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

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.

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.

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.

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.
• 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):

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:

How to claim, the documents and getting the 20.42% tax back are in our Japan pension refund guide. For the rest of your move, see the leaving Japan checklist.

More guides

• National Health Insurance for foreigners: the other premium Category I members pay.
• Permanent residency vs naturalization
• NISA for foreigners: saving for retirement on top of the pension.