When You are Working in Japan

If you are temporarily sent to Japan by your employer in an agreement countries, you need to have a Certificate of Coverage. It proves that you are currently covered by the social security system of the agreement country from which you have been sent. It establishes your exemption from coverage under the Japanese system. Your employer in the agreement country is responsible for applying for the Certificate of Coverage to the social security institution in the country.

How to apply:

1. Your employer needs to apply for Certificate of Coverage to the social security institution in the agreement country.
2. Upon approval after examination, the institution issues the Certificate of Coverage to you.
3. When you come to Japan, you need to submit your Certificate to your workplace in Japan.* Your Certificate needs to be presented when JPS branch office asks for it or asks why you are not covered by the Japanese social security system at the time of inspection.
4. In the process of 2. above, if your application for Certificate is not approved, you will be covered only by the Japanese social security system.

* You must keep your Certificate in Japan if you are from Belgium or France.
If you need to continue to work in Japan over the expected period of detachment, your employer in the agreement country needs to apply for the extension of your Certificate at the institution.

If you temporarily work in Japan as a self-employed person, you need to have a Certificate of Coverage. It proves that you are currently covered by the social security system of the agreement country where you have come from. It establishes your exemption from coverage under the Japanese system. You are responsible for applying for the Certificate of Coverage to the social security institution in the country.

How to apply:

1. You need to apply for Certificate of Coverage to the social security institution in the agreement country.
2. Upon approval after examination, the institution issues the Certificate of Coverage to you.
3. When you come to Japan, your Certificate needs to be presented when JPS branch office or the municipal office asks for it or asks why you are not covered by the Japanese system at the time of inspection.
4. In the process of 2. above, if your application for Certificate is not approved, you will be covered only by the Japanese social security system.

If you need to continue to work in Japan over the expected periods, you need to apply for the extension of your Certificate at the institution.

When you are sent to Japan by your employer in an agreement country for a long period of time (generally over 5 years,) or locally hired in Japan, your employer in Japan needs to submit an “Application to Enroll in EPI / EHI” to JPS branch office.
When you work in Japan as a self-employed person for a long period of time (generally over 5 years,) you need to submit an application to enroll in National Pension and National Health Insurance to the municipal office of your place of residence.
When your work in Japan ends and you return to your country, your employer (or you if you are a self-employed) needs to submit a report to end coverage of Japanese system to JPS branch office (or municipal office of your place of residence for self-employed.)

When you have already been sent or transferred your self-employed activity to Japan before an agreement entered into force, the date when an agreement started is considered to be the date when your detachment or self-employment in Japan begins.
In this case, your employer (or you if you are a self-employed) needs to submit an report to end coverage of Japanese system to JPS branch office, in addition to Certificate application in the agreement country.