I'm a student with no income — do I still have to pay?

You still must enroll, but you can apply for the student postponement system or an income-based exemption at the same counter.

I'll only stay in Japan a couple of years. Is this wasted money?

Not necessarily. If you contributed 6 months or more, you can claim a Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment after leaving — apply within 2 years of departure.

Does an exemption reduce my future pension?

Yes, unless you pay the exempted periods back later — retroactive payment is possible for up to 10 years.

Home / Money & tax /

National Pension 国民年金

Everyone living in Japan aged 20–59 must join, any nationality. Employees are covered automatically — everyone else enrolls at the ward office. Low income can be exempted.

Deadline Within 14 days Cost Exemptions possible Where Your ward office (if not employed)

Last verified 2026-07-10

Who needs this

All residents of Japan aged 20–59, regardless of nationality. Company employees are covered automatically through their employer (Employees' Pension). Self-employed people, students and the unemployed enroll themselves.

Steps

Employed at a company? You are already covered Your employer enrolls you in the Employees' Pension and deducts contributions from your salary. Nothing to do.
Otherwise, enroll at your ward office within 14 days Self-employed people, students and job-seekers enroll at the municipal office for their address.
Low income? Apply for an exemption at the same office Full, 3/4, half or 1/4 exemptions exist based on last year's income. Students have a special postponement system. Don't just ignore the payment slips.
Leaving Japan? You may get money back If you contributed for 6 months or more, you can claim a Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment — apply within 2 years of leaving Japan.

Where to go

Enrollment and exemption applications happen at the ward office for your address.

Show this at the counter 国民年金の手続きをしたいです。 I would like to do the National Pension procedure.

Select your ward above to see your local counter.

Adachi 足立区

Address: 1-17-1 Chuo-honcho, Adachi-ku, Tokyo 120-8510 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (also 4th Sun 9:00–16:00)
Phone: 03-3880-5111

Help in your language: English, Chinese, Korean — 03-3880-5177

More about Adachi →

Arakawa 荒川区

Address: 2-2-3 Arakawa, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-8501 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:15
Phone: 03-3802-3111

Help in your language: Japanese, English, Chinese, Vietnamese — 03-3802-3798

More about Arakawa →

Bunkyo 文京区

Address: Bunkyo Civic Center, 1-16-21 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8555 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (closed holidays, Dec 29–Jan 3)
Phone: 03-3812-7111

Help in your language: English, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Korean — 03-5803-1132

More about Bunkyo →

Chiyoda 千代田区

Address: 1-2-1 Kudan-Minami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8688 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (closed holidays, Dec 29–Jan 3)
Phone: 03-3264-2111

Help in your language: Easy Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean +10 more — 0120-142-142

More about Chiyoda →

Chuo 中央区

Address: 1-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8404 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (Wed until 19:00 and Sun 9:00–17:00 for some services)
Phone: 03-3543-0211

Help in your language: English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese +9 more — 0570-054222

More about Chuo →

Edogawa 江戸川区

Address: 1-4-1 Chuo, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 132-8501 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (closed weekends, national holidays, year-end)

Help in your language: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean +6 more — 03-3877-3851

More about Edogawa →

Itabashi 板橋区

Address: 2-66-1 Itabashi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8501 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (Tue until 19:00 for some services; 2nd Sun 9:00–17:00)
Phone: 03-3964-1111

Help in your language: Japanese, English — 03-3579-2015

More about Itabashi →

Katsushika 葛飾区

Address: 5-13-1 Tateishi, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 124-8555 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (Wed until 19:30 for some services; one Sun per month 9:00–12:00)
Phone: 03-3695-1111

Help in your language: Japanese, English, Chinese — 03-5654-8617

More about Katsushika →

Kita 北区

Address: 1-15-22 Oji-honcho, Kita-ku, Tokyo 114-8508 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (closed weekends, holidays, Dec 29–Jan 3)
Phone: 03-3908-1111

Help in your language: Chinese — 03-3908-1101

More about Kita →

Koto 江東区

Address: 4-11-28 Toyo, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8383 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (some counters Wed until 19:00; 2nd Sun 9:00–16:00 except March)
Phone: 03-3647-9111

