How does the National Pension exemption work in Japan?

Last checked: 2026-11-07

If your income is low, you can apply to pay nothing, or a quarter, half or three quarters of the 17,920 yen monthly premium for fiscal 2026. Students usually use a separate deferral. You must apply. An approved exemption is not the same as simply not paying. The full premium is 18,290 yen a month in fiscal 2027, from April 2027.

Who this is for

Everyone aged 20 to 59 living in Japan must be in the system, regardless of nationality. These options are for Category I members, such as students, self-employed people and unemployed people, who pay the premium themselves. If you have a company job, your employer enrolls you in the Employees' Pension instead. Category I members enroll at the municipal office within 14 days. See our moving checklist.

The options

Income means last year's income, which is not the same as gross pay. "Counted" means the share of a fully paid month that counts toward your basic pension amount. Different limits apply for disability, widowhood and single parents.

Option	You pay monthly, fiscal 2026	Income limit	Counted
Full exemption	0 yen	(Dependents + 1) x 350,000 yen + 320,000 yen	1/2
3/4 exemption	4,480 yen	880,000 yen + dependent and social insurance deductions	5/8
Half exemption	8,960 yen	1,280,000 yen + deductions	6/8
1/4 exemption	13,440 yen	1,680,000 yen + deductions	7/8
Payment deferral, ages 20 to 49	0 yen	Same as full exemption. Only you and your spouse are assessed.	None
Student deferral	0 yen	1,280,000 yen + (dependents x 380,000 yen) + deductions. Only your own income counts.	None

Our own example of the first formula: a single person with no dependents has a limit of 670,000 yen. With one dependent, it is 1,020,000 yen.

All the options above count toward the 10 years you need to qualify for a basic pension. Deferred months add nothing to the amount unless you pay them later. If you lost your job, a special exemption may apply, with proof.

Worked comparison: one year

This is our own arithmetic. It uses the service's figure of about 847,300 yen a year for 40 full years, which is about 21,183 yen a year for each year paid. It leaves out tax, inflation, make-up payments and future changes. It is not a suggestion to pay or not to pay.

For one year	You pay	Added to yearly pension
Full premium	215,040 yen	About 21,183 yen
Half exemption	107,520 yen	About 15,887 yen
Full exemption	0 yen	About 10,591 yen
Student or other deferral	0 yen	0 yen

By this sum, a full year of premiums takes about 10 years of pension to get back compared with adding nothing, or about 20 years compared with a full exemption. The numbers only help if you will qualify for a Japanese pension. If you expect to leave, read about the lump-sum withdrawal and any agreement with your country first.

A decision rule

Company job? Your employer handles enrollment, so these options do not apply.
Student at an eligible school? Check the student deferral, which ignores your family's income.
Not a student and on low income? Ask for the exemption. If you qualify for a partial one, you still pay that part.
Lost your job? Ask about the special exemption and bring proof.

Timing rules

Late is often still possible. You can apply for months up to 2 years and 1 month back, if the payment deadline is within 2 years.
Apply again each year. The exemption generally runs by fiscal year. A full exemption or deferral can continue automatically if you ask. The student deferral runs from April to March.
Paying later. You can pay exempt or deferred months within 10 years. For the student deferral, a surcharge applies from the third fiscal year after the approved year.
If you lived abroad on January 1. The service says to write the country and move-in date on the form. You may be asked for proof of income.

What we could not confirm

Income earned abroad. The pages do not explain how foreign income is treated for new arrivals. Ask the pension office.
Effect on the lump-sum withdrawal. We did not confirm how exempt months change that payment.
Unpaid months. The pages we read explain exempt months, not months left unpaid. Ask the pension office before you stop paying.

This page is general information, not legal or financial advice. Your municipal pension desk or pension office can tell you what applies to you.