Japan's lump-sum withdrawal payment — claim within 2 years of leaving, calculated on up to 60 months
Source material is a Japanese government announcement (in Japanese); this page is a summary.
Japan's lump-sum withdrawal payment can be claimed within 2 years of losing insured status by foreign nationals who have 6 months or more of contribution periods and similar periods and have not completed the qualifying period for the old-age pension (10 years). It is calculated on up to 60 months.
Key facts
| Who it covers | People who do not have Japanese nationality, are not insured under the National Pension or Employees' Pension Insurance, and have no address in Japan |
|---|---|
| Contribution requirement | 6 months or more of contribution periods and similar periods, and the qualifying period for the old-age pension (10 years) not completed |
| Claim deadline | Within 2 years of losing insured status |
| Calculation cap | 60 months (raised from 36 to 60 months in April 2021; 36 months if the final contribution month was March 2021 or earlier) |
| Languages of the claim form | Available in 14 languages, including Korean |
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If you do not have Japanese nationality, have 6 months or more of National Pension or Employees' Pension Insurance contribution periods and similar periods, and no longer have an address in Japan, you can claim the lump-sum withdrawal payment within 2 years of losing insured status. People who have completed the qualifying period for the old-age pension (10 years) are not eligible. The cap on the number of months used to calculate the payment was raised from 36 months to 60 months in April 2021; if your final contribution month was March 2021 or earlier, the cap stays at 36 months. The claim form is available in 14 languages, including Korean.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
Summaries reflect national-level programs. Municipal (city/ward/town) programs may differ — confirm with the official desk before applying.
FAQ
How is the lump-sum withdrawal payment calculated?
For the National Pension: the contribution amount for the final contribution month × 1/2 × the figure set for the relevant band of months. For Employees' Pension Insurance: the average standard remuneration × the payment rate (contribution rate × 1/2 × the figure set for the relevant band of months).
Why was the cap raised to 60 months?
The background is the creation of the Specified Skilled Worker (i) residence status, which made the longest fixed-term period of stay 5 years. The higher cap applies where the final contribution month is April 2021 or later.