Leaving Japan: Complete Guide

Q. What administrative procedures do I need to complete before leaving Japan?

Mainly the move-out notification that removes you from the residence register, ending your National Health Insurance and National Pension coverage, and claiming the pension lump-sum withdrawal. That claim requires that you are not a Japanese national, have at least six months of contributions, and have not reached the ten years needed for an old-age pension. You have two years from the date you last ceased to be insured under a public pension scheme — the day after your move-out date is the National Pension loss-of-coverage date.

Q. How much can I receive from the pension lump-sum withdrawal?

For the Employees' Pension it is your average standard remuneration multiplied by a payment rate; for the National Pension it is the contribution rate for the fiscal year of your last payment, halved, multiplied by a figure set for your band of months. Since April 2021 the cap on months used rose from 36 to 60. Where the final month or last contribution month falls before April 2021, the 36-month cap still applies.

Q. What should I do with my Residence Card when leaving Japan?

If you leave under a re-entry permit, including deemed re-entry permission, the card stays valid and is not handed in. Leave without one and the card lapses at that moment, and you return it at the port of departure. The same applies to permanent residents — even for a short trip, secure deemed or regular re-entry permission before you go. Filing the overseas move-out notification removes you from the residence register as of that day.