RetireJapan

I've been paying into the pension fund for over 10 years.
What if I don't want to return to my native country, and want to live in a country other than Japan?
Can I still collect my Japanese pension outside of Japan, but not my native country?
Also, would I have to wait until I'm 65, or could I collect it earlier?

You can receive it in any country.

Yes, you can receive it and be paid to any of these countries, except Iran and North Korea..
https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/jukyu/ ... s/CDDF.pdf

You can apply yourself directly to the Japan Pension System, or if you are in a country that has a Pension Totalization Agreement, then in many cases you can apply through the Pension Office of the Country of Residence, and they will arrange all the paperwork with the Japan Pension System for you.

Depending on the Tax Treaty between Japan and the Country of Residence, you may be able to receive the Pension Payments free of withholding tax in Japan. Some countries' Tax treaties allow Tax Free payment from Japan, and others don't. In pretty much all cases the Pension Income will be taxable in the country of residence.

The normal date to start receiving Japanese Pension Benefits is currently 65 based on all contributions to that time.
You can elect to start receiving a reduced Pension from age 60 onwards, based on all contributions to that time. The Reduction is shown here:
Rate = 100% - Discount Rate % shown. e.g. Age 60 would be 100% - 30% = 70% of projected Age 65 Benefit based on all contributions to Age 60
https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/jukyu/ ... 21-01.html

You could also delay and receive an increased Pension past age 65, based on all contributions to that time. The Increase is shown here:
Rate = 100% + Increase Rate % shown. Age 70 would be 100% + 42% = 142% of projected Age 65 Benefit based on all contributions to that time.
https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/jukyu/ ... 21-02.html

In any case the Benefit is based on the number and amount of contributions to the Basic and/or Employee Pension Systems.
It will differ by person, but you can expect a partial pension of about No.of Actual Months Contributions / 480 of a full pension...

You might want to get a Projection from the Pension Office of how much you would expect at age 65 at today's benefit rates based on your Contributions until the time when you leave, before you leave Japan. The Benefit rate will then raise annually by the roughly the rate of Japanese Inflation until you decide to start receiving from 70% of that at age 60, to 100% at age 65, to 142% at age 70 or max 184% of that value at age 75...

Thank you.
What if I leave Japan before I'm 60 and never return?
Could I live in a different country, then start receiving the pension when I'm 60 or 65?
Would there be any difference between moving back to my native country (which has a pension agreement with Japan) and moving to a completely different one?

Self wrote: ↑Wed Mar 05, 2025 8:29 am Thank you.
What if I leave Japan before I'm 60 and never return?

No problem. Depends where for Pension Totalization Treaty between that country and Japan, and making the application directly to Japan or through the Local Pension System, and the Taxation Treaty between that country and Japan, whether the Japanese Pension Benefits will be taxable in Japan or only in the country of residence.

Self wrote: ↑Wed Mar 05, 2025 8:29 am Could I live in a different country, then start receiving the pension when I'm 60 or 65?

Yes

Self wrote: ↑Wed Mar 05, 2025 8:29 am Would there be any difference between moving back to my native country (which has a pension agreement with Japan) and moving to a completely different one?

Depends where for Pension Totalization Treaty between that country and Japan, and making the application directly to Japan or through the Local Pension System, and the Taxation Treaty between that country and Japan, whether the Japanese Pension Benefits will be taxable in Japan or only in the country of residence.

Thanks.

It seems difficult.

Let's say I want to leave Japan, but collect my pension. I'm not 60 yet. I go back to my native country, Canada, then how would I set up receiving that money? Could I start receiving it in Canada before turning 60? If I have to wait, how would Canada even know that I paid into the Japanese pension system?

Your situation depends on where in Canada you will be living as Quebec is not included in the Japan-Canada social security agreement.
https://www.nenkin.go.jp/international/ ... anada.html (Section 1)