Retiring Abroad on a Japanese Pension: Budgets & Destinations

Regulatory & Legal Advisory: Educational & Informational Content Only

The procedures, legal frameworks, tax laws, and visa requirements described in this guide reflect official guidelines and regulatory synthesis current as of publication. Immigration policies, tax treaties, and municipal requirements change frequently. This content is for educational and planning purposes only and cannot substitute for formal legal, tax, or immigration counsel. Readers must verify current requirements directly with relevant municipal city halls, the National Tax Agency (NTA), the Japan Pension Service, official embassies, or certified professional advisors (licensed immigration lawyers, certified tax accountants / Zeirishi).

Your Japanese pension is a yen amount, but abroad you spend baht, ringgit, pesos or euros. Whether it is “enough” therefore depends on your actual benefit, local prices, the exchange rate on the day the money arrives and, where it applies, destination tax.¹ Official figures show that non-working retired households in Japan already spend more than their disposable income, by ¥42,434 a month for couples and ¥29,980 for single people in 2025 (as of October 2026).²

This guide builds a budget framework for Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Portugal, with a feasibility check for Spain, using official pension, household and exchange-rate data. It does not rank destinations, and it shows how to stress-test any budget against a weaker yen.

The Financial Reality: How Far Does Nenkin Go Outside Japan?

Model Pension vs. Actual Average Benefits (FY2026 and FY2024 Data)

The “model pension” is a specific household, not an average. In its FY2026 revision of 23 January 2026, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW, 厚生労働省) set the standard Employees’ Pension (Kosei Nenkin 厚生年金) amount at ¥237,279 a month, up ¥4,495 (as of October 2026).³ MHLW defines it as the pension a man begins to receive after working 40 years at average male pay (¥455,000 a month, bonuses included): his Old-age Employees’ Pension plus two full Old-age Basic Pensions.³

The full Old-age Basic Pension (Kokumin Nenkin 国民年金) is ¥70,608 a month for people born on or after 2 April 1956 and ¥70,408 for people born on or before 1 April 1956 (as of October 2026).³ The revision rates were +1.9% for the basic pension and +2.0% for the earnings-related part.³

What retirees actually receive is lower. MHLW’s annual pension report for FY2024 (figures at 31 March 2025, published December 2025) gives these recipient averages (as of October 2026):⁴

Figure (monthly)	Amount	Basis	Closest persona
FY2026 model household	¥237,279	MHLW model: one 40-year average earner plus two full basic pensions3	Couple, one long-career employee
Kosei Nenkin (Category 1) old-age pension, average	¥151,142	Recipients, includes the basic pension (Table 6)4	Single former employee
Kokumin Nenkin old-age pension (25 years or more), average	¥59,431	Recipients (Table 20)4	Self-employed, basic pension only
Basic pension only, no Category 1 Kosei Nenkin entitlement, average	¥56,476	Recipients (Table 20)4	Self-employed with no employee history
Full Old-age Basic Pension, FY2026	¥70,608	Full amount per person (40 contribution years, claimed at 65), born on or after 2 April 19563	Reference point for basic-only retirees

The ¥59,310 figure quoted in some media is the rights-holder (受給権者) average in Table 23, a different basis from the recipient figures above.⁴ On the rights-holder basis, Kosei Nenkin old-age pensions for rights-holders aged 65 and over average ¥173,033 for men and ¥114,797 for women (Tables 12 and 13) (as of October 2026).⁴

Use your own figure, not an average. Your Nenkin Teiki-bin (ねんきん定期便) or Nenkin Net shows your projected benefit; claiming and receiving it abroad are covered in the guide to receiving your Japanese pension overseas.

