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Pension question, Japan

Can foreigners get a Japan pension refund?

Separately, a departing foreign worker with six months or more can apply for a Lump sum Withdrawal Payment. A non-Japanese national who leaves Japan must apply for the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment within two years of leaving Japan.

What to do next

  1. Find the date you left Japan and the date your last Japanese job ended.
  2. Look for your Basic Pension Number on your pension handbook or old letters.
  3. Run our free check to see which other countries may hold a pension in your name.

Check your own working life for free

Tell us where you worked. The free check shows which countries may hold a pension for you, and which can be ruled out and why. No sign in, no charge.

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Questions people also ask

What do I give up by taking it?

Accepting it forfeits every Japanese coverage period behind it, permanently, including for aggregation under an agreement.

  • Source: nenkin.go.jp, read 4 October 2026

How many months count in the calculation?

From April 2021 the maximum number of months used to calculate the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment was raised from 36 months (3 years) to 60 months (5 years), but only where there is a contribution-paid period (National Pension) or insured period (Employees' Pension) falling in April 2021 or later.

Do you give advice on what to do?

No. We identify where a pension is likely held and the official route to it, and we name each source with the date we read it. We do not give financial, tax or legal advice.