JAPANLIFE GUIDE
Emergency
Banking and Money/Check soonRequired

Pension Procedures

Check enrollment, exemptions, and lump-sum withdrawal with Japan Pension Service.

Procedure at a glance

Who this is for
Residents, mainly ages 20-59, checking pension enrollment or relief
Deadline
Confirm applicable year and retroactive period with pension office

Do this todayAsk employer when Employees' Pension starts

If the deadline is near or passedIf you find missing enrollment or unpaid months, consult the municipal pension desk or pension office today about the months, category, and any retroactive exemption application period.

Where to goEmployer, municipal pension counter, pension office, eligible e-application

pensionpremiumJapan Pension Service
Official information checked: 2026-07-18Review status: Reviewed

Step-by-step guide

Follow these steps

Progress: 0/3 completed

1Confirm your case and deadlineConfirm your pension category / Check pension records

What to do

  1. 1Ask employer HR for the employees' pension start date; for any uncovered period, ask the municipality or pension office which National Pension category applies
  2. 2Prepare your Basic Pension Number and check enrolled, paid, unpaid, or duplicate months in Nenkin Net or at a pension office

Check before you start

  • Ask employer when Employees' Pension starts
  • If not enrolled, ask municipality or pension office about National Pension
  • If payment is hard, ask the application year and deadline for relief

If the deadline is near or passed

  • If you find missing enrollment or unpaid months, consult the municipal pension desk or pension office today about the months, category, and any retroactive exemption application period.
2Prepare the office and documentsAsk for record correction / Apply for exemption or postponement

What to do

  1. 1For missing records or incorrect name, birth date, or address, take payslips and employment records to the pension office and ask how to correct them
  2. 2If payment is difficult, check the eligible year, income rules, and documents for exemption, deferment, or the student special system, then apply for the specified period

Basic items to bring

  • Basic Pension Number
  • Residence card and ID
  • My Number evidence
  • Employment, student, or income evidence
  • Pension notices

Fees

  • Enrollment and exemption applications are generally free. Contribution amounts change by fiscal year, and exemption, deferral, or student special payment requires application and review.

Online options

  • Some procedures may be filed electronically through Myna Portal. Confirm the covered year, attachments, and result-notice method.

If you cannot go

  • Proxy rules differ. Before visiting, confirm who may act, whether a power of attorney is needed, and which original IDs the proxy must bring.

If documents are missing

  • If a document is missing, do not guess or substitute it. Tell the office its exact name and ask whether you can consult first, submit it later, and where to obtain it.
3Confirm completion and the next deadlineCheck handling during review / Review the decision and next deadline

What to do

  1. 1Save the application receipt and covered months; ask the pension office how to handle payment slips while waiting for the decision
  2. 2Check approved and denied months on the decision, then calendar untreated months, possible later payment, and the next annual application

Confirm at completion

  • Current pension category and periods are checked for gaps or overlap
  • Payment or relief decision and next application year are saved

What you receive

  • Confirm your Basic Pension Number, coverage category and months, exemption application period, and result-notice address.

Check before leaving

  • Before leaving, check your name, address, covered period, and procedure type, then ask about the next deadline and contact method.

Records to keep

  • Keep the reference number, filing date, office, copies of submitted documents, and next contact date. Save confirmation screens and emails for online filings.

Next action

  • Next steps differ: employees check Employees' Pension records, students the student special payment, self-employed or unemployed persons National Pension and relief, and leavers the lump-sum withdrawal rules.

Confirm with the official office

  • This page cannot determine the latest form, appointment and hours, municipality-specific additions, individual review, or same-day handling. Confirm these immediately before filing.
  • Age, employment, student status, income, spouse, agreement, records
Important cautions
  • Relief is not automatic and may need review and annual applications
  • Relief periods affect future benefit, though later payment may be possible
  • Agreements, lump sum, and return-to-Japan decisions vary by person
Find where to go

Useful Japanese phrases

Pension Procedures

この件について相談したいです。必要なものと次に行く場所を教えてください。

Kono ken ni tsuite sodan shitai desu. Hitsuyo na mono to tsugi ni iku basho o oshiete kudasai.

I would like to ask about this issue. Please tell me what I need and where I should go next.

Counter

この手続きに必要なものを教えてください。

Kono tetsuzuki ni hitsuyo na mono o oshiete kudasai.

Please tell me what I need for this procedure.

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