Money & Cards
Updated against official, partner, and reviewed site evidence where available.
Last updated: June 21, 2026
Official or partner facts are separated from practical notes.
Prices, screening, documents, and rules can change.
Some next-step links may be monetized.
Needs review: Approval, visa/tax/legal, availability, and campaign terms are not guaranteed. Confirm on the official or partner page.
Great for LINE / WhatsApp sharing
Do you panic when you see those blue or pink envelopes from the "Japan Pension Service" in your mailbox?
Many foreigners feel anxious, thinking, "I can't afford to pay ¥17,000 every month!" or "Will my visa be denied if I don't pay?"
Actually, Japan has a legal system that allows you to be exempted (¥0 payment) or postpone payments if your income is low. The worst thing you can do is ignore it and leave it "Unpaid" because you don't have money. This can have a fatal impact on future Permanent Residency applications and visa renewals.
In this article, we explain the mechanism of the Japanese pension exemption system, how to apply, and the knowledge you need to avoid losing out in the future.
First, you must understand that even though both result in "not paying," the legal treatment is as different as heaven and hell.
In short, if you don't have money, don't leave it as "Unpaid"—simply apply for "Exemption" properly.
Especially with recent legal amendments and changes in operational policy, pension payment records are being scrutinized more strictly during Permanent Residency examinations.
A summary of the trend toward 'stricter residence status' under the new administration and the measures foreigners must take immediately. A must-read if you are aiming for Permanent Residency.
There are two main systems available for foreigners. Choose the one that fits your status.
This applies to students attending universities, graduate schools, junior colleges, or vocational schools in Japan. Most international students fall under this category.
This applies to people who are not students but are unemployed or have low income (part-time jobs only, etc.). Depending on your previous year's income, the exemption amount is decided in four stages:
If you have lost your job, you can often qualify for a 'special exception' exemption regardless of your previous year's income if you have a Separation Notice (Rishoku-hyo). Consult your local municipal office immediately.
Here is a point where many foreigners stumble. When you try to apply for exemption at the municipal office, the counter staff might say:
"We have no proof of your income from last year. Please file a tax return at the tax division first."
Japanese government offices are compartmentalized. The Pension Office or National Pension Section does not know your income. If you haven't filed a Resident Tax declaration (or Tax Return), the office cannot grasp your income situation and cannot process the review.
Even if your income was ¥0 or you were only receiving remittances from your home country, you need to file a Tax Return declaring "My income in Japan is ¥0".
If you are worried that "Tax return documents are too difficult to read" or "I don't know what to write," use a convenient app to get it done quickly. This is the shortest route to exemption.
No need to struggle with complex Japanese tax forms. Just answer questions and swipe to finish your tax return. Rapidly gaining popularity among freelance and side-job foreign users.
If you are not sure about the difference between "Year-End Adjustment" and "Tax Return" in the first place, please check the basic knowledge in the article below. Even company employees may be eligible for a refund.
Explaining how company employees can fill out documents to get a tax refund. Check which one is necessary for you.
Once you have finished declaring your income (or if you have already done so), it's finally time to apply for exemption.
The staff at the counter are often helpful, so if you say, "I cannot pay my pension. I want to apply for Exemption," they will teach you how to fill it out.
What foreigners worry about most is, "Will the money I paid come back when I return to my home country?" There is a system called the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment (Dattai Ichijikin) for this.
The important rules are as follows:
You might think, "It's a loss if I don't get money back," but applying for exemption counts towards your "eligibility period." This is useful if you return to Japan in the future to live permanently, or if you receive a pension based on a social security agreement between Japan and your home country in your old age.
If you have already paid pension premiums and want to get the full amount back when you return home, check the calculation method and procedures in the article below. In many cases, an average of ¥300,000 to ¥500,000 is returned.
The 'Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment' you can apply for when leaving Japan. You can get an average of ¥300,000-¥500,000 back, but get ¥0 if you forget the procedure. See the specific calculation method here.
Throwing your pension bills in the trash is the most dangerous choice. "Not being able to pay" is not a crime, but "not following procedures (Unpaid/Mino)" poses a major risk to your future life in Japan.
Go to your city hall to consult immediately, or finish your income declaration (Tax Return) first, and confidently secure your "Exemption."
If you become financially stable in the future, you can "back pay" (Tsuino) to increase your future pension amount or Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment. First, take the legal procedures to protect your current visa and livelihood.
Related money task
This internal guide does not decide individual eligibility; it helps organize document prep and software options.
Open the tax return software guideYou might need this information again. Bookmark this page to access it anytime.
Receive important updates about visa requirements and new residence statuses directly to your inbox.
Reading this in English?
Help improve English guides like this
If this guide helped but a phrase felt unnatural, your native check can make the next English article clearer for foreign residents in Japan.
![[2026 Comparison] Rakuten Point vs V Point vs d POINT](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fs5zbl9nu%2Fproduction%2F64764f87e0bd63725773de1998f35969485517e2-1200x630.jpg%3Fauto%3Dformat%26q%3D72%26fit%3Dmax%26w%3D640&w=3840&q=75)
A: Yes. All residents including foreigners on work visas can apply for the kokumin nenkin (National Pension) premium exemption if their income is low enough. There are four levels: full exemption, 3/4, 1/2, and 1/4. Exempt periods still count toward your pension eligibility years.
A: Full exemption is available if your prior year taxable income (after deductions) is below ¥570,000. For households: the income limit includes your spouse and dependent household members. Even if you pay nothing, the period counts as 1/2 toward your future pension benefit calculation.
A: Submit the exemption application form (国民年金保険料免除・納付猶予申請書) to your ward/city office. Bring your Residence Card. Apply once per fiscal year (July–June). The office processes it based on your prior year income. Approved exemptions are retroactive to April of the same fiscal year.
A: Yes. Exempt months are counted at reduced rates for the lump-sum withdrawal. Full-exemption months count at 1/2 weight. The withdrawal calculation uses the number of eligible contribution months weighted by contribution level. Paying even partial contributions is better than full exemption if you plan to claim the withdrawal.
A: Exemption (免除): premiums are waived; periods count toward pension years at reduced rates. Deferral (猶予, for people under 50): premiums are postponed, not waived; the deferred amounts can be paid retroactively within 10 years. Deferral is better if you expect income to recover, since you can pay back and get full credit.
CEO / Native Japanese Expert
Updated on: June 21, 2026
※ The information in this article is accurate as of the time of writing. Laws and regulations may change, so please always check official sources for the latest information. We assume no liability for any damages resulting from the content of this article.
