Pension

Any resident in Japan who is between 20 and 59 years of age, including non-Japanese nationals, is required to enroll in the national pension plan. Those who join the MEXT Kyosai automatically join the pension system run by the same system. Your premium is automatically deducted from your monthly salary as "long-term premium", which is 8.108% of your "standard monthly remuneration".

Others must join the National Pension Insurance ("Kokumin Nenkin"). Your monthly premium is 15,020yen as of 2011. You must make necessary arrangement at the city office of your residence. IPMU will provide necessary assistance. Please consult our office for details.

For both programs, you must pay for a total of 25 years before you become eligible for full benefit. Foreigners who leave Japan permanently after having contributed to these systems for six months or longer but less than 25 years are entitled to a partial refund, known as the Lump Sum Withdrawal payment, provided you submit a request form within 2 years after leaving Japan.

The US respects taxes and pension contributions paid in Japan towards the social security credit as a part of a mutual treaty. Other countries with similar agreements are Germany, UK, Korea, Belgium, France, Canada, Australia (Netherlands under negotiation). Ask your own government bureaus for information on similar arrangements. The benefits may vary from country to country.

You may consult the Japan Pension Service website