Leaving Japan: Final Procedures Before Departure
A practical guide to moving out, tax, pension, insurance, housing, banking, phones, and municipal procedures: rules, counters, documents, timing, costs, and follow-up updates.
Departure procedures should start at least 1 month before leaving Japan. Housing, employer or school, bank account, phone, JPS pension, NTA tax, municipal move-out, and residence card return depend on each other, so the order matters.
1 to 2 months before departure
Notify the employer or school according to contract rules, often about 30 days ahead. Ask the company when it will issue the withholding slip and how it will handle social insurance loss. If you rent, check the lease notice period; 1 to 2 months is common.
Prepare for housing inspection, deposit settlement, restoration costs, and final utility bills. If you paid JPS pension for at least 6 months, keep the pension number and documents needed for the lump-sum withdrawal payment after departure.
2 to 4 weeks before departure
Close or keep bank accounts only after confirming rent, utilities, credit cards, phone bills, and refunds. A bank usually requires the passbook, bank seal if used, identity document, and residence card or passport. Do not close the account before the final 1 or 2 automatic payments clear.
Cancel or change the mobile contract. If a device installment remains, the carrier may request lump-sum payment or continue billing. Check whether you need the Japanese number for banking, 2-factor authentication, or final municipal calls.
Final 14 days
Submit the move-out notice at the municipal office within the period accepted by the municipality, commonly from 14 days before departure. National Health Insurance withdrawal and remaining premiums are often handled at the same office.
At airport departure, return the residence card to ISA immigration if you are leaving without re-entry permission. If you keep special re-entry permission, the card handling differs, so answer the immigration officer correctly.
After departure
The lump-sum pension withdrawal payment must be claimed within 2 years after leaving Japan. Japan Pension Service accepts paper applications and some online procedures depending on the case. Required documents include passport copy, pension number, bank account information, and proof that you no longer have an address in Japan.
Resident tax can remain after departure if you had an address in Japan on January 1. Appoint an NTA-style tax agent before leaving if notices will arrive after you are gone, or arrange payment with the municipality.
Common mistakes
Do not leave the bank account, phone installment, or resident tax unresolved. Dormant balances, failed withdrawals, and unpaid local tax can create problems if you return to Japan later in 1 or 2 years.
Do not miss the 2-year deadline for the JPS pension lump-sum withdrawal. Put the application deadline on a calendar before departure, and keep scans of all final documents.
Useful terms
- Tenshutsu todoke: move-out notice
- Dattai ichijikin: lump-sum pension withdrawal payment
- Zairyu card henno: residence card return
- Nozei kanrinin: tax agent
- Kaiyaku / taikyo: cancellation / move-out