Japan (JP)
Japan is one of the world's most captivating destinations for expats — a country where ancient temple culture and ultra-modern technology coexist seamlessly.
Leaving Japan
How to properly exit — protecting your finances, rights and records.
📅 General Timeline
6 months before: Review visa status and confirm departure date. Inform employer with appropriate notice (1–3 months per contract). 3 months before: Give notice to landlord and apartment management. Begin cancelling gym memberships, subscriptions, and recurring services. 2 months before: Cancel internet and mobile contracts; arrange forwarding or re-activation as needed. Apply for pension lump-sum withdrawal paperwork. 1 month before: Cancel utilities. Notify banks of address change (or close accounts if desired). File NHK cancellation. File Tenshutsu Todoke at ward office (or do it the day before departure). Last week: Return NHI card, cancel any remaining services. Settle final utility bills and pay any outstanding taxes. On departure day: Return Residence Card at airport immigration. Keep copies of all cancellation confirmations for 2 years.
Deregistration
When leaving Japan permanently, you must submit a Notification of Moving Out (転出届 / Tenshutsu Todoke) at your ward/city office before departure — or within 14 days if leaving during a short trip. This cancels your residence registration and triggers the end of your NHI/NHK/resident tax obligations. You must also return your Residence Card (在留カード / Zairyu Card) to the airport immigration counter upon final departure — failure to return it is not penalised but is standard procedure. If leaving temporarily (for a trip outside Japan), no deregistration is needed — only file if you are ending your Japan residency.
Tax clearance
If you have taxable income in the year of departure, you must file a final Kakutei Shinkoku (確定申告 / tax return) covering January 1 to your departure date. File this before leaving, or appoint a tax representative (納税管理人 / Nōzei Kanri-nin) — a person residing in Japan who will manage your tax filings after you leave. Japanese-sourced income after departure (e.g. rent from Japanese property) remains subject to Japanese withholding tax (20.42%). Foreign assets over ¥100M may trigger an Exit Tax (国外転出時課税) on unrealised gains — consult a tax professional well before departure.
Pension portability
Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payment (脱退一時金 / Dattai Ichiji-kin): Available to non-Japanese nationals who leave Japan after contributing to the National Pension (Kokumin Nenkin) or Employees' Pension (Kosei Nenkin) for at least 6 months. Apply within 2 years of leaving Japan — applications submitted after 2 years are invalid. The refund covers contributions up to a maximum of 60 months (5 years) — contributions beyond 5 years are not refunded. Apply at the Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) from outside Japan after departure. Approximately 20.42% withholding tax is deducted from the refund amount. If your home country has a tax treaty with Japan covering pension refunds, you may reclaim the withholding tax. Under Japan's Totalization Agreements (18 countries including USA, UK, Germany, South Korea, Australia), contributions in Japan may count toward your home country's pension entitlement — the lump-sum withdrawal and totalization are mutually exclusive; you must choose one.
Health insurance
NHI (National Health Insurance): Cancel at your ward office when filing your Tenshutsu Todoke. Return your NHI card. You remain liable for premiums until the cancellation date. Shakai Hoken (company social insurance): automatically ends on your last day of employment. You can extend Shakai Hoken for up to 2 years via Ninsho Keizoku (任意継続) if you wish to remain in the plan after leaving your employer — premiums approximately double as you pay both employee and employer shares. Travel insurance covering the departure period is recommended as a bridge.
Bank account
Japanese bank accounts can generally be maintained after leaving Japan. However, most major Japanese banks technically require Japanese residency as a condition — confirm with your bank. Rakuten Bank, Sony Bank, and Wise are more flexible for maintaining accounts with overseas addresses. If you close your account, ensure any direct debits (tax, NHK, utilities) are cancelled first. International transfers out of Japan: no restriction on transferring funds abroad, but transfers of ¥3M+ per transaction may require documentation. Consider using Wise for cost-effective transfers.
Utilities
Cancel all utilities (electricity, gas, water, internet, mobile) before departure — typically 30 days notice required for internet/mobile, immediate cancellation available for electricity and gas. Read final meter readings. Request final bills and settle them. Cancel NHK (public broadcasting fee) at your ward office or via the NHK website — failure to cancel results in continued billing even after departure.
Rental contract
Standard apartment leases in Japan require 1–2 months notice to vacate (typically stated in the lease contract). Negotiate early termination fees (違約金 / iyakukin) — early termination within the fixed contract period typically incurs a penalty of 1–2 months rent. Conduct a final walkthrough with the landlord or building manager to assess any damage charges. Under the national guidelines (国土交通省のガイドライン), only damage beyond normal wear-and-tear can be charged. Return your key on the final day. Deposit (shikikin) is typically returned within 1–2 months after deductions are settled.
Leaving the Country
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