# Workers' compensation (rosai) in Japan for foreign workers

URL: https://japanhow.com/work/rights/workers-compensation-japan-foreigners/
Author: JapanHow editors
Updated: Oct 29, 2026

## Summary

Workers' accident compensation insurance (労災保険, rosai) covers foreign workers in Japan whatever their nationality, for injuries or illness caused by work or the commute. As of October 2026, treatment at a designated hospital is free, and from the fourth day off you get 80% of your daily basis amount. You file at the labor standards inspection office, even if your employer will not sign. Claims expire after 2 years, 5 for a survivors' lump sum.

## Key facts

- Covered: All workers, any nationality
- Treatment: Free at designated hospitals
- Leave pay: 80% of daily basis, from day 4
- Claim deadline: 2 years (5 for survivors' lump sum)

**Workers' accident compensation insurance** (労災保険, "rosai") covers you as a foreign worker in Japan whatever your nationality. If you are hurt or fall ill because of your job or your commute, **treatment at a designated hospital is free**, and from the **fourth day off** you receive **80% of your daily basis amount** (60% benefit plus 20% special allowance). Your employer pays the premiums. You file with the labor standards inspection office (労働基準監督署), and you have **2 years** for most claims. All as of October 2026.

**Informational only:** This page summarizes the labor ministry's published guidebook for foreign workers. It is not legal advice. For a dispute about whether an injury is work-related, ask the labor standards inspection office, a lawyer (弁護士) or a labor and social security attorney (社労士).

## Who is covered?

The ministry's guidebook says rosai applies to foreigners working in Japan regardless of nationality. That includes people with a work-permitted residence status, and also, for example, a student who is hurt at a part-time job.

- It applies to any business that has at least one worker, of any size.
- Part-time (パート), side-job (アルバイト) and temporary workers are covered. The employment form does not matter.
- Employers pay the premiums (the ministry says costs are in principle met by employer premiums).
- If your employer never enrolled in rosai, you can in principle still receive benefits for a work or commuting injury.
- Since November 2024, certain freelancers can join through special enrolment (特別加入). That is a separate, voluntary scheme.

Rosai is separate from health insurance. The ministry states that **health insurance cannot be used for work injuries**, so tell the hospital the injury came from work or the commute.

## What counts?

| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Work accident (業務災害) | Injury or illness caused by your job |
| Commuting accident (通勤災害) | Injury on the way to or from work. Hitting a cyclist who cannot be identified is covered. Taking an unusual route is covered if conditions are met |
| Multiple-job cause (複数業務要因災害) | Illness caused by the combined load of two or more jobs |

## What does rosai pay?

| Benefit | What you get |
|---|---|
| Medical care (療養給付) | Free treatment at a rosai hospital or designated medical institution (指定医療機関). If you had to use another hospital, you pay first and claim the full cost back. Transport costs can be paid if conditions are met |
| Leave (休業給付) | From the 4th day off, 80% of the daily basis amount per day, if you cannot work and are not paid wages |
| Long-term injury pension (傷病年金) | If you have not recovered after 1 year 6 months and meet the grade |
| Disability (障害給付) | If a disability remains after recovery |
| Survivors (遺族給付) | Pension for family if the worker dies, plus a 3,000,000 yen special lump sum |
| Funeral (葬祭料) | 315,000 yen plus 30 days of the basis amount (or 60 days if higher) |
| Nursing care (介護給付) | For some people on disability or long-term injury pensions who need care |

**How the leave amount works.** The basis amount (給付基礎日額) is your average wage: the 3 months of pay before the accident divided by calendar days. The guidebook's example is a 200,000 yen monthly wage, which gives about 6,522 yen a day as the basis and about **5,217 yen per day** while off work.

**Days 1 to 3.** Rosai pays nothing for the first three days. For a work accident, your employer must pay 60% of your average wage for those days. For a commuting accident, the law does not set that duty.

If you have two jobs, the basis amounts of both employers are added together.

## How do you claim?

You need a bank account in your name to receive payments. If you plan to leave Japan, see [closing a bank account when leaving Japan](/money/banking/close-bank-account-leaving-japan/) before you close it.

## What if my employer will not cooperate?

Procedures are in principle done by the injured person. The ministry says that **even if your employer refuses to certify the form, you can still claim**. Go to the prefectural labor bureau or the nearest labor standards inspection office.

