The Japan Pension Refund (脱退一時金), officially known as the Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment, is available to foreign nationals who were enrolled in Japan’s public pension system and wish to claim a refund after leaving the country. If you contributed to Japan’s public pension but do not plan to spend your retirement in Japan — whether due to returning to your home country or relocating elsewhere — you may be eligible to apply.
In this article, Certified Financial Planner Lili Katoh breaks down everything you need to know about claiming your Japan pension refund in a clear and straightforward way.
About the Supervisor & Writer
Lili Katoh
Certified Financial Planner®
Founder of Money Step Office Inc.
Lili Katoh specializes in insurance, life planning, and asset management. She is a Health Management Expert Advisor and author of “Setai Nenshū 1000 Man En” and “Gattsuri Tamaru Chokin Recipe”. Born in California, USA, she brings international insight to Japanese financial planning.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: What Is the Japan Pension Refund?
The Japan Pension Refund — officially known as the Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment — is a system that allows foreign nationals who were enrolled in Japan’s public pension to claim back a portion of their contributions after leaving the country. If you contributed to Japan’s public pension but do not plan to spend your retirement in Japan, whether due to returning to your home country or relocating elsewhere, you may be eligible to apply.
Anyone living in Japan is generally required to enroll in the public pension system if they meet certain conditions, such as being between the ages of 20 and 59. The pension system is designed to provide financial security in retirement, with the premiums you pay reflected in the pension benefits you receive in the future.
However, if you leave Japan before reaching retirement age, receiving a Japanese pension can become difficult. For this reason, a system exists that allows those who meet certain conditions — such as not holding Japanese nationality — to claim back a portion of the premiums they paid, in the form of the Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment.
Chapter 2: Who Is Eligible for the Japan Pension Refund?
To receive the Japan Pension Refund (Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment), you must meet all of the eligibility requirements listed below. The conditions differ slightly depending on whether you were enrolled in the National Pension (国民年金) or Employees’ Pension Insurance (厚生年金保険).
National Pension (国民年金) — Eligibility Requirements
If you were enrolled in the National Pension, you are eligible to apply if you meet all of the following conditions:
- You do not hold Japanese nationality.
- You are no longer enrolled in Japan’s public pension system (either National Pension or Employees’ Pension Insurance).
- You have at least 6 months of contribution history under the National Pension, including periods of paid premiums and certain exemption periods.
- You have not met the 10-year (120-month) qualifying period required to receive an old-age pension.
- You have never been entitled to a disability pension or any other pension benefits.
- You do not have a registered address in Japan at the time the Japan Pension Service receives your claim.
- You are applying within 2 years of losing your public pension enrollment status. If you still had a registered address in Japan on the date you lost that status, the 2-year window begins from the date you subsequently deregistered your Japanese address.
Employees' Pension Insurance (厚生年金保険) — Eligibility Requirements
If you were enrolled in Employees’ Pension Insurance, you are eligible to apply if you meet all of the following conditions:
- You do not hold Japanese nationality.
- You are no longer enrolled in Japan’s public pension system (either National Pension or Employees’ Pension Insurance).
- You have a total enrollment period of at least 6 months under Employees’ Pension Insurance.
- You have not met the 10-year (120-month) qualifying period required to receive an old-age pension.
- You have never been entitled to a disability pension or any other pension benefits.
- You do not have a registered address in Japan at the time the Japan Pension Service receives your claim.
- You are applying within 2 years of losing your public pension enrollment status. If you still had a registered address in Japan on the date you lost that status, the 2-year window begins from the date you subsequently deregistered your Japanese address.
Chapter 3: How Is the Japan Pension Refund Calculated?
The amount you receive through the Japan Pension Refund (Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment) depends on whether you were enrolled in the National Pension (国民年金) or Employees’ Pension Insurance (厚生年金保険). Let’s take a look at how each is calculated.
National Pension (国民年金) — Calculation Method
The National Pension refund amount is determined by two factors: the monthly premium for the fiscal year in which your final contribution was made, and the total number of months you contributed. Please note that any months in which premiums went unpaid are excluded from the calculation.
Formula:
Monthly premium for the fiscal year of your final contribution × 1/2 × Multiplier*
*The multiplier is determined by your total number of contribution months, ranging from 6 to 60 (applicable when the final contribution month falls on or after April 2021).
