This article was written by the NIPPON VISA & LIFE editorial team based on information from public organizations such as the national government and local governments. Rules and fees may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live.
Foreign nationals who paid National Pension premiums in Japan for 6 months or more, or who were enrolled in Employees’ Pension Insurance for 6 months or more, can claim the “Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment” (dattai ichijikin) after returning to their home country if they meet the conditions. You claim it from the Japan Pension Service by mail or online within 2 years from the day you no longer have an address in Japan. Once you receive it, all of your enrollment periods in Japan’s pension system up to that point are cancelled, so think carefully before you claim it.
The pension procedures you do when you come to Japan are explained in Procedures to Do at the Municipal Office After Arriving in Japan | The Basics of the Moving-in Notification, My Number, National Health Insurance, National Pension and Resident Tax.
The Short Answer: The Steps to Receive the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment
- Before returning home, submit a moving-out notification (tenshutsu todoke: a notice that you are leaving your address in Japan) at the office of the city, ward, town or village where you live.
- Get the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment claim form from the Japan Pension Service website. The form is written in Japanese side by side with a foreign language, and it is available in 14 foreign languages.
- Attach a copy of your passport, a certificate for your bank account, a document showing your Basic Pension Number, and other documents to the claim form.
- After you no longer have an address in Japan, submit it to the Japan Pension Service by mail or online. The deadline is 2 years from the day you no longer have an address in Japan.
- If there are no problems with the documents, the money is transferred to the bank account you specified about 4 months after the claim is received. At the same time, you receive a “Notice of Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment Decision.”
(Sources: Japan Pension Service, “Procedures for people claiming the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment”, Japan Pension Service Pension Q&A, “How long does it take to receive the payment?”)
Conditions for Receiving the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment
You can claim it if you meet all of the following conditions.
- You do not have Japanese nationality.
- You are not currently enrolled in Japan’s public pension system (National Pension or Employees’ Pension Insurance).
- You paid National Pension premiums for 6 months or more (for the National Pension), or you were enrolled in Employees’ Pension Insurance for 6 months or more (for the Employees’ Pension).
- You do not meet the period required to receive a pension (the qualifying period: 10 years).
- You have never had the right to receive a pension, such as the Basic Disability Pension.
- You do not have an address in Japan.
- The deadline (2 years from the day you no longer have an address in Japan) has not passed.
National Pension and Employees’ Pension Periods Are Not Added Together
The National Pension period and the Employees’ Pension period are counted separately. For example, a person who paid National Pension premiums for 4 months and was enrolled in the Employees’ Pension for 4 months has 8 months in total, but cannot claim, because neither period reaches 6 months.
Periods When You Did Not Pay National Pension Premiums Are Not Counted
Even if you were enrolled in the National Pension, periods when you did not pay the premiums (unpaid periods) are not counted toward the 6 months. Periods when part of the premium was exempted and you paid the rest are counted only partly, depending on the type of exemption (a 1/4 exemption counts as 3/4, a half exemption counts as 1/2, and a 3/4 exemption counts as 1/4). Periods with a full exemption or a payment postponement are not counted. For exemptions when you cannot pay the premiums, see When You Cannot Pay National Pension Premiums in Japan | How to Apply for an Exemption or Payment Postponement (Income Criteria, Where to Apply, What to Bring, and Paying Later).
(Sources: Japan Pension Service, “The Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment system”, Japan Pension Service Pension Q&A, “What should I be careful about?”)
The Amount You Receive as the National Pension Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment
The National Pension Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment is determined by the premium amount for the fiscal year that includes the last month for which you paid premiums and by the number of months you paid. The formula is “premium amount × 1/2 × the number for your range of months.”
If the last month for which you paid premiums falls between April 2026 and March 2027 (FY Reiwa 8), the amounts are as follows.
| Number of months premiums were paid | Payment amount (FY Reiwa 8) |
|---|---|
| 6 months or more but less than 12 months | 53,760 yen |
| 12 months or more but less than 18 months | 107,520 yen |
| 18 months or more but less than 24 months | 161,280 yen |
| 24 months or more but less than 30 months | 215,040 yen |
| 30 months or more but less than 36 months | 268,800 yen |
| 36 months or more but less than 42 months | 322,560 yen |
| 42 months or more but less than 48 months | 376,320 yen |
| 48 months or more but less than 54 months | 430,080 yen |
| 54 months or more but less than 60 months | 483,840 yen |
| 60 months or more | 537,600 yen |
- The National Pension premium for FY Reiwa 8 is 17,920 yen per month. The amounts in the table are calculated based on this.
- If the last month for which you paid premiums is in a different fiscal year, the amount is calculated using the premium for that fiscal year.
- No income tax is deducted from the National Pension Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment.
(Sources: Japan Pension Service, “The Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment system”, Japan Pension Service, “National Pension premiums”)
The Amount You Receive as the Employees’ Pension Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment
For people who worked at a company and were enrolled in Employees’ Pension Insurance, the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment is calculated with the following formula.
