In Japan, every resident aged 20 or older is legally required to enroll in the National Pension system, regardless of nationality. If you are an international student with a limited income, you can request a postponement of your monthly payments through the Special Payment System for Students. You must submit your application at your municipal office or online, and you need to renew it each fiscal year.
Who must enroll in Japan's National Pension system?
Under Japanese law, enrollment in the National Pension Scheme is mandatory for everyone living in Japan who is between 20 and 59 years old. This requirement applies equally to foreign nationals, including international students, exchange students, and those attending language programs or graduate schools.
Eligibility for student-specific provisions covers individuals enrolled in educational institutions designated under the School Education Act. These facilities include universities, graduate schools, junior colleges, high schools, specialist high schools, vocational institutions, and other approved schools, provided the course length is one year or longer. Because individual circumstances and visa categories vary, students should confirm their specific status with official sources or their local municipal office.
What is the Special Payment System for Students in 2026?
The Special Payment System for Students (*Gakusei Nofu Tokurei*) allows qualified students to postpone their monthly pension contribution payments if their earnings fall below a designated threshold. For the previous calendar year, the standard individual income limit for this exception is 1,280,000 yen, though this figure may shift depending on social insurance deductions or dependent family members.
Approved postponement periods offer several key protections:
- Qualifying Period Count: Months approved under the student exception count toward the minimum period required to receive an Old-age Basic Pension in the future.
- Disability and Survivors' Pension Coverage: If an illness or accident causing disability or death occurs during an approved postponement period, you or your dependents may still qualify for Disability Basic Pension or Survivors' Basic Pension benefits. To meet the legal requirements, you must have paid or been exempted for at least two-thirds of your insured months up to the second month before the incident, or have full payment/exemption coverage for the 12 months leading up to that second month.
- Impact on Pension Payout: While the postponed months count toward eligibility time, they will not be factored into calculating the final cash amount of your future old-age pension unless you retroactively pay the contributions back later.
How do you apply for student pension postponement?
An approved postponement covers up to one fiscal year (from April to March). Consequently, you must re-apply every year if you remain enrolled in school and continue to meet the income conditions.
To apply, you can visit the National Health Insurance and Pension Division (*Kokuho-nenkin-ka*) at your local municipal city hall, branch office, or sub-branch office. Alternatively, if you possess a My Number card, you can complete the submission online via the Myna Portal site. If the Japan Pension Service mails an application postcard directly to your address, you can fill out the required information and return it by mail.
If you are not eligible for the student exception—such as after graduation—or if you experience temporary financial hardship, general exemption options exist for fiscal year 2026 according to four tiers based on income:
- Full Exemption: 100% of contributions exempted.
- 3/4 Exemption: You pay the remaining 4,480 yen per month.
- 1/2 Exemption: You pay the remaining 8,960 yen per month.
- 1/4 Exemption: You pay the remaining 13,440 yen per month.
If partial exemptions are granted but you fail to pay the remaining mandatory amount during that period, the entire duration is treated as non-payment rather than a partial exemption. Further details are provided by the Japan Pension Service Exemption Guide.
How does retroactive pension repayment work?
If you wish to receive your full pension benefit amount upon retirement, you can choose to back-pay your postponed student contributions. Japanese pension rules allow you to make retroactive payments for up to the past 10 years.
However, if you wait three or more fiscal years after the original exemption year to repay, a specific index rate is added to the base contribution amount, slightly increasing the required payment. To make retroactive payments, you must apply in advance at your nearest Japan Pension Service branch office. Submitting your request too close to the ten-year limit may result in administrative delays that prevent successful processing. Additional administrative details can be referenced in the Higashihiroshima City Pension Guidance.
Finding a place to stay
When planning your move to Japan, arranging your housing is a vital step that should be finalized after your Certificate of Eligibility and visa are approved, but before arriving in the country. Establishing a settled address beforehand allows you to register promptly at your local municipal office upon arrival, which is necessary for setting up your Resident Record, enrolling in National Health Insurance, and filing your National Pension paperwork. Many newcomers stay in a furnished monthly apartment first to ease their transition. OHAYO Stay offers furnished monthly apartments and rooms in Tokyo. Booking is online with a passport or ID and a credit card, with no guarantor, no key money, and no agency fee required. Additionally, the monthly price includes electricity, gas, water and Wi-Fi.
FAQ
Who is eligible for the student pension payment exception?
Students aged 20 or older enrolled in recognized educational institutions (with course lengths of one year or more) whose previous year's income was 1,280,000 yen or less can apply.
Do postponed student payments increase my pension payout amount?
No, postponed months count toward the total qualifying years needed for a pension, but they do not increase your payout amount unless you retroactively repay them within 10 years.
How long do I have to retroactively repay postponed contributions?
You can make retroactive payments for up to 10 past years, though payments made three or more fiscal years later include an additional indexed rate.
Sources
- 日本年金機構「Exemption of National Pension Contributions｜日本年金機構」(checked 2026-10-19)
- 自治体公式サイト「National Pension Scheme payments by students（学生納付特例制度）／東広島市ホームページ」(checked 2026-10-19)
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.