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Yes, most foreign workers who leave Japan can get part of their pension contributions back. The payment is called the Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment (脱退一時金, dattai ichijikin). Broadly, you can claim it if you are not a Japanese national, you paid into the pension system for at least 6 months, you have less than 10 years of total coverage, you no longer have an address in Japan, and you claim within 2 years of leaving. At present the payment covers up to 5 years (60 months) of contributions. A law passed in 2025 will raise this to 8 years, but its start date had not been confirmed as of October 2026.
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For many workers from India, Nepal, Vietnam and the Philippines, the refund can be one of the largest single sums they take home from Japan, often several hundred thousand yen and sometimes over ¥1 million. Many people never claim it, or lose part of it to tax that could have been recovered.
This guide covers who qualifies, how the amount is worked out, the claim process step by step, and how to recover the 20.42% tax deducted from the Employees’ Pension refund. The rules are set by the Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構). Check its official guidance, or call its helpline, before you act.
Who Can Claim: Eligibility Checklist
- You are not a Japanese national.
- You paid into the National Pension (国民年金) or Employees’ Pension (厚生年金) for 6 months or more.
- Your total coverage is less than 10 years, so you do not qualify for a Japanese old-age pension.
- You no longer have an address in Japan. In practice this means you have left the country after filing your moving-out notice.
- You claim within 2 years of the date you stopped having an address in Japan.
The two-year deadline is strict. If you miss it, the right to the refund is generally lost.
The 5-Year Cap Today and the Planned 8-Year Change
Currently, the refund is calculated on a maximum of 60 months. Contributions beyond 60 months do not increase the payment. This lines up with the SSW (i) visa, which allows a total stay of 5 years.
The pension reform law passed in June 2025 will raise the cap to 96 months (8 years). It will also stop people from claiming while a re-entry permit, including a special re-entry permit, is still valid. Sources disagree on when this takes effect. Some reported 1 April 2026, but official municipal guidance updated in April 2026 still showed a 60-month maximum, and reports from October 2026 said no Cabinet order had yet fixed a date. The law sets a deadline of 2029 at the latest. Treat 5 years as the current rule and check the Japan Pension Service website for the latest position before you plan around 8 years.
How Much You Can Get
National Pension (国民年金)
If you were enrolled in the National Pension only, for example as a student or as a self-employed or unemployed person, the refund is a fixed amount based on the number of months paid. For FY2026 it runs from ¥53,760 for 6 months to ¥537,600 for 60 months or more. No tax is deducted from it.
Employees’ Pension (厚生年金)
If you worked for a company, the refund is calculated as follows:
Average standard monthly pay × payment rate
The payment rate rises with the number of months you contributed, up to a maximum of about 5.5 at 60 months. For 36 months the rate works out at about 3.3. Bonuses on which pension premiums were paid can also count towards the average. A withholding tax of 20.42% is then deducted, but most of it can be recovered, as explained below.
Estimated Refund by Role
The table below applies the Employees’ Pension formula to indicative monthly salaries, treating the salary as the average standard monthly pay and ignoring bonuses. All amounts are before the 20.42% withholding tax and are rough estimates only.
| Position | Indicative Monthly Salary | Rough Refund After 3 Years | Rough Refund After 5 Years |
| Technical Intern (TITP) | ¥180,000 | about ¥594,000 | about ¥990,000 |
| SSW Worker (all fields average) | ¥210,000 | about ¥693,000 | about ¥1,155,000 |
| Forklift Operator | ¥230,000 | about ¥759,000 | about ¥1,265,000 |
| Caregiver (base + regular allowances) | ¥250,000 | about ¥825,000 | about ¥1,375,000 |
| Welder | ¥260,000 | about ¥858,000 | about ¥1,430,000 |
For example, an SSW worker refund of about ¥1,155,000 would have roughly ¥236,000 withheld, leaving about ¥919,000 paid out at first. Most of the withheld tax can then be reclaimed through a tax representative. Your actual figure depends on your recorded standard monthly pay, which the Japan Pension Service will use.
Step-by-Step: How to Claim
- Find your pension number. Locate your Basic Pension Number (基礎年金番号) on your pension book or notification, or ask your employer.
