Claiming the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment (脱退一時金)
Foreign nationals who were enrolled in Japan's public pension can receive the lump-sum withdrawal payment (脱退一時金) after leaving Japan. Preparing and submitting the claim on your behalf is the work of a Certified Social Insurance and Labor Consultant (社会保険労務士) (Article 2, paragraph 1, items 1 and 1-2 of the 社会保険労務士法). 四葉社会保険労務士事務所 (Kohinata, Bunkyo, Tokyo) helps from preparation before departure through the claim after you return home and confirmation of payment. No advisory contract is required.
Who can claim the lump-sum withdrawal payment?
People who were enrolled in Japan's National Pension (国民年金) or Employees' Pension Insurance (厚生年金保険) can claim when they meet all of the following conditions.
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | You do not hold Japanese nationality |
| Enrollment period | You have at least six months of Employees' Pension Insurance coverage, or of paid National Pension (Category 1) premiums, etc. |
| Pension eligibility | You do not meet the 10-year qualifying period for the old-age pension |
| Address | You have no address in Japan |
| Other | You have never had the right to receive a disability pension or similar benefit |
| Deadline | You claim within two years of the date you last lost your pension coverage (if you still had an address in Japan on that date, within two years of the date you ceased to have one) |
The Japan Pension Service calculates the amount from the enrollment period (capped at 60 months) and the pay and premiums during that time. Income tax is withheld from the Employees' Pension Insurance lump-sum withdrawal payment. Whether an individual can claim is assessed by a qualified professional after checking the pension records.
What does our office do?
For the lump-sum withdrawal payment claim, we take on the following. We also set out the roles of the other professionals involved.
- Checking pension records — we confirm the records at the pension office and work out whether you can claim and how many months will count
- Preparing and submitting the claim — a Certified Social Insurance and Labor Consultant (our office). We submit it so that it reaches the Japan Pension Service after your (planned) moving-out date
- Liaison until payment — we respond to enquiries and notices from the Japan Pension Service as your agent
- Tax return to recover the withheld income tax — a tax accountant (税理士), through the tax accountant / tax agent (納税管理人) you appoint
- Residence status and re-entry permits — an administrative scrivener (四葉行政書士事務所: a separate business, under a separate contract)
- Disputed matters — a lawyer (we will connect you; no referral fees are given or received)
The “10 years” is counted not in years of living in Japan but in months on your pension record. Even if you have lived in Japan for more than 10 years, your record may fall short of 120 months, and you may still be able to claim. Please check your pension record before giving up.
How much does it cost?
¥44,000 per person (tax-inclusive). If a couple both claim, the fee is for two people. The first consultation is free.
Out-of-pocket costs such as postage and document fees are charged separately. For details, see “Lump-sum withdrawal payment (foreign clients leaving Japan)” on the fees page.
Is there anything to check before claiming?
Once you receive the lump-sum withdrawal payment, the Japanese enrollment period it was calculated from is erased. If any of the following applies to you, weigh the pros and cons before claiming.
- Your home country has a social security agreement with Japan — depending on the country, your Japanese enrollment period can be totalized with your home country's pension. Receiving the lump-sum withdrawal payment also erases the period that could have been totalized
- You may come back to work in Japan in future — the period you were paid for will no longer count toward the qualifying period for a future old-age pension
- Your enrollment period is close to 10 years — once you reach 10 years you can no longer claim the lump-sum withdrawal payment; a future old-age pension remains instead
Which countries have an agreement and whether totalization is possible are listed in our column “Can you claim the lump-sum withdrawal payment after returning home?”.
Can I ask you after I have returned home?
Yes. Within the two-year deadline, you can claim after returning home. You contact us by email and post the power of attorney and proof of your receiving account from abroad. However, confirming your Basic Pension Number and obtaining proof of your receiving account can take time once you have left. Consulting us before you leave Japan makes the process quicker. Consultations are available in English and Chinese.
What is the process when I ask you?
- 1. Free consultation (in person, online or by email; English and Chinese available)
- 2. Checking your pension record (whether you can claim and how many months will count)
- 3. Contract and document preparation (signing the claim form and power of attorney, proof of your receiving account; doing this before departure is the surest way)
- 4. Moving-out notification and departure (by you)
- 5. Submitting the claim (our office sends it so that it reaches the Japan Pension Service after your moving-out date)
- 6. Confirming payment (we check the payment decision notice and the deposit, and hand over materials for the tax accountant who files the refund return)
The time until payment depends on the Japan Pension Service's processing. For the steps from consultation to contract, see our engagement process.