The Japan Baseline: What Retired Households Already Spend at Home

The Statistics Bureau’s Family Income and Expenditure Survey (Kakei Chosa 家計調査) for 2025 shows non-working retired households living partly on savings (monthly averages, yen, as of October 2026):²

Item	Couple, both 65+, non-working	Single, 65+, non-working
Income	254,395	131,456
of which social security benefits	228,614	120,212
Taxes and social insurance	32,850	12,990
Disposable income	221,544	118,465
Consumption expenditure	263,979	148,445
Food	78,964	42,545
Housing	17,739	11,416
Fuel, light and water	23,540	15,565
Medical care	17,941	8,388
Transport and communication	31,325	13,601
Culture and recreation	26,538	16,132
Monthly shortfall	-42,434	-29,980

The housing line is low because most of these households own their home. The same survey reports a 95.5% home-ownership rate for two-or-more-person households headed by a non-working person aged 65 or over; it gives no comparable rate for single households (as of October 2026).² A move abroad usually adds rent, so the Japanese housing line is not a fair comparison for a renter abroad (this is an inference, not an MIC statement).

The Feasibility Equation: Pension, Prices, Exchange Rate, Tax

The test has four steps. Start from your gross yen pension, deduct any Japanese withholding, convert at the current rate, deduct destination tax, and compare the result with local costs plus a reserve allocation.

flowchart TD
    A["Gross yen pension (your own figure)"] --> B["Minus Japanese non-resident withholding, if any"]
    B --> C["Converted by JPS: euro for Portugal and Spain, US dollars for Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines"]
    C --> D["Converted again by your bank into baht, ringgit or pesos (Asian destinations)"]
    D --> E["Minus destination income tax, if any"]
    E --> F{"Covers local costs plus a monthly reserve allocation?"}
    F -->|Yes| G["Feasible on pension; stress-test at a weaker yen"]
    F -->|No| H["Plan a savings drawdown or reconsider the location"]

The Japan Pension Service (JPS, 日本年金機構) pays in euro to Portugal and Spain. Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines are not on its named currency list, so they fall under “countries other than above”, which are paid in US dollars (as of October 2026).¹ Japanese withholding and the treaty exemption form are covered in the guide to receiving your Japanese pension overseas.

Who Should Not Plan on Pension Alone

Basic-pension-only retirees face the steepest gap. Recipient averages of ¥56,476 to ¥59,431 a month sit well below the ¥148,445 that single retirees in Japan spend on consumption alone (as of October 2026).⁴²

Others who should plan for a savings drawdown include people with ongoing medical needs (MOFA notes, for example, that Thai private hospitals are all fee-for-service) and anyone who will pay rent, which the Japanese baseline barely includes.⁵² The Japanese baseline already shows a monthly shortfall, so a move abroad needs to lower costs, not just match them.²

Retirement Hubs Compared: Japanese Missions, Healthcare, and Expat Infrastructure

Why These Seven Locations (and What the Data Does Not Show)

Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Cebu, Dumaguete and the Algarve are the locations this guide examines; they are not a ranking or a recommendation. MOFA does not publish age bands for Japanese residents abroad, so no official count of retirees by destination exists.⁶

Country totals from MOFA’s 2025 survey (1 October 2025) were: Thailand 72,113, Malaysia 19,690, the Philippines 13,342, Spain 9,733 and Portugal 1,017 (as of October 2026).⁶ Malaysia was 27,256 and the Philippines 15,728 in 2021, so both have fallen since then (derived).⁶

Comparison Table: Nearest Japanese Mission, Japanese-Language Healthcare, Japanese Population

MOFA publishes city counts only for its top 50 cities, so Chiang Mai, Penang, Cebu and the Algarve have no official figure.⁶ The healthcare column shows only whether MOFA’s Sekai no Iryo Jijo (世界の医療事情) page lists Japanese-language medical services in that area (as of October 2026).

Location	Nearest Japanese mission	MOFA lists Japanese-language medical services locally?	Japanese residents (MOFA, 2025)
Chiang Mai	Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai (nine northern provinces)7	Yes5	Not published (Thailand 72,113)6
Hua Hin	Embassy of Japan in Thailand, Bangkok7	Not in Hua Hin; yes in Bangkok5	Not published (Bangkok 51,297)6
Penang	Consulate-General of Japan in Penang78	Yes9	Not published (Malaysia 19,690)6
Kuala Lumpur	Embassy of Japan in Malaysia9	Yes9	9,2696
Cebu	Consulate-General of Japan in Cebu10	No (Metro Manila only)11	Not published (Philippines 13,342)6
Dumaguete	Consulate-General of Japan in Cebu (covers Negros Oriental)10	No (Metro Manila only)11	Not published6
Algarve	Embassy of Japan in Portugal, Lisbon12	No: MOFA states there are no Japanese or Japanese-speaking doctors in Portugal12	Not published (Portugal 1,017)6

