Nenkin Gap Checker
年金ギャップチェッカー
Check your pension payment history before applying for Japan Permanent Residency.
⚠️ New 2026 PR Rules: Immigration now checks your FULL nenkin payment history. Even 1–2 unpaid months can delay or reject your PR application. Check your record NOW at nenkin.go.jp
Step 1: Your Employment Type
How to Check Your Record on Nenkin Net
Go to nenkin.go.jp and click "ねんきんネット" → "利用登録"
Log in with My Number Card (you need a smartphone with NFC or a card reader)
Click "年金記録の確認" to see your full payment history month by month
Look for any months marked as "未納" (minou = unpaid) — these are your gaps
Print the full history and take it to your ward office if you need to fix gaps
Exemption Types (免除・猶予の種類)
| Type | Japanese | Who Qualifies | Counts for PR? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Exemption | 全額免除 | Very low income (single: under ¥670,000/year) | ✅ Yes (½ pension earned) |
| Partial Exemption | 一部免除 | Low income (various thresholds) | ✅ Yes (partial pension) |
| Student Deferral | 学生納付特例 | Students enrolled in school | ✅ Yes (no pension earned) |
| Young Person Deferral | 納付猶予 | Under 50, low income | ✅ Yes (no pension earned) |
| Unpaid (未納) | 未納 | Anyone who simply did not pay | ❌ No — this is a gap |
💡 Yamada Hack: The Pension Paper Trail
Every April, log into Nenkin Net and download your full payment history as a PDF. Keep it in a folder labeled "PR Documents." If you find any unpaid months, fix them immediately — do not wait until your PR application. Immigration officers review the last 2 years closely, but can ask about your full history. One trick: if you had gaps during a job change, check if your company enrolled you in Kosei Nenkin — sometimes companies do it automatically and you never noticed. Those months appear as "厚生年金" on Nenkin Net.