The pension office (年金事務所) — what you can actually do there
Not one building but a network, and you rarely need to pick: your branch follows your address. What matters is knowing which errand is yours — and how to open your mouth once you are there.
-
You have just arrived — enrol in the National Pension
Everyone aged 20–59 with an address in Japan must join, foreign residents included. Do it when you register your address; skipping it does not make it go away, it just builds unpaid months.
What to say at the counter
日本に来たばかりです。国民年金の手続きをしたいです。 Nihon ni kita bakari desu. Kokumin nenkin no tetsuzuki o shitai desu. I have just arrived in Japan — I want to do the National Pension paperwork. 加入は義務ですか。 Kanyū wa gimu desu ka. Is enrolling compulsory? 国民年金の加入手続きをしたいです。 Kokumin nenkin no kanyū tetsuzuki o shitai desu. I want to enrol in the National Pension. -
You got hired — moving onto the employee pension
Once a company takes you on, it enrols you in the employee pension and the premium comes straight out of your salary. Check the switch actually happened — your National Pension slips should stop arriving.
What to say at the counter
会社に就職しました。厚生年金に切り替わりますか。 Kaisha ni shūshoku shimashita. Kōsei nenkin ni kirikawarimasu ka. I started a company job — does it switch to the employee pension? 会社の厚生年金について聞きたいです。 Kaisha no kōsei nenkin ni tsuite kikitai desu. I have a question about my company employee pension. -
You changed or lost a job — going back to the National Pension
The day the company pension ends, the duty returns to you. Nobody does it for you, and the gap shows up years later.
What to say at the counter
会社を辞めたので、国民年金に切り替えたいです。 Kaisha o yametanode, kokumin nenkin ni kirikaetai desu. I left my job, so I want to switch to the National Pension. -
You cannot pay yet — exemption or the student exception
Low income or studying? An approved exemption still counts toward your qualifying years; simply not paying does not. This is the single most useful counter visit in your first year.
What to say at the counter
保険料の免除を申請したいです。 Hokenryō no menjo o shinsei shitai desu. I want to apply for a contribution exemption. 学生なので、学生納付特例を申請したいです。 Gakusei nanode, gakusei nōfu tokurei o shinsei shitai desu. I am a student — I want to apply for the student payment exception. 収入が少ないのですが、免除できますか。 Shūnyū ga sukunai no desu ga, menjo dekimasu ka. My income is low — can I get an exemption? -
Your family joined you — spouse and children
A spouse living with you usually enrols as your dependant and pays nothing separately if you are on the employee pension. Children need their own enrolment the month they turn 20.
What to say at the counter
妻（夫）が来日しました。年金の手続きは必要ですか。 Tsuma (otto) ga rainichi shimashita. Nenkin no tetsuzuki wa hitsuyō desu ka. My spouse has joined me in Japan — is there pension paperwork to do? 扶養に入れる手続きを教えてください。 Fuyō ni ireru tetsuzuki o oshiete kudasai. Please tell me how to register them as my dependant. 子どもが20歳になりました。手続きが必要ですか。 Kodomo ga hatachi ni narimashita. Tetsuzuki ga hitsuyō desu ka. My child has turned 20 — is there something I need to do? -
Checking your record or finding your pension number
Your basic pension number stays with you across every job. Bring ID and they can show every month you have contributed — worth doing before any visa renewal.
What to say at the counter
基礎年金番号がわかりません。 Kiso nenkin bangō ga wakarimasen. I do not know my basic pension number. 年金の加入記録を確認したいです。 Nenkin no kanyū kiroku o kakunin shitai desu. I want to check my pension contribution record. -
Much later: if you leave Japan for good
A lump-sum withdrawal refunds part of what you paid, claimed after you leave. Only relevant at the end of your time here — but ask before you fly, because there is a tax-refund step most people miss.
What to say at the counter
日本を離れるので、脱退一時金を請求したいです。 Nihon o hanareru node, dattai ichijikin o seikyū shitai desu. I am leaving Japan — I want to claim the lump-sum withdrawal payment. 脱退一時金の条件を教えてください。 Dattai ichijikin no jōken o oshiete kudasai. Please tell me the conditions for the lump-sum withdrawal. 帰国した後でも請求できますか。 Kikoku shita ato demo seikyū dekimasu ka. Can I still claim it after I go home?
The half nobody prepares for. These come at you in Japanese — recognise them and the visit is easy.
What the clerk will ask you
| 基礎年金番号はお分かりですか。 Kiso nenkin bangō wa owakari desu ka. Do you know your basic pension number? | |
| いつ会社を辞められましたか。 Itsu kaisha o yamerare mashita ka. When did you leave your job? | |
| 退職日がわかる書類はお持ちですか。 Taishokubi ga wakaru shorui wa omochi desu ka. Do you have a document showing your leaving date? | |
| 振込先の銀行口座を教えてください。 Furikomisaki no ginkō kōza o oshiete kudasai. Please give me the bank account for the transfer. | |
| 帰国はいつのご予定ですか。 Kikoku wa itsu no goyotei desu ka. When are you planning to leave Japan? |
Audio synthesized with VOICEVOX:Meimei Himari at standard pace for shadowing; real conversations run faster and carry accents.
Finding your branch
Your office is assigned by where you live. Look yours up on the official list rather than walking into the nearest one.