Dumaguete has no Japanese mission on Negros. The Consulate-General in Cebu lists Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Siquijor (the Negros Island Region) within its jurisdiction.¹⁰

Visa Income Floors: A Feasibility Gate, Not a Visa Guide

A visa’s income or deposit floor decides whether a destination is open to you at all. The table shows only the money test, converted at Japan Customs weekly rates for 18 to 24 October 2026 (derived, as of October 2026).¹³

Programme	Income or deposit floor (summary)	Yen equivalent (derived)
Thailand Non-Immigrant O-A (age 50+)	Monthly income of 65,000 baht, or a bank balance of 800,000 baht1415	¥305,500 a month, or ¥3.76 million
Thailand LTR Wealthy Pensioner (age 50+)	Pension or passive income of USD 80,000 a year (lower income allowed with a USD 250,000 investment in Thailand)16	¥12.64 million a year
Malaysia MM2H Silver	Fixed deposit of USD 150,000 plus a residential property of RM600,000 or more17	¥23.7 million deposit
Sarawak S-MM2H (age 30+)	RM500,000 deposit plus pension or offshore income of RM10,000 a month (RM15,000 with dependants), or savings alternatives subject to approval18	¥386,700 a month; ¥19.3 million deposit
Philippines SRRV Classic (age 40+)	Pensioner deposit USD 15,000 (50+) or USD 25,000 (40 to 49), with proof of a pension of USD 800 a month (single) or USD 1,000 (family applicants)1920	¥126,400 or ¥158,000 a month
Portugal D7	Minimum wage of €920 a month in 2026 for the first adult, +50% for a second adult, +30% per child, net of social security deductions2122	¥163,300 single; ¥244,900 couple
Spain non-lucrative residence	400% of IPREM (€600) a month, plus 100% of IPREM per dependent family member2324	¥425,900 single; ¥532,400 with one dependant

Read against the pension figures, the gate is narrow. The gross model ¥237,279 clears the SRRV pension test but sits below the Thai O-A income route, the Portugal D7 couple figure and Spain’s test; the average ¥151,142 clears the SRRV single test but not D7 (derived, illustrative).³⁴ Basic-pension-only averages clear none of the income tests, leaving only deposit or balance routes.

Visa mechanics, fees and insurance requirements are covered in the guide to Southeast Asian retirement visas and in the Portugal and Spain destination guides; any route not shown here should be checked on the official source.

Overcoming Senior Language Hesitation: The Value of Japanese Service Ecosystems

Why Language Support Belongs in the Budget

Japanese-language access can cost more. MOFA notes that Thai private hospitals are all fee-for-service, often expensive and sometimes require a deposit, and that Malaysian private hospitals with Japanese staff are generally expensive (as of October 2026).⁵⁹ Treat language support as a budget and risk factor (interpreters, intermediaries, higher-priced clinics), not as a lifestyle extra.

What to Check Before You Choose (Without Naming Providers)

• A Japanese embassy or consulate within reach for passports, certificates and emergencies (see the table above).¹⁰⁷
• The MOFA Sekai no Iryo Jijo page for the country, which lists facilities with Japanese-language services where they exist.⁵⁹¹¹¹²
• Whether a Japanese association (日本人会) is active locally; ask the consulate, and beware of fake adverts using an association’s name, as the Penang consulate has warned.⁸

Hospitals with Japanese desks, Japanese-run care homes and clubs are reviewed in the guide to the Japanese-language retirement support ecosystem.

Detailed Monthly Budgets: Thailand (Chiang Mai) vs. Malaysia (Penang)

How the Budgets Are Built: Sources, Exchange Rate Date and Limits

Each destination figure comes from that country’s official household expenditure survey, converted at Japan Customs weekly rates for 18 to 24 October 2026 (THB ¥4.70, MYR ¥38.67, PHP ¥2.52, EUR ¥177.47).¹³ These are averages for local households, which often own their homes, use public healthcare and buy differently; they are a reference point, not a foreign retiree’s budget.