Average salary during the period you were enrolled in the Employees’ Pension (average standard remuneration amount) × payment rate
- The average standard remuneration amount is your salary (standard monthly remuneration) and bonuses (standard bonus amount) during the period you were enrolled in the Employees’ Pension added together and divided by the number of months you were enrolled (the calculation is a little different for people who have periods in or before March 2003).
- The payment rate is 1/2 of the premium rate multiplied by a number based on your enrollment period (6 to 60). For people whose last month of enrollment is in or after April 2021, the payment rates are as follows.
| Period of enrollment in the Employees’ Pension | Payment rate |
|---|---|
| 6 months or more but less than 12 months | 0.5 |
| 12 months or more but less than 18 months | 1.1 |
| 18 months or more but less than 24 months | 1.6 |
| 24 months or more but less than 30 months | 2.2 |
| 30 months or more but less than 36 months | 2.7 |
| 36 months or more but less than 42 months | 3.3 |
| 42 months or more but less than 48 months | 3.8 |
| 48 months or more but less than 54 months | 4.4 |
| 54 months or more but less than 60 months | 4.9 |
| 60 months or more | 5.5 |
Example calculation: For a person whose average standard remuneration amount is 200,000 yen and who was enrolled in the Employees’ Pension for 36 months, the amount is 200,000 yen × 3.3 = 660,000 yen (the numbers in this example are for explanation only; check the actual amount in the payment decision notice sent by the Japan Pension Service).
(Sources: Japan Pension Service, “The Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment system”)
The Number of Months Used in the Calculation Is Capped at 60 Months (5 Years)
From April 2021, the maximum number of months used in the calculation changed from 36 months (3 years) to 60 months (5 years). Even if a person who was enrolled in Japan’s pension for 61 months or more makes a claim, the amount is calculated for 60 months. And all of their enrollment periods up to that point are cancelled.
If you plan to come to Japan and work several times, claiming each time you return home may let you receive an amount that matches your enrollment period. The Japan Pension Service uses the example of a person who temporarily returns home after Technical Intern Training (3 years) and then works for 5 years as a Specified Skilled Worker (i), and advises claiming in two separate parts: “when you temporarily return home after finishing Technical Intern Training” and “when you return home after finishing Specified Skilled Worker (i).”
The Tax (20.42%) on the Employees’ Pension Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment and the Refund
- For people who do not live in Japan (non-residents), 20.42% income tax is deducted from the Employees’ Pension Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment before it is transferred. For the 660,000 yen in the example above, 134,772 yen is deducted and 525,228 yen is transferred.
- If you submit a “Return for Refund through Optional Taxation on Retirement Income” to the tax office, the deducted tax may be refunded.
- The return is submitted to the tax office for the place where you last lived in Japan. To file the return and receive the refund, you need to submit a “Notification of Tax Agent for Income Tax and Consumption Tax” to the same tax office before returning home. Anyone who has an address or residence in Japan can be your tax agent (nozei kanrinin: a person who handles tax procedures on your behalf).
- If you returned home without submitting the notification, submit it together with the return.
- Send the original of the “Notice of Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment Decision,” which you receive together with the payment, to your tax agent. It is used for the return.
- The forms for the return and the notification are on the National Tax Agency website. If you have questions about the procedure, ask the tax office.
(Sources: Japan Pension Service, “Claim form for the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment for short-term foreign residents” (English version PDF with explanations in Japanese), National Tax Agency)
What You Need to Claim the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment
| What you need | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment claim form | You can download it from the Japan Pension Service website. If you call the Nenkin Dial, they can also send it to you by mail. It is also available at pension offices, municipal offices and local international associations. |
| Copy of your passport | The pages showing your name, date of birth, nationality, signature and status of residence |
| Document showing that you do not have an address in Japan | For example, a copy of the removed resident record (juminhyo no johyo), or a copy of the passport page showing the date you left Japan. In many cases this is not needed if you submitted a moving-out notification before returning home. |
| Document for the bank account that will receive the payment | A document showing the bank name, branch name, branch address, account number and that the account is in your own name (such as a certificate issued by the bank) |
| Document showing your Basic Pension Number | For example, a Basic Pension Number Notice or a pension handbook |
| Letter of attorney (when a representative makes the claim) | When a person in Japan does the procedure on your behalf |
- The claim form is available in 14 languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Indonesian, Filipino (Tagalog), Thai, Vietnamese, Myanmar, Cambodian, Russian, Nepali and Mongolian. Filled-in examples are also available.
- People who have been enrolled in the pension since before July 2012, when the Japan Pension Service started recording names in the alphabet, may need a document showing that they do not have an address in Japan even if they submitted a moving-out notification.
(Sources: Japan Pension Service, “Procedures for people claiming the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment”, Japan Pension Service, “When you do procedures related to the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment” (downloading the claim form))
Points to Be Careful About When Filling In the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment Claim Form
- Write the fields “Claimant’s name, date of birth and address after leaving Japan” and “Bank account for the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment” in capital letters of the alphabet.
