Everything foreigners need to know before leaving Japan: tenshutsu todoke, pension refund, bank account closure, utility cancellation, and departure procedures.
Leaving Japan is a significant life transition — and one that involves a surprising amount of paperwork. Whether you're heading home after a work contract, moving to another country, or simply wrapping up your Japan adventure, there are dozens of administrative tasks to complete before you board that final flight. Miss any of them, and you could face unexpected bills, tax complications, or problems with future visa applications.
This comprehensive guide walks you through everything you need to do before leaving Japan as a foreigner — from notifying your ward office to claiming your pension refund. We've organized it into a step-by-step timeline so you can tackle each task in the right order, without missing anything important.
!Foreigner packing boxes in a Japanese apartment preparing to leave Japan
Before diving into the details, here's a high-level overview of everything you need to handle. We'll cover each section in depth below.
| Category | Key Tasks | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Notify landlord, clean apartment, cancel utilities | 1–2 months before |
| Phone & Internet | Cancel contracts or switch to international plan | 1–2 months before |
| Financial | Close bank account, settle residence tax | 2–4 weeks before |
| Government | File tenshutsu todoke (moving-out form), cancel health insurance | 2 weeks before |
| Pension | Apply for lump-sum withdrawal refund | After departure |
| Set up forwarding, appoint tax representative | 2–4 weeks before | |
| Departure | Return residence card at airport | Day of departure |
Bookmark this page and work through each section systematically. Start at least 2 months before your planned departure date to avoid any last-minute scrambles.
For general tips on expat life in Japan, Living in Nihon is an excellent resource with guides covering everything from renting to daily life essentials.
Your apartment is one of the first things to address, as most Japanese rental contracts require 1 to 2 months' notice before moving out. Check your lease agreement carefully — breaking this requirement can mean forfeiting part of your deposit.
In Japan, rental agreements typically include a notice clause requiring you to inform your landlord (through your real estate agent) in writing at least one month in advance, though two months is common. Contact your agent as soon as you have a confirmed departure date.
Japan has strict standards for apartment condition upon return. You'll typically need to:
Many expats hire a professional cleaning service (引越しクリーニング, hikkoshi cleaning) for a few hundred dollars to ensure the apartment passes inspection and maximize deposit return.
Once you have a move-out date, contact each utility provider to schedule cancellation:
Keep records of your final bills and cancellation confirmations. Some providers only accept cancellations via phone in Japanese, so ask a bilingual friend or use an interpreter service if needed.
Japan has strict waste disposal rules. Large items (粗大ごみ, sodai gomi or "oversized garbage") cannot simply be left on the curb — you must purchase disposal stickers from your ward office or a convenience store and schedule a pickup date.
Options for getting rid of items include:
!Expat organizing belongings and packing for departure from Japan
Japan's subscription economy can trap unprepared expats. Many services use auto-renewal by default, and some require in-person or mailed cancellations — meaning they'll keep billing you even after you leave the country.
Major Japanese carriers (docomo, au, SoftBank) and MVNOs typically require you to visit a store in person to cancel. Bring your residence card, passport, and phone. Cancellation may also require payment of an early termination fee depending on your contract term.
If you want to keep a Japanese number temporarily (useful for authentication apps), some carriers offer international roaming plans or allow you to downgrade to a basic SIM. However, most expats find it easier to cancel entirely.
Before canceling your Japanese phone number, audit every online account that uses your Japanese number for two-factor authentication (2FA). This includes:
Update 2FA to your international number or an authenticator app before your number goes inactive. Missing this step can permanently lock you out of important accounts.
Go through your credit card and bank statements to find all active subscriptions:
For more guidance on managing finances in Japan, check out our Complete Guide to Banking and Finance in Japan.
The most critical official step when leaving Japan is filing your moving-out notification (転出届, tenshutsu todoke) at your local city or ward office. This single document triggers a cascade of related procedures.
You must file the tenshutsu todoke at your local ward or city office within 14 days before your departure date. Bring:
The form itself is straightforward — staff at ward offices are accustomed to helping foreigners, and English-language forms are often available. After filing, you'll receive a tenshutsu shomei (certificate of moving out) which you'll need for certain follow-up procedures.