Surveys differ in year and coverage. Thailand’s latest Northern-region figure is from 2024, but Chiang Mai province data could be verified only for 2021; Penang and Kuala Lumpur are from 2024, the Philippine regions from 2023, and the Algarve from 2022/2023 (as of October 2026).^2526272829 Crowdsourced price websites are not used here; if you consult them, treat them as unofficial.

Budget Template Table: Housing, Food, Healthcare, Utilities, Leisure, Tax, Reserve

This table is illustrative (as of October 2026). Fill each “Your quote” cell with real local prices before deciding.

Monthly line	Japan, couple 65+ (2025, yen)2	Thailand (Chiang Mai)	Malaysia (Penang)	Philippines (Cebu)	Portugal (Algarve)
Housing (rent)	¥17,739 (mostly owners)	Your quote	Your quote	Your quote	Your quote
Food	¥78,964	Your quote	Your quote	Your quote	Your quote
Healthcare and insurance	¥17,941	Your quote	Your quote	Your quote	Your quote
Utilities and communications	¥23,540 (utilities only)	Your quote	Your quote	Your quote	Your quote
Transport	Included in ¥31,325 with communication	Your quote	Your quote	Your quote	Your quote
Leisure	¥26,538	Your quote	Your quote	Your quote	Your quote
Tax on the pension	¥32,850 (taxes and social insurance)	Possible Thai tax if remitted, plus possible Japanese withholding	Generally exempt to end-2026 under the current LHDN guideline	Generally not taxed for foreign residents (confirm with the BIR)	Ordinary Portuguese income tax
Reserve allocation	Not measured	Your choice	Your choice	Your choice	Your choice
Local household average (official survey)	¥263,979 consumption	17,748 baht, Northern region 2024 (≈ ¥83,400)25	RM5,850, 2024 (≈ ¥226,200)27	PHP 18,170, Central Visayas 2023 (≈ ¥45,800)28	€2,036, 2022/2023 (≈ ¥361,300)29

The bottom row is a local-household average, not a target. The Thai figure is total household expenditure, the Malaysian figure is consumption expenditure, and the Philippine and Portuguese figures are annual totals divided by 12 (derived).^25272829 Households in Chiang Mai province spent 17,573 baht a month in 2021, Kuala Lumpur RM8,178 in 2024, and the Negros Island Region (including Dumaguete) about PHP 16,990 in 2023 (derived, as of October 2026).²⁶²⁷²⁸

Thailand (Chiang Mai and Hua Hin): What Drives the Total

Lines to price locally include rent, private healthcare and transport, plus visa and reporting costs covered in the Southeast Asian retirement visas guide.

Thai tax on remitted pension income is easy to miss. Under the Revenue Department’s Departmental Instructions 161/2566 and 162/2566, foreign-source income arising from 1 January 2024, in a tax year in which you were in Thailand for 180 days or more, is taxable in the year you bring it into Thailand (that year or later), converted at the rate on the day it arrives (as of October 2026).³⁰ Income arising before 2024 is not taxed on remittance, and a Thai tax resident can credit foreign tax paid under the relevant treaty.³⁰

The Japan-Thailand treaty has no private pensions article. Pensions fall under the other-income Article 20, whose paragraph 3 lets Japan also tax income arising in Japan, and Article 21 gives a Thai credit for that Japanese tax.³¹ JPS names Thailand among treaty partners where the pension exemption does not apply because there is no pension article or for similar reasons, so Japanese non-resident withholding may remain.³²³³

No official change to the remittance rule was found on the Revenue Department site (as of October 2026); reports of proposed changes are not law. Confirm your position with the Revenue Department or a licensed adviser.

Malaysia (Penang and Kuala Lumpur): What Drives the Total

Lines to price locally include rent, private healthcare and the capital tied up in an MM2H deposit or required property.¹⁷ For Silver, MM2H allows withdrawal of at most 50% of the deposit, and only for listed purposes such as buying a residence or medical costs in Malaysia, so count the lost return on the rest as a cost (as of October 2026).¹⁷

Malaysia currently exempts most foreign income received by resident individuals. The Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) guideline exempts foreign income other than partnership income received from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2026, provided it was taxed in the country of origin or is untaxed there for listed reasons; pensions are among the listed income types (as of October 2026).³⁴ Reports of an extension beyond 2026 could not be confirmed on an official page, so check the current position with LHDN.