Help in your language: Chinese — 03-3647-4700

More about Koto →

Meguro 目黒区

Address: 2-19-15 Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8573 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (closed weekends, holidays, Dec 29–Jan 3)
Phone: 03-3715-1111

Help in your language: English, Chinese, Korean, Filipino/Tagalog — 03-5722-9187

More about Meguro →

Minato 港区

Address: 1-5-25 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8511 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (Wed until 19:00); closed weekends, national holidays, year-end
Phone: 03-3578-2111

Help in your language: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean +10 more — 03-3578-2046

More about Minato →

Nakano 中野区

Address: 4-11-19 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-8501 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (closed weekends, holidays, Dec 29–Jan 3)
Phone: 03-3389-1111

Help in your language: English, Chinese, Japanese — 03-3228-8929

More about Nakano →

Nerima 練馬区

Address: 6-12-1 Toyotama-kita, Nerima-ku, Tokyo 176-8501 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (resident-record counters until 19:00 for some services)
Phone: 03-3993-1111

Help in your language: English, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog — 03-5984-4333

More about Nerima →

Ota 大田区

Address: 5-13-14 Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo 144-8621 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (closed weekends, holidays, year-end)
Phone: 03-5744-1111

Help in your language: English, Chinese, Tagalog, Nepali +9 more — 03-6424-4924

More about Ota →

Setagaya 世田谷区

Address: 4-21-27 Setagaya, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 154-8504 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00; some counters also open Sat 9:00–17:00 (except 3rd Sat)
Phone: 03-5432-1111

Help in your language: Japanese, English, Chinese — 03-5432-2892

More about Setagaya →

Shibuya 渋谷区

Address: 1-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8010 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (closed weekends, holidays, Dec 29–Jan 3)
Phone: 03-3463-1211

Help in your language: English — 03-3463-1211

More about Shibuya →

Shinagawa 品川区

Address: 2-1-36 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8715 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (Tue some counters until 19:00; 2nd & 4th Sun for some services)
Phone: 03-3777-1111

Help in your language: English, Chinese — 03-3777-2000

More about Shinagawa →

Shinjuku 新宿区

Address: 1-4-1 Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8484 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (Tue until 19:00 for some counters; 4th Sun open for some counters)
Phone: 03-3209-1111

Help in your language: Japanese, English, Chinese, Spanish +7 more — 03-3202-5535

More about Shinjuku →

Suginami 杉並区

Address: 1-15-1 Asagaya-Minami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-8570 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00; 1st/3rd/5th Sat 9:00–17:00 (citizen affairs counter only)
Phone: 03-3312-2111

Help in your language: English, Chinese, Nepali, Korean +2 more — 03-3312-2111

More about Suginami →

Sumida 墨田区

Address: 1-23-20 Azumabashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-8640 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00 (resident-record counters 9:00–16:30; some counters 1st & 3rd Wed until 19:00, 2nd Sun 9:00–16:30)
Phone: 03-5608-1111

Help in your language: English, Chinese — 03-5608-1616

More about Sumida →

Taito 台東区

Address: 4-5-6 Higashi-Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8615 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:15 (some counters Wed until 19:00, 2nd Sun 9:00–17:00)
Phone: 03-5246-1111

Help in your language: English, Chinese, Korean — 03-5246-1025

More about Taito →

Toshima 豊島区

Address: 2-45-1 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-8422 — Open in Google Maps
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:15 (closed weekends, national holidays, year-end)

Help in your language: English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese +18 more — 03-3981-1782

More about Toshima →

Official links

Every link below goes to an official source. We show the domain so you can check it yourself.

Common questions

I'm a student with no income — do I still have to pay?: You still must enroll, but you can apply for the student postponement system or an income-based exemption at the same counter.
I'll only stay in Japan a couple of years. Is this wasted money?: Not necessarily. If you contributed 6 months or more, you can claim a Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment after leaving — apply within 2 years of departure.
Does an exemption reduce my future pension?: Yes, unless you pay the exempted periods back later — retroactive payment is possible for up to 10 years.