Leaving Japan
Residents planning a temporary or permanent financial departure.
- 1
Plan · 6–12 weeks before departure
Inventory obligations and choose a reachable address
List tax, residence, housing, utilities, insurance, pension, banking, cards, brokerage, subscriptions, transfers, and records with their closure or retention rule.
Authority: Each authority and provider
Documents to prepare
- Departure date and itinerary
- Contract list and balances
- Reliable overseas address/contact
Exceptions and checks
- Temporary assignment rules and provider non-resident policies differ; never assume an account may remain open.
- 2
Tax · Before departure when a later filing/payment remains
Resolve national and resident tax administration
Confirm final filing and payment obligations, the January 1 resident-tax position, remaining installments, employer collection, and whether a tax representative must be appointed.
Authority: National Tax Agency/tax office and municipality; employer for payroll collection
Documents to prepare
- Prior returns and withholding slips
- Resident-tax notices
- Departure and representative details
- Tax representative notification if applicable
Exceptions and checks
- Liability depends on facts and dates; departure does not itself erase bills. This roadmap gives no treaty conclusion.
- 3
Municipal exit · Normally within the municipal departure-notification window
File moving-out and end local coverage correctly
Tell the municipality you are moving overseas and ask how My Number card, National Health Insurance, local tax, and any household records are handled.
Authority: City, ward, town, or village office
Documents to prepare
- Residence/My Number cards
- Passport and departure details
- Insurance card/eligibility document
- Household documents
Exceptions and checks
- Timing, card treatment, proxy filing, and required proof vary by municipality and departure type.
- 4
Housing and services · By contractual notice dates; final readings on handover
Close housing, utilities, telecom, and recurring bills
Schedule inspections and meter readings, provide a refund address/account, photograph condition, and retain final statements.
Authority: Landlord/manager and each provider
Documents to prepare
- Lease and notice
- Customer numbers
- Handover/meter records
- Refund destination
Exceptions and checks
- Cancellation notice, restoration charges, and in-person gas procedures depend on contract and locality.
- 5
Financial accounts · Before losing Japanese address/phone access
Obtain written bank, card, NISA, and brokerage instructions
Tell each provider the departure facts, stop automated investing, download statements and cost records, and follow its non-resident restriction, transfer, sale, or closure procedure.
Authority: Each provider; Financial Services Agency for system-level information
Documents to prepare
- Account numbers and holdings
- Identity/My Number documents
- Departure evidence
- Transfer destination if permitted
Exceptions and checks
- NISA and taxable-account treatment is provider- and departure-specific; tax consequences require individual review.
- 6
Pension · After losing coverage and within the official claim period
Preserve pension records before choosing a claim
Obtain your pension record and number. Check future entitlement, social-security agreement possibilities, and lump-sum withdrawal eligibility before applying.
Authority: Japan Pension Service
Documents to prepare
- Pension number/record
- Passport departure evidence
- Overseas bank details
- Claim form and tax documents if claiming
Exceptions and checks
- A lump-sum claim can affect credited periods and withholding; citizenship and agreement-country facts matter, but no treaty conclusion is made here.
- 7
Transfer and archive · Test early; archive before access ends
Move funds safely and retain an exit file
Test the receiving account before the final transfer, keep enough yen for final debits and refunds, then export durable copies of all closing evidence.
Authority: Chosen registered transfer provider and every record issuer
Documents to prepare
- Transfer quote/receipt and source-of-funds records
- Returns, tax/payment notices, payslips and withholding slips
- Pension/insurance records
- Account closure, lease handover, and final utility statements
Exceptions and checks
- Do not empty or close the last usable account until all known debits, refunds, tax, and deposit settlements are complete.
Time horizons and review
An ordered checklist that links to canonical guides rather than repeating them.
- Do first
- Do next
- Review after circumstances change
Local variation: Municipal forms, appointment systems, accepted translations, fees, and deadlines can vary. Confirm with the city, ward, or town responsible for your address before acting.
Reviewed: 2026-07-30 · Review by: 2027-01-30
When to get professional help
- Ask the responsible counter or provider when a document is rejected or a deadline was missed.
- Use a licensed tax accountant for uncertain residence status, overseas income/assets, or a final return.
- Use an immigration professional for residence-status or work-permission questions; this roadmap does not decide visa eligibility.