Questions about pension

[TeRReT]

Hello,

I have tried researching this on my own but can't find the answers I am looking for.

I am presently in Japan on a working holiday visa from Canada. I got my alien card, and as soon as I did that, I started getting inundated with pension plan forms indicating I need to start paying money. I was not aware of any such thing, my fiancee pays into the pension as she is Japanese, but doesn't think I should be paying into it as I'm in theory only here for 6 months on the present visa. I've been to Australia on whv and didn't have to do anything pension wise so was a bit surprised by this as well. Do I need to pay into the pension on a whv?

Secondly, I want to eventually switch to a spouse visa, I assume at that time I should start paying into the pension?

As I would like to remain in Japan for either a number of years to potentially indefinitely, I don't want to start getting myself into a world of trouble by missing any sort of payments I should be doing, but on the other hand I'd prefer not to have to pay a lot of money I don't have if I don't have to. I am in the process of beginning to rent an apartment here and after being raked over the coals by that I'm not as comfortably financed as I used to be. (Fortunately I'd read about initial apartment cost here so it at least wasn't a surprise, still stings though)

Any assistance is as always appreciated,

Thanks

[Effected After]

I was not aware of any such thing, my fiancee pays into the pension as she is Japanese, but doesn't think I should be paying into it as I'm in theory only here for 6 months on the present visa.

All residents of Japan legally have to be paying pension (unless they are collecting it I supposed). If you leave, you can collect a percentage of up to three years of payments (I think it works out to something like 90%), but you are still required to pay. That said, if you are here 6 months, you can probably dodge them and not begin paying.

I've been to Australia on whv and didn't have to do anything pension wise so was a bit surprised by this as well.

Australian pension laws are Australian pension laws. Japanese pension laws are Japanese pension laws. Immigration (visa) is a different department from pension in Japan, and I'm assuming also Australia, so there really is no connection between them.

Secondly, I want to eventually switch to a spouse visa, I assume at that time I should start paying into the pension?

If you are staying, you should probably start paying now, as they are going to come at you for back payments later on. You can apply for a deference at your city hall/ward office (whichever is applicable to where you are living), but it's only a deference to a later date, you still have to pay at that later date.

[Koenji]

It depends on how long you plan to be here. If it's 3 years or less, it's no big deal to pay, as you can get a refund for all your payments when leaving Japan. Alternatively, you may be able to use your time on the Japanese system toward your pensions in Canada. Have you been contributing to CPP? If not, your Japanese contributions can go toward it, and that's a very good thing. As for OAP, the number of years you contribute to the J pension can be count to qualify for OAP.

Check it out at the Services Canada website.

[Glenski]

Are you working part-time or full-time? PT workers will pay less into pension. If you still think you are unable to pay the full amount into pension, you can file for an exemption.

If you have difficulties in making payments of the pension insurance premium, you may apply for an exemption program called “hokenryo menjo seido” to be exempted from the payment requirement. In addition to full exemption and the partial exemption, the program is also available for those who are younger than 30 years of age and want to delay the payment without penalty (jakunensha nofu yuyo seido). Application forms are available at local pension offices and the national pension section at local municipal offices.

The forms can be downloaded from the Japan Pension Service’s website for printing at home. After filling out the form, mail it along with your “kiso nenkin bango tsuchisho” (notice of basic pension insurance number) to a local municipal office in the area you reside.
http://www.tokyo-icc.jp/guide_eng/life/01.html

[NorthByNorthwest]

The thing about it being "legally required"* to enroll into the pension plan is true BUT it is not strictly enforced. As a result, there are many cynical Japanese who are not enrolled. That included a few politicians who were found to be arrears when they were in charge including former PM Koizumi as well as a paid celebrity spokesperson who was used in a poster campaign to urge everyone to enroll. Classic "do as I say, not as I do".

However, as other posters have indicated, it might not hurt you to enroll:

1. If you are here less than 3 years, you can get a one-time only pension refund for up to 3 years. http://www.nenkin.go.jp/english/pdf/1.pdf

2. It's a pain in the ___ to find out - and maybe some poster on this board can direct you to the exact information - but you can get credit for your pension payments in the Japanese system to the one in your home country (Canada).





* Another "legally required" obligation is to enter into a contract with NHK and pay $40 a month for public TV access. However, in this case, it is absolutely not enforced. People have had obnoxious NHK commissioned agents yelling at them, forcing their way into apartment, threatening Japanese spouses, promising to "call Immigration" - and stupidly giving in. Don't fall for this. As a means to test this, you could call the police emergency number (110) and inform the police that you are in violation of Article 32 of the Broadcast Law and that they should come by and arrest you. They will probably hang up on you for being a loony.

[Effected After]

It depends on how long you plan to be here. If it's 3 years or less, it's no big deal to pay, as you can get a refund for all your payments when leaving Japan.

Not all, but it works out to something like 90%.