If you’re working in Japan on assignment from your home country, or you’ve relocated here more permanently, it’s worth checking whether you’re accidentally paying into two countries’ social security systems at once. Here’s how the safeguard against that — called a totalization agreement — actually works, and where its limits are.
What Is a Totalization Agreement?
As of December 2025, Japan has social security agreements in force with 24 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, Germany, and France. These agreements exist specifically to prevent workers posted abroad from paying into both their home country’s and Japan’s pension systems simultaneously for the same period of work.
Coverage isn’t uniform across agreements, though:
- Countries like Germany, France, and Belgium have agreements exempting both pension and health insurance contributions
- Countries like the US, UK, and Canada generally have agreements covering pension insurance only — health insurance may still need to be sorted out separately
The Key Requirement: A Certificate of Coverage
To actually claim the exemption, your home country’s social security agency issues a Certificate of Coverage, which you then submit to the relevant Japanese authority. Timing matters — if you submit late, contributions you’ve already paid into the Japanese system during that period may not be refunded or exempted retroactively.
Who This Doesn’t Cover
Totalization agreements are generally built around workers posted or seconded by an employer for a defined period — not people who are locally hired in Japan or self-employed here. If you fall into either of those categories, you’ll typically need to enroll directly in Japan’s pension system (Employees’ Pension or National Pension) regardless of what agreement exists between Japan and your home country.
💡 Run your own numbers — try the Japan Pension Refund Calculator (2026).
Quick Summary
| Item | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Does an agreement exist? | Japan has agreements with 24 countries as of December 2025 — check if yours is one |
| What’s covered? | Some agreements cover pension only; others cover pension and health insurance |
| How to claim it | Get a Certificate of Coverage from your home country and submit it promptly in Japan |
| Who it doesn’t apply to | Locally-hired employees and the self-employed generally must enroll in Japan’s system directly |
This article is for general informational purposes only. Whether an agreement applies to you depends on your home country, employment arrangement, and specific circumstances. Confirm your situation with Japan Pension Service (nenkin.go.jp) or your home country’s social security agency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does every country with a totalization agreement with Japan cover the same benefits?
A. No. Coverage varies: agreements with Germany, France, and Belgium exempt both pension and health insurance contributions, while agreements with the US, UK, and Canada generally cover pension insurance only, so health insurance may still need to be handled separately.
Q. How do I actually claim the exemption?
A. Your home country’s social security agency issues a Certificate of Coverage, which you then submit to the relevant Japanese authority. Submitting late can mean contributions already paid into the Japanese system during that period aren’t refunded or exempted retroactively.
Q. Does the agreement apply if I was hired locally in Japan rather than posted by my employer?
A. Generally no. Totalization agreements are built around workers posted or seconded by an employer for a defined period, not locally-hired employees or the self-employed, who typically need to enroll directly in Japan’s pension system regardless of the agreement.
Q. How many countries have this kind of agreement with Japan?
A. As of December 2025, Japan has social security agreements in force with 24 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, South Korea, Germany, and France.
Key Takeaways
- Japan has totalization agreements with 24 countries as of December 2025.
- Coverage differs by country: Germany/France/Belgium exempt pension + health insurance; the US/UK/Canada generally cover pension only.
- A Certificate of Coverage from your home country must be submitted promptly to claim the exemption.
- Locally-hired employees and the self-employed generally must enroll directly in Japan’s pension system.