- If your employer says the accident is not covered, or that rosai is not enrolled, you can still ask the office. Benefits are possible in principle even if the employer did not enrol.
- If you quit, or the company has closed, you can still claim. The office may ask for the names and addresses of the employer and coworkers.
- If the company already paid some compensation (treatment costs, leave pay, damages), rosai may pay less or nothing for the same part.
- Under Article 12-5 of the rosai law, your right to benefits does not change because you retire from the job.

For problems at work in general, see [your labor rights as a foreign worker](/work/rights/labor-rights-foreign-workers-japan/).

## Deadlines

| Claim | Time limit |
|---|---|
| Medical expenses you paid yourself | 2 years from the day after each payment |
| Free treatment at a designated hospital | No limit |
| Leave pay | 2 years from the day after each unpaid day |
| Survivors' lump sum | 5 years from the day after the death |

Missing the limit means you cannot receive that benefit, so claim early.

## If you leave Japan

The guidebook warns that **some benefits cannot be received after returning to your home country**. For claims made from outside Japan:

- Amounts are converted at the foreign exchange selling rate on the day of the decision.
- Treatment abroad is covered if the content is judged appropriate.
- Aftercare, prosthetic and assistive devices, post-surgery treatment and the school support allowance for children in Japanese schools are limited to Japan.

If you are mid-claim, ask the office before you leave. Survivors abroad can claim too; the guidebook lists a death certificate and proof of relationship, and accepts proof of blood relationship if your country has no family register.

## Getting help in your language

The labor ministry runs free lines for foreign workers. Details can change.

| Service | Hours | English |
|---|---|---|
| Telephone Consultation Service for Foreign Workers | Mon to Fri, 10:00 to 15:00 (closed noon to 13:00) | 0570-001-701 |
| Labour Standards Advice Hotline (労働条件相談ほっとライン) | Weekdays 17:00 to 22:00, weekends and holidays 9:00 to 21:00 | 0120-531-401 |

Both also cover Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Nepali, Myanmar, Korean, Thai, Indonesian, Khmer and Mongolian, on set days. Some labor offices also have in-person foreign worker counters. These lines give general advice on working conditions; for your claim itself, the labor standards inspection office decides.

If the injury came with a dismissal, read [being dismissed in Japan](/work/rights/dismissal-japan-foreign-workers/). For a long absence from work, see how your [health insurance](/money/insurance/national-health-insurance-japan-foreigners/) works, since it is separate from rosai.

## Questions people ask

### Does workers' compensation in Japan cover foreigners?

Yes. The labor ministry says rosai applies to foreigners working in Japan regardless of nationality. It names people with a work-permitted residence status, and also a student who has an accident at a part-time job. Part-time and temporary workers are covered too.

### Who pays for rosai insurance?

Employers. The ministry says the cost is in principle covered by premiums paid by the employer.

### What if my employer says it is not a work accident or will not sign the form?

You can still file. The ministry says claims are possible even without the employer's certification, and tells you to consult the prefectural labor bureau or the labor standards inspection office. Procedures are in principle done by the injured person.

### Can I claim rosai after I quit or leave Japan?

Yes to both, with limits. The right to benefits does not change when you retire from the job, and you can claim after quitting. If you leave Japan, treatment abroad can be paid if judged appropriate, but aftercare, assistive devices and some other support are only for people in Japan.

### Can I use my health insurance card instead?

Not for a work injury. The ministry says health insurance cannot be used for work-related injuries. Tell the hospital it is a work or commuting accident so it can process it as rosai.

### Where can I ask for help in English?

The labor ministry's Telephone Consultation Service for Foreign Workers is 0570-001-701 (English, Mon to Fri, 10:00 to 15:00). The Labour Standards Advice Hotline is 0120-531-401 (weekday evenings and weekends). Both are free general advice lines.

## Sources

- [労災保険請求のためのガイドブック 第一編 (for foreign workers in Japan, Japanese edition, R7.2)](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11200000/001628619.pdf), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省) (accessed Oct 29, 2026)
- [労災補償 (労働者災害補償保険)](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/koyou_roudou/roudoukijun/rousai/index.html), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省) (accessed Oct 29, 2026)
- [労働者災害補償保険法, Article 12-5](https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/322AC0000000050), e-Gov Law Search (Digital Agency) (accessed Oct 29, 2026)
- [Telephone Consultation Service for Foreign Workers / Labour Standards Advice Hotline](https://www.check-roudou.mhlw.go.jp/soudan/foreigner_eng.html), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省) (accessed Oct 29, 2026)