⚠️ Important: Do NOT skip this step. If you leave Japan without filing, your residence registration remains active. This means you'll continue to be billed for:
After filing your tenshutsu todoke, take your National Health Insurance card to the same ward office and formally cancel your enrollment. Pay any outstanding premiums before you leave — unpaid NHI premiums are tracked and could cause complications if you return to Japan later.
If you're covered by employer health insurance (社会保険, shakai hoken), your employer will handle the cancellation when you leave the company.
Residence tax is a common source of confusion — and unexpected bills — for departing foreigners. Here's how it works:
Before leaving, either:
If you receive a tax bill after departure, your appointed tax representative can pay it from an account you've left funded, or you can wire money from overseas.
For a full explanation of Japan's tax system, see our Complete Guide to Taxes in Japan for Foreigners.
On the day you leave Japan, hand your residence card to immigration officers at the departure gate. They will punch a hole through it and return it — keep this card. You'll need it when applying for your pension refund (the hole indicates official departure from Japan).
If you're a permanent resident planning to return to Japan, you must apply for a Special Re-entry Permit before departure to preserve your PR status for up to 5 years. Without it, your permanent residency will be revoked the moment you leave.
Most Japanese banks request that you close your account when leaving Japan permanently. Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) recommends this, and most bank Terms of Use include a clause about it.
Closing a Japanese bank account almost always requires an in-person visit to a branch. Bring:
The teller will process the closure and issue a final withdrawal of your balance in cash. Allow extra time for this visit — it can take 30–60 minutes.
Some expats choose to keep their Japanese bank account open rather than closing it, especially if they:
If you keep your account, ensure you have a way to manage it remotely (internet banking set up, app downloaded) and that you won't lose access due to 2FA changes.
For more information on Japan's banking system, visit For Work in Japan, which covers financial matters for foreign workers in Japan.
One of the most financially significant tasks when leaving Japan is claiming your pension lump-sum withdrawal (脱退一時金, dattai ichijikin). If you've contributed to Japan's pension system for 6 months or more, you're entitled to a partial refund of your contributions.
You qualify for the lump-sum withdrawal if you:
The refund amount depends on how long you contributed and your average monthly income (for Employees' Pension). For National Pension, the amounts are fixed:
| Contribution Period | Refund Amount (National Pension) |
|---|---|
| 6–11 months | ¥50,940 |
| 12–17 months | ¥101,880 |
| 18–23 months | ¥152,820 |
| 24–29 months | ¥203,760 |
| 36–47 months | ¥305,640 |
| 60+ months (maximum) | ¥509,400 |
Note: These figures are for National Pension only. Employees' Pension (厚生年金) refunds are calculated separately based on your salary, and are typically much larger for higher earners.
Japan automatically withholds 20% income tax from your pension refund. However, you can reclaim this money by:
The entire process — pension refund plus tax reclaim — typically takes 6 to 12 months from the date you apply.
Apply after you leave Japan (you must be outside Japan for the application to be processed):
You have 2 years from the date you leave Japan to submit your application — don't wait too long.
The Japan Pension Service provides official guidance at nenkin.go.jp.
For broader guidance on managing your finances when relocating, Ittenshoku offers resources for people transitioning their careers and lives in Japan.
After you leave Japan, various official documents will continue to arrive at your former address — tax bills, pension notices, bank statements, and more. Plan ahead for mail management.
Japan Post offers a mail forwarding service (転送, tensou) that redirects all your mail for up to 12 months. You can set this up at your local post office before departure. However, this forwards mail to a domestic Japanese address, not overseas — so you'll need someone in Japan (a friend, colleague, or professional tax representative) to receive and forward important documents to you.
If you have any ongoing Japanese tax obligations — residence tax bills, pension refund paperwork, or a final tax return — you must appoint a tax representative (納税管理人, nouzei kanrinin) before leaving Japan. This can be any resident in Japan, paid or unpaid, but they should ideally have good Japanese language skills to handle official correspondence.
Your tax representative can:
Before leaving, gather digital and physical copies of:
| Document | Why You Need It |
|---|---|
| Final pay stubs | For tax returns and pension application |
| Pension number / blue pension booklet | For lump-sum withdrawal application |
| Residence card (with departure hole) | Required for pension refund application |
| Health insurance payment records | To confirm no outstanding premiums |
| Bank closure confirmation | Proof of account status |
| Utility cancellation confirmations | In case of disputed final bills |
| Apartment inspection report | For deposit dispute resolution |
For sending belongings home, you have several options:
Start shipping non-essential items well in advance. International shipping from Japan can take 2–8 weeks depending on the destination and service.
