Application for Japanese Pension Benefits

Without agreement, you needed to file your application for Japanese benefits only to Japan Pension Service (JPS) in Japan directly.
With agreements, however, if you live in the institution in your country. The agreements enabled this initial application. Foreign institutions serve as a mailbox for JPS.
Note: Under the Agreements with United Kingdom, Republic of Korea and China, you should file your benefits application to JPS, not to the agreement country‘s institution.

The Japanese benefits application form is available at Application Forms and Supplementary Documents website. You need to fill out the form and file it to the social security institution, together with supporting documents.
If you apply for the Japanese old-age pension or disability pension, you need to use the application form “Claim for Pension: Old-age (Disability) National Pension / Employees' Pension Insurance (For Old Age / Disability Pension.)”
If you apply for the Japanese survivors' pension, you need to use the application form “Claim for National Pension / Employees' Pension Insurance (For Survivors' Pension.)”
Your completed application form will be transmitted from the social security institution to JPS Headquarters in Japan which will determine your Japanese benefits and pay you.

To apply for totalized Japanese benefits, you need to file the completed Japanese benefits application form to JPS branch office or the pension consultation center. Attach your Declaration of Period of Coverage under the agreement country's social security act and other necessary supporting documents.
Upon receipt of your Declaration, JPS Headquarters asks the social security institution in the country to provide your coverage record under the system of the agreement countries. With the reply from the institution, JPS Headquarters will determine your totalization pension benefits and pay you.
Please note, when you apply for the Italian pension, you do not need to attach your Declaration of Period of Coverage Japan-Italy Agreement doesn’t include benefits totalization.

While you receive the Japanese benefits, you need to report any changes such as address or bank account, or changes of eligibility status such as level of disability or marital status. Some changes may affect your benefits amount.
To report any changes, you can fill in Report / Request from Beneficiaries Residing Abroad and submit it to JPS Headquarters in Japan or the social security institution in each agreement country.

If Japan concludes the Tax Convention (including specific provision for income tax on pension benefits) with the country where you live, your Japanese pension benefits are subject to income tax in the country and exempt from Japanese income tax.
To establish tax exemption, you need to submit Application form for income Tax Convention. The form is available on the website of National Tax Agency（外部リンク） in Japan. You need to prepare two completed forms and submit them to JPS Headquarters.