Step 4 of 4
Leave a job
Handle the important employment records and administrative procedures that can arise when your job ends.
Overview
Leaving employment can affect your income, immigration-related obligations, health insurance, pension, employment insurance, and tax records. Confirm your final employment date, obtain the documents that apply to your circumstances, and check each administrative system promptly rather than assuming that all procedures are completed automatically.
Requirements
- Confirm how and when the employment endsKeep clear written information about your final employment date and the circumstances under which the employment ends, together with any notice or other documentation provided by the employer.
- Check immigration-related proceduresDepending on your status of residence and circumstances, ending an employment or contractual relationship may require notification to the Immigration Services Agency. Confirm whether a notification applies and the applicable procedure and deadline.
- Check what happens to employee coverageConfirm when employer-based health insurance, Employees' Pension Insurance, employment insurance, and other employment-related arrangements end or change.
Documents and items
- Separation-related employment documentsKeep notices, certificates, or other records issued in connection with the end of employment that may be needed for later employment or administrative procedures.
- Employment insurance documentsIf employment insurance applies, keep the insured-person and separation-related documents issued or returned in connection with leaving the job.
- Withholding tax certificateKeep the withholding tax certificate issued for the employment because it may be required by a new employer or for later tax procedures.
- Health-insurance and pension recordsKeep information showing when employer coverage ends and any documents needed for the next applicable health-insurance or pension procedure.
- Wage and final-payment recordsKeep wage statements and records relating to final salary, deductions, reimbursements, or other payments connected with the employment.
- Residence-status informationKeep your current residence card and relevant immigration information available when checking how the end of employment affects any notification or future work procedure.
Actions
- Confirm your final employment detailsVerify the final working date, final payment arrangements, return of employer property, and any other departure procedures communicated by the employer.
- Collect the documents you needObtain or retain the employment, tax, insurance, pension, and separation records that apply to your circumstances before access to employer systems ends where possible.
- Complete applicable immigration notificationsIf your residence status and circumstances require notification concerning the end of the employment or contractual relationship, complete the applicable Immigration Services Agency procedure within the required period.
- Confirm your next health-insurance arrangementWhen employer health-insurance coverage ends, promptly determine which health-insurance procedure applies next rather than assuming that previous coverage continues.
- Confirm your pension procedureWhen Employees' Pension Insurance coverage ends, check whether your next circumstances require another pension procedure through a new employer, municipality, or the Japan Pension Service.
- Check employment-insurance proceduresIf you were covered by employment insurance, keep the relevant separation documents and confirm whether any further procedure applies to your circumstances.
- Keep tax records accessibleRetain the withholding tax certificate and other relevant payroll records for a new employer, year-end adjustment, tax return, or other applicable tax procedure.
- Keep a complete departure recordStore important documents and communications relating to the end of employment so that dates, payments, coverage changes, and completed procedures can be confirmed later.
Practical notes
- Leaving a job can affect several administrative systems independently. Completing the employer's departure process does not necessarily complete immigration, health-insurance, pension, employment-insurance, or tax procedures.
- Do not assume that employer health-insurance coverage remains valid after the applicable end date. Confirm the next insurance arrangement promptly.
- Employment-insurance benefits and eligibility depend on statutory requirements and individual circumstances. JMNET should not imply that every person leaving a job qualifies for unemployment benefits.
- The immigration consequences of unemployment or leaving an employer depend on the person's status of residence, activities, and circumstances. Ending a job does not by itself establish a specific immigration outcome.
- Keep important documents before losing access to workplace systems, but only retain records that you are legitimately entitled to keep. Do not copy confidential employer information.
- If the employment ends through dismissal, non-renewal, resignation under disputed circumstances, unpaid wages, or another workplace dispute, users may need advice from an appropriate labour consultation service or qualified professional.
- JMNET should not determine whether a termination is lawful, whether unemployment benefits are payable, or what immigration outcome applies to an individual.