- Collect your payslips and withholding slip. Keep your final payslip and your 源泉徴収票 (withholding slip) from your employer.
- Appoint a tax representative (if you have Employees’ Pension). Before you leave, file a notification at the tax office naming a tax representative (納税管理人) in Japan. This can be a trusted friend or a professional.
- File your moving-out notice. Submit the moving-out notice (転出届) at your city or ward office before you leave. Your Japanese address must officially end.
- Prepare the claim form. Get the Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment claim form from the Japan Pension Service website. It is available in English and several other languages.
- Attach the documents. Usually these are a copy of your passport pages showing your name, nationality, signature and last departure from Japan, proof of your bank account (an overseas bank account is normally acceptable), and a document showing your Basic Pension Number.
- Submit within 2 years. Send the claim to the Japan Pension Service by post, or submit it as its current guidance allows. Many people send it soon after arriving home.
- Wait for payment. Processing usually takes several months. The money is sent to your bank account together with a notice showing the tax withheld.
Getting the 20.42% Tax Back
The Employees’ Pension refund is treated as retirement income, and 20.42% is withheld at source. Because most workers’ actual tax on this income would be very low, the bulk of it can usually be refunded. The process works like this:
- You appoint a tax representative before leaving Japan, as in step 3 above.
- When you receive the payment notice, you send it, the original, to your representative.
- The representative files a tax return at the tax office to reclaim the withheld tax. The National Tax Agency has the details.
- The refund is paid to the representative, who then transfers it to you.
Some firms offer this as a paid service. Compare their fees with the refund you expect, and only use firms you can verify. The National Pension refund is not taxed, so this step applies only to Employees’ Pension.
Should You Claim, or Keep Your Pension Record?
Claiming the refund erases the contribution periods it covers. If you might come back to Japan and work long enough to reach 10 years of coverage, you could later qualify for a monthly old-age pension instead. Japan also has social security agreements with several countries, including India, which can affect how coverage periods are treated. If you expect to return, or you have worked in Japan for more than 5 years, ask the Japan Pension Service how claiming would affect your future rights before you submit.
For most workers who are leaving for good after a few years, claiming is usually the sensible choice.
Six Common Mistakes
- Missing the 2-year deadline after leaving Japan.
- Leaving without filing the moving-out notice, so you still officially have a Japanese address.
- Not appointing a tax representative and losing the 20.42% withholding for good.
- Giving incomplete bank details, which delays payment.
- Assuming 8 years is already covered and planning finances around it.
- Paying an unknown “agent” a large up-front fee to file a form you can submit yourself.
The same caution applies to job offers. Never pay unlicensed agents, and remember that a job advertisement is not a visa guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for the pension refund before I leave Japan?
The basic condition is that you no longer have an address in Japan. Many people file the moving-out notice, leave, and then send the claim from home. Check the Japan Pension Service’s current guidance for the exact timing it accepts.
Is the refund limited to 5 years or 8 years in 2026?
It is currently up to 5 years (60 months). A law has been passed to raise it to 8 years, but the start date was still to be confirmed as of October 2026.
How long does the payment take?
It usually takes several months after the Japan Pension Service receives a complete claim.
Can I receive the money in an Indian bank account?
Overseas bank accounts are normally accepted. Make sure the account name matches your passport and that you include the bank’s SWIFT and branch details.
Do technical interns qualify?
Yes, if they meet the same conditions: at least 6 months of contributions, less than 10 years of coverage, no Japanese address, and a claim made within 2 years.
What happens if I come back to Japan later?
You can work in Japan again, but the periods already refunded no longer count towards a Japanese pension. Coverage starts again from your new contributions.
Final Words
The pension lump-sum refund is money you have earned, and it is worth claiming properly. Before you leave Japan, find your pension number, appoint a tax representative and file your moving-out notice. Submit your claim within 2 years. Plan on the current 5-year cap, and watch the Japan Pension Service for the date when the 8-year rule actually begins.
Disclaimer: All salary figures mentioned in this article are indicative estimates based on published job listings and industry data and may vary by employer, location, experience, and contract terms. They do not represent a guaranteed salary, job offer, or visa approval.