Japan is set to introduce stricter regulations for foreign residents who fail to pay their public health insurance or pension contributions. According to reports by NHK, beginning June 2027, the Immigration Services Agency and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will link payment records to residency application screenings.
Under this new system, foreign residents who fall behind on payments will not be able to renew or change their residency status. The move comes as part of the government’s efforts to address growing concerns about unpaid contributions to the national welfare system.
Currently, foreign nationals living in Japan for three months or longer are required to enroll in the country’s health insurance and pension programs. However, recent data shows significant gaps in compliance — as of March 2025, foreign residents paid only 49.7% of the total pension contributions owed. Likewise, a survey across 150 local governments revealed that foreign residents paid just 63% of their health insurance premiums by the end of last year.
Authorities also highlighted cases where individuals left Japan without settling outstanding health insurance bills, even after utilizing medical services during their stay.
To prevent such situations, the Japanese government is considering an additional policy that would allow newcomers to pay health insurance premiums upfront in a lump sum upon arrival. This system is expected to take effect from April 2026, enabling smoother compliance from the outset.
With these reforms, Japan aims to ensure fair participation in its welfare system. For foreign residents, maintaining consistent payments toward public insurance and pension schemes will soon become crucial to retaining their legal residency status in the country.
Bottom Line: Starting in 2027, unpaid health or pension dues could cost foreign residents their visa renewals — a move signaling Japan’s tougher stance on welfare compliance.
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