Pension

What BRIDGE can tell you now

For most residents age 20–59, the first step is to identify the correct National Pension category. Category I, II and III use different filing routes, so BRIDGE should not tell everyone to go to City Hall.

What to check

• ✓Identify the category first. Category I generally covers residents age 20–59 who are not Category II or III, such as self-employed people, students and unemployed people. Category II covers people enrolled in Employees’ Pension Insurance through work. Category III covers qualifying dependent spouses of Category II insured persons.
• ✓Japan Pension Service says that when you become Category I, you need to submit the National Pension enrollment notification yourself to your municipality within 14 days.
• ✓If you become Category II through Employees’ Pension Insurance, your employer submits the enrollment application. That is not a normal City Hall self-filing.
• ✓If you become a qualifying Category III dependent spouse, your spouse’s employer submits the Category III notification. Confirm the dependent-status requirements with the employer or insurer.
• ✓A job change, retirement, or dependent-status change can change your pension category. Do not assume the old category continues; confirm the new category from the actual situation.

• Japan Pension Service — Enroll in Pension System →
• Japan Pension Service — Employment / job change / retirement →