Example Payout Amounts:
If your final contribution month falls between April 2025 and March 2026, the refund amounts are as follows:
| Contribution Period | Refund Amount |
|---|---|
|
6 months or more, less than 12 months |
¥52,530 |
|
60 months or more |
¥525,300 |
Employees' Pension Insurance (厚生年金保険) — Calculation Method
The Employees’ Pension Insurance refund amount is based on your average standard monthly remuneration during your enrollment period.
Formula:
Average standard remuneration during enrollment period* × Payout rate
*The average standard remuneration includes your standard monthly salary, and for periods from April 2003 onward, also includes your standard bonus amounts.
The payout rate ranges from 0.5 to 5.5, determined by your total enrollment period and calculated based on the final month of your enrollment (the month prior to the month in which you lost Employees’ Pension Insurance coverage). This range applies when the final month falls on or after April 2021.
Chapter 4: Required Documents and Step-by-Step Application Process
Here is an overview of the documents you will need and the steps to follow in order to receive your Japan Pension Refund (Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment).
Required Documents
To claim your refund, you will need to submit an application along with the following documents.
1. Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment Claim Form (脱退一時金請求書)
The form can be downloaded from the Japan Pension Service website, requested by phone via the Nenkin Dial helpline, or picked up in person at a pension office. The form is available in the following languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Indonesian, Filipino, Thai, Vietnamese, Burmese, Khmer, Russian, Nepali, and Mongolian. → Download the form here
2. Copy of your passport
Include the pages showing your name, date of birth, nationality, signature, and visa status.
3. Proof that you no longer have a registered address in Japan
This can be a copy of your Residence Deregistration Certificate (住民票の除票) or the page of your passport showing your departure date. If you submitted a moving-out notification (転出届) at your local municipal office before leaving Japan, this document is not required.
4. Bank account verification document
A document confirming your bank name, branch name, branch address, account number, and account holder name. Please note that Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) and some online-only banks are not eligible for receiving the payment.
5. Document showing your Basic Pension Number (基礎年金番号)
This can be your Basic Pension Number notification letter or your pension handbook (年金手帳).
6. Letter of proxy (委任状) — if applying through a representative
Step-by-Step Application Process
Follow the steps below to apply for your Japan Pension Refund.
Step 1: Confirm your pension enrollment records and Basic Pension Number.
Step 2: Submit a moving-out notification (転出届) at your local municipal office before leaving Japan.
Step 3: Prepare your Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment Claim Form and all required documents.
Step 4: Submit your documents to the Japan Pension Service or your mutual aid association. The submission destination varies depending on which pension scheme you were enrolled in. If you were only enrolled in the National Pension or Employees’ Pension Insurance, submit your documents to the Japan Pension Service. If your enrollment includes a period under a mutual aid association, the destination may differ depending on your contribution history. Documents can be submitted by post or via online application through the e-Gov electronic application portal.
Step 5: If your documents are complete, payment will be made approximately 4 months after your application is received. You will also receive a Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment Decision Notice (脱退一時金支給決定通知書) by mail. Keep this document, as you will need it for the tax refund process covered in the next chapter.
Chapter 5: Common Mistakes to Avoid
Myth: “You can combine your National Pension and Employees’ Pension months together.”
Fact: The two pension types are calculated separately.
Your National Pension and Employees’ Pension Insurance enrollment periods are not combined when calculating your Japan Pension Refund. Each pension type is assessed independently based on its own contribution period.
This means that even if you contributed to both — for example, 4 months to the National Pension and 4 months to Employees’ Pension Insurance — neither period meets the minimum requirement of 6 months on its own, and you would not be eligible to claim either refund.
Myth: “You can only apply after leaving Japan.”
Fact: You can apply before your departure, under certain conditions.
While the standard procedure is to apply after leaving Japan, it is also possible to submit your application before your departure. If applying before you leave, you may submit your Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment Claim Form to the Japan Pension Service on or after your registered move-out date (転出予定日). If submitting by post, make sure your documents are received by the Japan Pension Service on or after your move-out date.
Chapter 6: Advice from a Certified Financial Planner
The Japan Pension Refund is a system that allows you to reclaim a portion of the pension premiums you paid while living in Japan. While the standard procedure is to apply after leaving the country, you may also submit your application before your departure, provided you have already filed your moving-out notification (転出届).
