Hey guys, I quit my job about a month ago and am currently jobless. My work visa expires in March. Though I informed immigration within 2 weeks of quitting, I did NOT go to my local city office to get any paperwork done.
For pension, I understand that I don’t have to pay since Im not earning an income now (and thus no need to visit the local city office).
For health insurance, I read that if im planning to stay for 3 months or more I’d need to change to enrol in the National Health Insurance. But since my visa expires within 3 months (I will leave Japan by March if I can’t find a job by then), I assume I don’t need to change to the National Health Insurance.
Just wanna confirm the above, or am I fucked for not going to the local city office for any of the above paperwork?? :/
4 comments
> For pension, I understand that I don’t have to pay since Im not earning an income now (and thus no need to visit the local city office).
That is not how it works. You need to specifically apply for exemption. And I am not sure if you can get one since I think it is based on your last year income.
> For health insurance, I read that if im planning to stay for 3 months or more I’d need to change to enrol in the National Health Insurance. But since my visa expires within 3 months (I will leave Japan by March if I can’t find a job by then), I assume I don’t need to change to the National Health Insurance.
So you currently don’t have any health insurance. If you are leaving, I guess fine. But if you got new job, you need to pay for the gap month anyway.
As u/innocenat suggests this is not how it works. You should go to your city office and fill out the necessary forms for NHI and pension. You may be able to claim a waiver on pension depending on your particular circumstances.
Also please note that you will owe residence taxes this year as well.
As u/innocenat states you need to specifically apply for pension exemption. Until you apply for exemption (and it gets granted) you’re liable for pension.
Regarding your theory on NHI, you’re incorrect.
Just because your status of residency expires in March is irrelevant. You’re still defined a “Mid to long-term resident” even if you’re unemployed.
Mid to long term residents are required to have a registered address I.e registered resident. Being a registered resident comes with having to pay into pension and health insurance.
Only way you can cease being a mid to long term resident is file your moving out of Japan paper work and leave Japan OR switch onto a “temporary visitor”: https://www.isa.go.jp/en/applications/procedures/zairyu_henko10_17_01.html
So what I suggest you do is go to your city hall now and apply for pension exemption and enroll in NHI.
That’s not how that works. That’s not how any of that works. How could you even think that’s how any of this works?
1. Of course you have to pay. If you’re not working you can get an exemption for part/all of it. But you have to apply for it.
2. You were enrolled, you are still enrolled (from the date you quit your job and stopped being covered by their health insurance), you are just delinquent in your payments. You need to (again) go in sign up and apply for an exemption.
At least you’re not to far in the hole. Since you’re not working go down there today and get this sorted out before it becomes a serious issue.