Regardless of nationality, all registered residents of Japan aged 20 and over are required by law to enroll in the National Pension system and pay contributions.
Japanese National Pension System (multiple languages)
Enrollment procedure
After entering Japan from abroad and completing resident registration at the city office, subsequently you need to fill in an Application to enroll in National Pension 国民年金被保険者関係届書 to take the enrollment procedure at the National Pension Section.
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Japanese Calendar Conversion Table
Basic Pension Number Notice
Upon completion of the procedure, your Basic Pension Number Notice will be issued. You need it for receipt procedure of pension. Once a Notice is issued, it is valid through your entire life, please keep it in a safe place.
(1) Special Payment System for Students
This allows applicants who are degree-seeking students to postpone payment of premiums until he/she complete his/her program. If the previous year's income of you and your spouse exceed an indicator*, eligibility requirements may not be satisfied.
It is necessary for applicants to apply for the period of every fiscal year (from April to March).
*Indicator of the previous year's income (according to the rule as of 2024)
＝ 1,280,000 yen + ("Number of your dependents" x 380,000 yen)
Procedure
You can pick up and submit a "Application for the Special Payment System for Students 国民年金保険料学生納付特例申請書" at the city office.
The Japan Pension Service will examine your application and send a notification postcard to you about 3 months after submission.
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(2) Payment Exemption/Deferment
If it is difficult for you to pay pension premiums for reason such as low income, you can apply for payment exemption or deferment at your city office.
Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for the above (1) "Special Payment System for Students", but they can apply for payment exemption or deferment.
◆Exemption
If you have difficulty in paying pension premiums due to financial reasons such as low income or unemployment, you can apply for payment exemption.
Depending on the situation, there are four types of exemptions: full-amount, 3/4 amount, half amount and 1/4 amount exemption.
◆Deferment
If you are under 49 years old and the previous year's income of you and your spouse is lower than a certain level*, you can apply for payment deferment.
*Indicator of the previous year's income for full amount exemption or deferment
(according to the rule as of 2024)
= 320,000 yen + {(Number of your dependents + 1) x 350,000} yen
Procedure
You can pick up and submit a "Application for the National Pension Payment Exemption/Deferment 国民年金保険料免除・納付猶予申請書" at the city office.
The Japan Pension Service will examine your application and send a notification postcard to you about 3 months after submission.
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Sample : multiple languages
NOTE:
When you change your status from non-degree seeking student to degree seeking student, you need to apply for the above (1) Special Payment System for Students if you wish to be allowed for deferral of payment of pension premiums.
Payment of Insurance Premiums
You can pay insurance premiums by bank transfer, in cash at banks, post offices and convenience stores, and with credit cards.
For the details, see the following website of Japan Pension Service (Japanese).
When you go back to your home country
"Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment for non-Japanese people"
You can apply for the lump-sum withdrawal payment if you have 6 or more months pension coverage periods. Once you receive the payment, however, the period used as the basis for the payment calculation will not be included in the period of validity.
For the details, see the following website of Japan Pension Service.
When you got employment in Japan
You need to inform your "basic pension number" (Kiso Nenkin Bango) to human resources section of your company for the enrollment procedure of the social insurance system, e.g. Kosei Nenkin (employee's pension), Kyosai nenkin (mutual pension).
International Social Security Agreement with your home country
Under the agreement, you may be able to totalize the periods you paid pension premiums in Japan and in your home country. For the details, check the pension system of your home country.
International Social Security Agreement