Give yourself at least a month to sell unwanted items:
Plan for items that can't be sold — book a sodai gomi pickup for large items well in advance, as some wards have limited pickup slots.
In your final week in Japan, work through this checklist:
At Japanese international airports, after clearing security and before reaching your departure gate:
Keep this punched residence card in a safe place; you'll need a copy of it when applying for your pension refund from overseas.
Can I leave Japan without filing the tenshutsu todoke? Technically yes, but it's a serious mistake. Your residence registration remains active, meaning you'll continue to be billed for health insurance and residence tax. These bills will follow you, and unpaid taxes can complicate future visits or visa applications.
How long does the pension refund take? The standard processing time is 3–6 months from application. If you also file for the 20% tax refund, add another 1–3 months. Start the process as soon as possible after leaving.
Can I keep my Japanese bank account from overseas? Some banks allow it, but managing it remotely becomes increasingly difficult. ATM card access may be limited, and customer service is almost entirely in Japanese. Many expats close their accounts before leaving to avoid complications.
What happens to my My Number (個人番号) card? You should return your My Number card to the ward office when filing your tenshutsu todoke. It's no longer valid once your residence registration is cancelled.
What if I want to return to Japan later? Leaving Japan doesn't prevent future visits or residence. Your departure will be recorded, and any outstanding taxes or fees could affect future visa applications. Ensure all financial obligations are settled before you go.
Leaving Japan thoughtfully — with every checkbox ticked — means you can close this chapter with peace of mind and keep the door open for any future return. For more guidance on life in Japan, explore our Complete Guide to Daily Life in Japan and our Complete Guide to Japan Visa and Immigration.
For practical guidance on working life in Japan, For Work in Japan offers detailed resources for foreign professionals navigating Japanese workplace culture and procedures.
Everything foreigners need to know about health insurance when leaving Japan: how to cancel NHI or Shakai Hoken, get premium refunds, required documents, and avoid costly billing mistakes after departure.
Read more →
Everything foreigners need to know about Japan re-entry permits before leaving the country. Covers special vs standard permits, airport procedures, permanent resident rules, fees, and consequences of forgetting.
Read more →
Complete guide to transferring money out of Japan before leaving. Compare Wise, Western Union, Seven Bank, fees, customs rules, exit tax, and pension refund tips for foreigners.
Read more →
Complete guide to canceling all services and subscriptions before leaving Japan: utilities, mobile phone, internet, NHK, streaming, gym memberships, and more. Includes cancellation timelines and checklist.
Read more →
Experiencing reverse culture shock after leaving Japan? Learn what causes it, the 5 stages, common symptoms, and proven coping strategies for returning expats.
Read more →
Everything foreigners need to know about shipping belongings from Japan — Japan Post, Yamato, ocean freight, costs, customs rules, and tips for a smooth international move.
Read more →
Complete checklist for moving out of your apartment in Japan. Covers notice periods, deposit refunds, cleaning fees, inspection tips, and paperwork for foreigners.
Read more →
Complete guide for foreigners on how to close bank accounts in Japan. Learn what documents to bring, step-by-step process, online options, and common mistakes to avoid before leaving Japan.
Read more →
A complete guide to tax obligations foreigners must handle before leaving Japan—covering departure tax return, resident tax, pension withdrawal, exit tax, and more.
Read more →
Complete guide to Japan's pension lump-sum withdrawal (dattai ichijikin) for foreigners leaving the country. Learn eligibility, refund amounts, how to apply, tax withholding, and critical deadlines.
Read more →
The complete checklist for foreigners leaving Japan: tenshutsu todoke, residence card return, pension lump-sum withdrawal, taxes, bank accounts, and more. Start 3 months before departure.
Read more →
Moved away from Japan? Learn the best apps, communities, and strategies to stay connected to Japan after leaving — from LINE tips to rebuilding your expat network abroad.
Read more →
Learn Japanese farewell customs and how to say goodbye correctly in different situations. From casual 'mata ne' to workplace 'otsukaresama', master the art of Japanese goodbyes as a foreigner.
Read more →
Complete guide to selling your belongings before leaving Japan. Learn which platforms, recycle shops, and Sayonara Sale groups work best for expats clearing out their apartments.
Read more →
