Japanese Site
Site MapForeign nationals working in Japan for a short period of time may not be eligible for pension benefits and the pension premiums paid by them are not refundable under the current Japanese pension system because they did not work long enough to satisfy the coverage period requirements. Similar cases have been also identified in other countries as globalization develops. This issue must be resolved through bilateral or multilateral social-security agreements between nations. These international agreements are called the “totalization agreements,” which allow the totalization of the insurance periods accrued in different countries. As an exceptional and temporary measure for the period until such agreements come into full force globally, the Japanese government has established a lump-sum withdrawal system for foreign nationals working in Japan on a short-stay basis (Note).
Note:
The Employees’ Pension Insurance benefits were allowed to be withdrawn as a lump-sum from April 1, 1995.
A similar problem has been identified when retirement pension benefits are remitted via bank transfer because the amount is small due to a short working time. Consequently, effective April 1, 2022, a lump-sum withdrawal system was made applicable to the Retirement, etc. Pension benefits in addition to the Employees’ Pension Insurance.