When starting employment in Japan as an international worker, international student, or recent graduate, navigating public social insurance enrollment is a crucial step. Enrolling in Employees' Health Insurance (EHI) and Employees' Pension Insurance (EPI) is required by law for qualifying workplaces and eligible workers across the nation. Employers are legally obligated to register covered employees by submitting formal paperwork within five days of the employment start date, sharing salary-based premium contributions with the worker. Understanding these coverage standards and administrative procedures ensures that foreign professionals maintain full legal compliance while building their careers in Tokyo and throughout Japan.
What are Employees' Health Insurance (EHI) and Employees' Pension Insurance (EPI)?
Under the Japanese social insurance system administered by the Japan Pension Service, Employees' Health Insurance (EHI) and Employees' Pension Insurance (EPI) are established to help stabilize the livelihood of company workers and their households. Specifically, these dual systems provide essential coverage and protection in the event of old age, disability, or death.
Unlike private commercial policies, EPI and EHI coverage is strictly mandated by public statute rather than an optional agreement. It is not a contract that employers or workers may voluntarily opt for or opt out of if the statutory requirements are met. Mandatory coverage applies universally to all qualifying workers at covered workplaces, regardless of their nationality. Under Japanese law, the premium contributions for both insurance programs are calculated based on salary and are shared between the employer and the employee.
Which workplaces in Japan must be covered by EPI and EHI?
Public social insurance regulations determine workplace coverage based on legal entity status and total headcount. Any workplace established as a HOJIN corporation (a registered legal entity or corporate entity) is automatically subject to compulsory EPI and EHI coverage.
In addition, non-corporate commercial enterprises or factories that employ five or more workers are subject to compulsory coverage if they operate in businesses specified by law, such as manufacturing. If a company or factory meets these statutory criteria, all regular staff and qualified workers must be enrolled. If a workplace is legally subject to coverage but has not yet been registered in the system, the employer is legally required to submit an Application for Workplace Coverage to the relevant administrative office.
What are the coverage criteria for regular employees and part-time workers?
In qualifying workplaces, coverage rules apply based on an employee's job category, working schedule, and employment duration:
Regular employees and officers
If you are employed in an EPI and EHI covered workplace as a regular employee, corporate officer, or official corporate representative, you must be covered by EPI and EHI by law, regardless of your foreign nationality.
Part-time workers with three-fourths working hours
Part-time workers are automatically required to be covered if their weekly working hours and monthly working days equal or exceed three-fourths (3/4) of the normal working hours and working days of regular workers in the same workplace.
Part-time workers with shorter working hours
If a part-time worker's weekly hours and monthly days are less than the three-fourths threshold, they still must be covered by EPI and EHI if ALL four of the following conditions apply:
- Weekly work hours are 20 hours or more.
- The expected term of employment is two months or longer.
- The worker is not a student.
- The worker is employed by a "specific covered workplace."
A "specific covered workplace" is defined by law as either:
- A workplace under one registered HOJIN (company) number that is expected to employ more than 50 workers for six months or longer per year; or
- A workplace with 50 workers or fewer that applies for coverage based on a formal agreement between the employer and the workers.
Shorter-hour part-timers under the Minimum Wage Act
As a general rule, shorter-hour part-timers governed under Article 7 of the Minimum Wage Act are not subject to compulsory EPI and EHI coverage. However, these part-time workers may still be enrolled in the system if they submit a request to be covered.
How does the enrollment process work for international workers?
The administrative responsibility for social insurance registration rests with the employer. When an international worker begins employment at a covered workplace, the employer must submit an "Application to Enroll in EPI / EHI" within 5 days after the start of employment.
This application must be submitted directly to the local Japan Pension Service (JPS) branch office or the designated processing center that covers the employer's company location. If the workplace itself is subject to coverage but has not yet been registered, the employer must simultaneously submit an "Application for Workplace Coverage." Foreign workers can review detailed official procedural guidelines provided by the Japan Pension Service. Note that individual visa statuses or legal eligibility decisions require official consultation, and workers should confirm their exact status with official administrative authorities or HR representatives.
Finding a place to stay
When preparing to transition into employment in Japan, securing appropriate accommodation is an important task to coordinate relative to your arrival date and contract start. Foreign workers and graduates typically finalize their housing arrangements after obtaining their visa or Certificate of Eligibility and prior to arriving in Tokyo to start their new job. Staying in temporary, comfortable housing allows newcomers to settle in smoothly while completing workplace onboarding and public insurance paperwork. OHAYO Stay offers furnished monthly apartments and rooms in Tokyo. Booking is completed online with a passport or ID and a credit card, requiring no guarantor, no key money, and no agency fee. Most homes have a minimum stay of 30 nights, which is clearly listed on each property page.
FAQ
Who pays the social insurance contributions for EPI and EHI in Japan?
Under Japanese law, premium contributions for EPI and EHI are calculated based on salary and are shared between the employer and the employee.
How soon after hiring must an employer submit the social insurance enrollment form?
An employer must submit the Application to Enroll in EPI / EHI within 5 days after the date of employment.
Can international students working part-time be covered under the reduced 20-hour rule?
No, because one of the four mandatory criteria for shorter-hour part-time coverage explicitly stipulates that the worker must not be a student.
Sources
- 日本年金機構「Enrollment in Employees' Pension Insurance and Employees' Health Insurance｜日本年金機構」(checked 2026-10-29)
Facts are summarized in our own words; see the linked pages for the official details.
Rules and dates can change. Always confirm with the official source before you apply.