Daily life and culture
Do I have to pay into the Japanese pension as a student or new arrival?
Residents of Japan aged 20–59 generally need public pension coverage, including students. Employees with workplace coverage are enrolled through their employer; eligible people without it register for the National Pension (国民年金) at their municipal office.
Students at eligible schools can apply for the Student Special Payment System to postpone premiums if their own income meets the conditions. Approval is not automatic, and you must apply each fiscal year. Approved months count towards the qualifying period but do not increase the pension amount unless you pay them later. Back-payments are normally possible within ten years. Check your school's eligibility and the current income threshold with the Japan Pension Service.
What may vary
The income threshold counts only your own income (1.28 million yen, plus 380,000 yen per dependant, plus social-insurance deductions); the school must be on the JPS list; some statuses such as medical stay or long-stay sightseeing are outside the system; and people from countries with a social security agreement should check how periods are combined before choosing a lump-sum refund.
Checked on
Sources
- Japan Pension Service
- Japan Pension Service — published
- yuzu.help