- For the address, write your address outside Japan after returning home. If you write an address in Japan, you are treated as a person living in Japan and the payment is not made.
- When you receive the payment at an overseas bank, be sure to write the SWIFT (BIC) code (an 8- or 11-character code of letters and numbers that identifies the bank). Without it, the money cannot be sent.
- Write the account holder’s name exactly as it is registered with the bank. If you write only the initial of your middle name, the names may not match and the money may not be transferred.
- When you receive the payment at a Japanese bank, the account holder’s name must be registered in katakana. You cannot receive it at Japan Post Bank or some internet-only banks.
(Sources: Japan Pension Service Pension Q&A, “What should I be careful about when filling in the claim form?”, Japan Pension Service, “Procedures for people claiming the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment”)
Where and How to Submit the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment Claim Form
- People who were enrolled only in the National Pension or the Employees’ Pension submit it to the Japan Pension Service. If you have periods of enrollment in a mutual aid association (the pension for public servants and others), the place to submit it may be different.
- You can submit it by mail or online (e-Gov online application; search for “電子申請用送付書（年金給付用）” cover sheet for online applications (for pension benefits)). People who came to Japan for purposes other than work, such as travel, can also submit it at a counter such as a pension office.
(Sources: Japan Pension Service, “Procedures for people claiming the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment”)
When You Have Trouble and Common Mistakes with the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment
Can I Claim the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment While I Am Still in Japan?
Yes. However, first submit a moving-out notification at the municipal office, and mail the claim form so that it reaches the Japan Pension Service on or after your planned moving-out date. If you still have an address in Japan on the day the Japan Pension Service receives the claim form, you cannot claim.
(Sources: Japan Pension Service Pension Q&A, “Can I do it before leaving Japan?”)
What If I Left Japan with a Re-entry Permit Without Submitting a Moving-out Notification?
People who submitted a moving-out notification and then left Japan with a re-entry permit (including a special re-entry permit) can claim the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment. People who left Japan with a re-entry permit without submitting a moving-out notification are treated as enrolled in the National Pension until the re-entry permit expires, so they cannot claim during that time.
What If the Deadline (2 Years) for Claiming the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment Has Passed?
Once 2 years have passed from the day you no longer have an address in Japan, you cannot claim. When your return home is decided, prepare early.
What Do I Lose from Japan’s Pension When I Receive the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment?
When you receive it, all of your enrollment periods in Japan’s pension system before the claim are cancelled. People who have been enrolled in Japan’s pension for 10 years or more can receive Japan’s Old-age Pension (the pension you receive when you get older) in the future, so they cannot claim the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment. Also, people who were enrolled in the pension of a country that has a “social security agreement that totalizes pension periods” with Japan may be able to receive a pension by adding the periods together. Decide whether to claim after also considering whether you plan to work in Japan again in the future.
(Sources: Japan Pension Service Pension Q&A, “What should I be careful about?”, Japan Pension Service, “Social security agreements”)
Can I Ask a Friend or Someone at My Company in Japan to Claim the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment for Me?
Yes. Submit the claim form with a letter of attorney. If you want the documents sent to your representative, write that in the letter of attorney. Choose only one representative. If you ask several people, the decision may be greatly delayed.
Other Procedures to Do Before Returning Home from Japan
Besides the pension, there are also procedures for health insurance and resident tax before returning home.
- Procedure to leave the National Health Insurance: How to Join and Leave the National Health Insurance in Japan | Who Joins, Notification Within 14 Days, What to Bring, and Premiums and Reductions
- Resident tax when returning home: How Resident Tax Works in Japan | When, How Much and How to Pay? When It Is Deducted from Your Salary and When You Pay It Yourself, and When You Leave Your Company or Return Home
Consultation Services Where You Can Talk About Your Pension in a Foreign Language
At the Japan Pension Service, you can get advice using an interpreter. The available languages are English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, Nepali and Myanmar.
- For procedures to receive a pension and the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment: Nenkin Dial 0570-05-1165 (from overseas: 03-6700-1165)
- The hours when you can get advice differ by language. For languages other than English, the hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
(Sources: Japan Pension Service, “You can consult about pensions in various languages”)
Primary Sources Referenced in This Article
- Japan Pension Service, “The Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment system”
- Japan Pension Service, “Procedures for people claiming the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment”
- Japan Pension Service, “When you do procedures related to the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment”
- Japan Pension Service, “Claim form for the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment for short-term foreign residents,” English version (PDF)
- Japan Pension Service Pension Q&A (Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment for short-term foreign residents)
- Japan Pension Service, “National Pension premiums”
- Japan Pension Service, “Social security agreements”
- Japan Pension Service, “You can consult about pensions in various languages”
- National Tax Agency
This article is a translation of the original Japanese version.
