year |
|---|---|---|
| Full exemption (全額免除) | ¥0 | (dependents + 1) x ¥350,000 + ¥320,000 |
| 3/4 exemption | ¥4,480 | ¥880,000 + deductions |
| Half exemption | ¥8,960 | ¥1,280,000 + deductions |
| 1/4 exemption | ¥13,440 | ¥1,680,000 + deductions |
| Payment deferral (納付猶予), under 50 | ¥0 | Same as full exemption, counting only you and your spouse |

Exempt months still count toward your pension. From April 2009 a fully exempt month counts as **half** a paid month toward the amount, and partly exempt months count more. If you don't pay the remaining part of a partial exemption, the month counts as unpaid.

You can apply for months up to **2 years and 1 month** back. **Lost your job?** The special exemption for job loss ignores last year's income if you show your separation notice (離職票). See [unemployment benefits for foreigners](/money/benefits/unemployment-benefits-japan-foreigners/).

### Do international students have to pay the Japanese pension?

Yes, students aged 20 or over are Category I. But students at eligible schools can apply for the **Student Special Payment System** (学生納付特例):

- **Schools:** universities, graduate schools, junior colleges, technical colleges, vocational schools (専修学校) and some other schools with courses of 1 year or more. Check that yours is on the list.
- **Income limit:** only **your own** income counts: ¥1,280,000 + ¥380,000 per dependent + social insurance deductions.
- **Effect:** the months count toward the 10-year minimum and for disability pension, but **not** toward the old-age amount unless you pay them later.
- **Renew it every year.** Approval runs April to March.

You can pay exempt or deferred months later (追納) within **10 years**. An extra charge is added from the third fiscal year.

## Does unpaid pension affect my visa or permanent residency?

Yes, as of October 2026:

- **Visa renewal and changes.** The Japan Pension Service warns that leaving premiums unpaid can affect reviews of your status of residence.
- **Permanent residency.** The PR guideline (revised February 2026) requires public pension and health insurance premiums paid properly. Paying late, even before you apply, is in principle judged negatively. Read [permanent residency requirements](/visa/residency/permanent-residency-japan-requirements/).
- **After PR.** From 1 April 2027, permanent residency can be revoked for deliberately not paying public taxes and charges (公租公課), among other grounds.

If you can't pay, apply for an exemption: approved months are recorded as exempt, not unpaid, in your pension record. For your own case, a licensed immigration specialist (行政書士) can advise.

## How much pension will I get?

To receive the old-age basic pension (老齢基礎年金) you need **10 years** in total of paid months, exempt months and certain other periods. The full basic pension for FY2026 is **¥70,608 a month** (¥70,408 if born on or before 1 April 1956).

One rule helps foreign residents: if you got **permanent residency or Japanese nationality**, the years you lived abroad before that, between 20 and 59, count toward the 10 years. They don't add to the amount.

## What are social security agreements?

Japan's social security agreements (社会保障協定) stop you paying into two systems at once, and most also **add up** your pension periods across both countries. The Japan Pension Service lists 24 agreements in force (page updated October 2025):

| Agreement type | Countries |
|---|---|
| Adds up pension periods (totalization) | Germany, US, Belgium, France, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain, Ireland, Brazil, Switzerland, Hungary, India, Luxembourg, Philippines, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Austria |
| Prevents double coverage only | UK, South Korea, China, Italy |

With totalization, your Japanese years can count toward the 10 years even if you spend most of your career at home. There's no agreement with Pakistan, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka, among others.

## What should I do with my pension when I leave Japan?

You have two choices:

**The refund erases everything:** Claiming the lump-sum withdrawal payment erases **all** your Japanese pension periods, including months above 60. A 2025 law will raise the cap to 8 years and stop claims while a re-entry permit is valid, but as of October 2026 no start date has been set.

How to claim, the documents and getting the 20.42% tax back are in our [Japan pension refund guide](/money/pension/pension-refund-japan/). For the rest of your move, see the [leaving Japan checklist](/visa/leaving/leaving-japan-checklist/).

## More guides

- [National Health Insurance for foreigners](/money/insurance/national-health-insurance-japan-foreigners/): the other premium Category I members pay.
- [Permanent residency vs naturalization](/visa/residency/permanent-residency-vs-naturalization/)
- [NISA for foreigners](/money/investing/nisa-for-foreigners/): saving for retirement on top of the pension.

## Questions people ask

### Is the Japanese pension mandatory for foreigners?

Yes. The Japan Pension Service says all residents aged 20 to 59 must enroll regardless of nationality. Employees are enrolled by their employer; others enroll at the city office within 14 days.

### Can foreign students get an exemption from the National Pension?

Students at eligible schools can apply for the Student Special Payment System (学生納付特例) if their own income is no more than ¥1,280,000 plus deductions. The months count toward eligibility but not toward the pension amount unless paid later.

### Does unpaid pension affect permanent residency in Japan?

Yes. The PR guideline requires pension premiums paid properly, and payments made late are in principle judged negatively. The Japan Pension Service also warns that unpaid premiums can affect status of residence reviews.

### Can I get my Japanese pension if I leave Japan?

If you have 10 years of coverage, you qualify for an old-age pension later. With less than 10 years you can claim the lump-sum withdrawal payment, which erases your years, or keep them.

### Which countries have a social security agreement with Japan?

The Japan Pension Service lists 24 agreements in force. 20 add up pension periods, including the US, Germany, India, the Philippines, Brazil and Australia. The UK, South Korea, China and Italy only prevent double coverage.

## Sources

- [Enrollment in National Pension](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/international/english/japanese-system/nationalpension/np_enroll.html), Japan Pension Service (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [National Pension Contributions](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/international/english/japanese-system/nationalpension/np_contribution.html), Japan Pension Service (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [Exemption of National Pension Contributions](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/international/english/japanese-system/nationalpension/np_exemption.html), Japan Pension Service (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [国民年金保険料の免除制度・納付猶予制度](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/kokunen/menjo/20150428.html), Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [国民年金保険料の学生納付特例制度](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/kokunen/menjo/20150514.html), Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [外国人の方の年金加入について](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/tokusetsu/gaikokujinkoyou.html), Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [Employment/ Job change/ Retirement](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/international/english/scene/job/index.html), Japan Pension Service (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [厚生年金保険料額表](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/kounen/hokenryo/ryogaku/ryogakuhyo/index.html), Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [保険料と標準報酬月額](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/kounen/hokenryo/hoshu/20150515-01.html), Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [令和8年度の年金額改定](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/oshirase/taisetu/kojin/2026/202604/0401.html), Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [老齢基礎年金の受給要件・合算対象期間](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/jukyu/seido/roureinenkin/jukyu-yoken/20140421-05.html), Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [協定を結んでいる国との協定発効時期](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/shaho-kyotei/kunibetsu/kyoteitimesystem.html), Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [脱退一時金の制度](https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/jukyu/seido/sonota-kyufu/dattai-ichiji/20150406.html), Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [永住許可に関するガイドライン](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/nyukan_nyukan50.html), Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [在留資格の取消し（入管法第22条の4）](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/torikeshi_00002.html), Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [年金制度改正法 (令和7年)](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000147284_00017.html), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省) (accessed Oct 21, 2026)