Please keep in mind that the deadline to apply is within 2 years of the date you lost your public pension enrollment status. Once this window passes, you will no longer be able to claim your refund. With that in mind, it is important to plan ahead and take care of the necessary procedures before and after leaving Japan.
Chapter7: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The following questions are ones that Certified Financial Planner Lili Katoh frequently receives from clients regarding the Japan Pension Refund.
Q1. When will I receive my Japan Pension Refund?
In most cases, payment is made approximately 4 months after your application is received. However, processing times may vary depending on individual circumstances and could take longer in some cases.
Q2. Can I receive the refund if I still have a registered address in Japan?
No. If you still have a registered address in Japan, you are not eligible to receive the refund.
In addition, if you left Japan using a re-entry permit or a deemed re-entry permit without filing a moving-out notification (転出届), you will continue to be treated as an insured person under the National Pension for the duration of that re-entry permit, and will therefore not be able to claim the refund during that period.
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Q3. Is the Japan Pension Refund subject to tax?
The Employees’ Pension Insurance refund is treated in the same way as a retirement allowance and is subject to Japanese income tax. As a general rule, a withholding tax of 20.42% is deducted at the time of payment, as the recipient is considered a non-resident. However, it may be possible to reclaim the withheld tax by filing the required documentation with the tax office. → Reference document (National Tax Agency)
The National Pension refund, on the other hand, is not subject to Japanese income tax or withholding tax. However, it may be subject to taxation in your country of residence after leaving Japan.
For details on tax obligations and filing procedures, please consult a qualified tax accountant or other relevant professional.
Q4. If I receive the Japan Pension Refund, will I lose my entitlement to a pension in another country?
Claiming the Japan Pension Refund will erase your Japanese pension contribution record. However, provided you meet the eligibility requirements of another country’s pension system, you may still be entitled to receive a pension from that country.
If your home country has a social security totalization agreement with Japan, your contribution periods in both countries may be combined under certain conditions, potentially allowing you to receive pension benefits from both Japan and the agreement country.
Please note that the Japan Pension Refund is only available when the combined qualifying period — totalling contributions in both Japan and the agreement country — is less than 120 months. Furthermore, once you claim the refund, your Japanese contribution record prior to that point is erased and can no longer be counted toward totalization.
If the combined qualifying period is 120 months or more, you are not eligible to claim the Japan Pension Refund.
As of December 2025, Japan has social security agreements with 24 countries, including:
Germany, United States, Belgium, France, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain, Ireland, Brazil, Switzerland, Hungary, India, Luxembourg, the Philippines, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Austria, and others.
For the latest information on countries with social security agreements with Japan, please visit the Japan Pension Service website. → Social Security Agreements — Japan Pension Service
Q5. I have been enrolled in Japan’s pension system for 10 years or more, but I am now returning to my home country. Can I still claim the Japan Pension Refund?
No. If you have met the 10-year (120-month) qualifying period, you are entitled to receive a Japanese old-age pension in the future. As a result, you are not eligible to claim the Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment.
Chapter8: Summary
The Japan Pension Refund (Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment) is a system that allows foreign nationals — those without Japanese nationality — who were enrolled in Japan’s public pension system to reclaim a portion of the premiums they paid after losing their pension enrollment status and leaving the country.
To be eligible, you must meet a number of conditions, including not holding Japanese nationality, no longer having a registered address in Japan, and not having met the 10-year (120-month) qualifying period required to receive an old-age pension.
However, there are circumstances in which you may not be able to claim the refund. These include cases where your combined contribution period — totalling time in Japan and a country with which Japan has a social security totalization agreement — affects your eligibility, or where the 2-year application window from the date you lost your enrollment status has passed.
For confirmation of your eligibility and guidance on the specific steps involved in the application process, please contact the Japan Pension Service directly.
*This article is supervised by Certified Financial Planner Lili Katoh and covers the financial aspects of the Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment. For legal advice regarding visa status, residency procedures, or individual application circumstances, please consult a qualified administrative scrivener (行政書士) or contact the Japan Pension Service directly.
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute individual financial, tax, or legal advice. While reviewed by a certified financial planner, readers are encouraged to consult their own advisors before making decisions. Belonging JAPAN is not affiliated with or endorsed by any financial institution mentioned. Information such as fees and regulations is accurate as of May 2026 but may change; please verify details with official sources.
