study-work · 2026-05-20

Leaving or Changing Jobs in Japan

A practical guide to resignation, job change, insurance, pension, resident tax, and immigration notifications: rules, counters, documents, timing, costs, and follow-up updates.

The difficult part of resigning in Japan is the 1-month chain after the last workday: health insurance, pension, resident tax, unemployment benefits, documents from the company, and immigration notices. Plan the timeline before announcing the final date.

Before resignation

Civil Code Article 627 allows resignation from an indefinite employment contract with 2 weeks’ notice, but many work rules ask for 1 month. For a smooth exit, tell the direct manager first, then submit a written resignation notice.

Choose a month-end date if possible. It can make social insurance and resident tax handling cleaner. Use the final 2 to 4 weeks for handover notes, client notices, system access return, and paid leave use. Annual paid leave is protected by Labor Standards Act Article 39.

Documents on leaving

Collect 5 key documents: separation certificate for employment insurance, employment insurance insured-person certificate, certificate of loss of health insurance qualification, the year’s withholding slip, and a retirement certificate if the next MHLW or municipal counter asks for one.

The separation certificate is needed at Hello Work for unemployment benefits. The withholding slip is needed for the next employer’s year-end adjustment, tax filing, and visa renewal. If a document does not arrive within about 1 month, contact HR or Hello Work.

Insurance and resident tax

Company health insurance ends after the resignation date. Choose the next employer’s insurance, voluntary continuation for up to 2 years, or National Health Insurance at the municipality. Voluntary continuation is due within 20 days; National Health Insurance within 14 days.

Voluntary continuation keeps the previous health insurance, but without the employer share. National Health Insurance is based on previous-year income and can be around JPY 15,000 to 40,000 per month. Ask the municipality for an estimate before choosing.

Employees’ Pension also stops after resignation. Until the next employer enrolls you again, switch to National Pension and pay the monthly premium yourself; fiscal 2026 is JPY 17,510. Handling health insurance and pension at the same municipal visit reduces missed procedures.

Resident tax depends on the month. June to December resignations often switch to ordinary collection. January to May resignations may withhold the fiscal-year balance from final salary. At JPY 5,000,000 annual income, that can remove an extra JPY 20,000 to 100,000. If the next employer is fixed, ask HR to switch special collection.

Unemployment benefits

Basic allowance is handled by Hello Work. Company-side reasons such as dismissal or bankruptcy can start after a 7-day waiting period. Voluntary resignation usually has 7 days plus a benefit restriction period, commonly 2 months.

Benefit amount is based on recent wages, age, and reason for leaving, and the payment period can range from 90 to 330 days. You must attend recognition dates, usually every 4 weeks, and report job-search activity.

Foreign resident notices

Work status holders must notify ISA within 14 days when leaving or joining a contracting organization. If the next employer is already fixed, file both leaving and joining notices. If not, file the leaving notice first and then the new organization notice after the next job is decided.

Long job-search periods can create residence-status risk. If job hunting will continue for 3 months or more, check whether a designated activities status or other ISA procedure is needed.

Missing the notice can hurt the next renewal, and notification-duty violations can carry an administrative fine up to JPY 200,000. Put the online notice on the calendar when the resignation date is fixed.

Common mistakes

Do not rely on email alone for resignation. Tell the direct manager, then leave a written resignation notice through paper or the company’s required workflow.

If the separation certificate has not arrived after 1 month, contact old HR or Hello Work. Voluntary resignation usually has a 7-day waiting period plus about 2 months of benefit restriction, so unemployment benefits are not immediate cash.

Do not miss the 14-day or 20-day health insurance windows. Late switching can create retroactive premiums and temporary 100% medical payment. From January to May, resident-tax lump collection can also leave almost no final take-home pay.

Useful terms

Taishoku todoke: resignation notice
Rishokuhyo: separation certificate
Ninkei: voluntary continuation of health insurance
Tokubetsu choshu: payroll resident-tax withholding
Hello Work: public employment security office