Leaving Japan and Returning to Your Home Country

When you finish your life in Japan and return to your home country, check not only your flight but also procedures at government offices, your Residence Card, health insurance, pension, taxes, and housing.

First, check these things

• Whether you plan to come back to Japan
• Whether you will use re-entry permission
• Whether you will give up your address in Japan
• Whether you will leave your job
• Whether you will end contracts for your home or utilities

The procedures you need will change depending on this.

Government offices

If you are giving up your address in Japan and moving overseas, check the moving-out (kokugai tenshutsu) procedures at your city, town, or ward.

Also check health insurance, pension, resident tax, and procedures for your children at the same time.

Residence Card

If you are ending your stay in Japan and leaving — not departing under re-entry permission — you return your Residence Card when you leave the country.

You also need to return the card if it becomes invalid, such as when you don't return to Japan within the validity period of a re-entry permission after departing under it.

If you are not sure whether your case requires you to return the card, check with the Immigration Services Agency.

Health insurance

Check until when your eligibility for your employer's health insurance or National Health Insurance lasts, and what withdrawal procedures are needed.

Pension

If a foreign national has been enrolled in Japan's pension system for a certain period and is leaving Japan, they may be able to claim a "Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment" if they meet the conditions.

You claim it within 2 years after leaving Japan without an address in Japan.

However, if you receive the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment, that enrollment period can no longer be used toward your future Japanese pension amount or toward totalization of enrollment periods under a social security agreement.

Check the impact before claiming.

Taxes

Even after returning to your home country, you may still need to file Japanese income tax returns or pay taxes.

Check with the tax office or your municipality before leaving Japan.

If necessary, there is a procedure to designate a "tax agent" (nozei kanrinin).

Housing and utilities

Check things such as:

• Moving out of your rented home
• Electricity
• Gas
• Water
• Mobile phone
• Internet
• Bank accounts
• Mail

When leaving your job

Check whether you can receive documents you will need after returning home, such as your withholding tax statement (gensen choshuhyo) and certificate of unemployment (rishokuhyo).

What you can check next

• Moving or leaving Japan
• Moving out of your home
• Pension in Japan
• Taxes, income tax, and resident tax in Japan
• Leaving a job, changing jobs, or becoming unemployed

Main places to check

• Your municipality
• Immigration Services Agency
• Japan Pension Service
• National Tax Agency

Last checked: August 2026