The Japan-Malaysia agreement gives Malaysia the sole right to tax a private-sector pension paid to a Malaysian resident (Article 18).³⁵ Whether a pension exempted in Japan under the treaty meets the LHDN “taxed in the country of origin” condition is not addressed in the guideline, so confirm with LHDN.³⁴

The Philippines (Cebu and Dumaguete): What Drives the Total

Lines to price locally include rent, healthcare access and prepayment. MOFA notes that Philippine medical facilities ask for advance payment or proof of ability to pay, and it lists Japanese-language support only in Metro Manila (as of October 2026).¹¹

A foreign resident is generally taxed only on Philippine-source income. The National Internal Revenue Code taxes an alien individual, resident or not, only on income from Philippine sources (Section 23(D)), and Section 32(B)(6)(c) excludes foreign pensions received by citizens or by aliens who come to reside permanently.³⁶ This reading uses an archived 2014 text of the Code, so confirm it with the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The Japan-Philippines convention gives the residence state the sole right to tax pensions for past employment (Article 18), and JPS lists the Philippines among partners whose treaty can exempt the pension from Japanese withholding.³²³⁷

European Living on a Japanese Pension: Portugal and Spain Feasibility

Portugal (Algarve): Income Floor, Costs and Tax on Your Pension

The D7 visa floor follows the Portuguese minimum wage, €920 a month in 2026 for one adult and €1,380 for a couple, net of social security deductions (as of October 2026).²¹²² The gross model couple pension of ¥237,279 converts to about €1,337, just short of the couple figure (derived, illustrative).³¹³

Portugal taxes residents on worldwide income, including pensions. The Non-Habitual Resident regime was revoked from 1 January 2024 except for existing and transitional cases, and its successor IFICI exempts foreign income only in categories A, B, E, F and G, not category H (pensions) (as of October 2026).³⁸³⁹⁴⁰ A new resident’s Japanese pension is therefore taxed under ordinary Portuguese income tax rules; Article 17 of the Japan-Portugal convention gives Portugal the sole right to tax it, so the Japanese withholding exemption can be claimed.⁴¹

Costs and medical deposits matter. Algarve households spent €24,432 a year on average in 2022/2023, and MOFA reports that private hospitals may ask for a deposit of about €500 in emergencies and that medical costs are often higher than in Japan (as of October 2026).¹²²⁹ Visa mechanics belong to the Portugal destination guide.

Spain: Non-Lucrative Residence Income Test and Tax Residence

Spain’s income test is 400% of IPREM, €2,400 a month for the applicant plus €600 for each dependent family member, under Royal Decree 1155/2024, Article 62.1 (as of October 2026).²³²⁴ That is above both the FY2026 model household pension and the average Kosei Nenkin benefit shown earlier (derived); whether other funds can be counted is covered in the Spain destination guide.³⁴

Spain taxes residents on worldwide income once they spend more than 183 days a year there or have their centre of economic interests there.⁴² Under Article 17 of the Japan-Spain convention, pensions are taxable only in the residence state.⁴³ Visa mechanics belong to the Spain destination guide.

The Euro Problem: Why Europe Is a Different Calculation

The euro pension is converted once, but price levels differ. On the World Bank’s ICP 2021 price level index for actual individual consumption (World = 100), Japan was 142.81, Spain 117.26, Portugal 104.84, the Philippines 62.13, Malaysia 56.21 and Thailand 53.73 (as of October 2026).⁴⁴ ICP 2024 results had not been published as of October 2026.⁴⁴

The yen’s fall since 2021 changed the comparison. On OECD 2024 price levels for actual individual consumption (USA = 100, a different base), Japan was 59.2, Spain 59.4 and Portugal 55.7, so at 2024 exchange rates Japan was roughly level with Spain and slightly above Portugal (as of October 2026).⁴⁵ Do not compare a figure from one index with a figure from the other.

Currency Risk: Protecting Your Purchasing Power Against a Weakening Yen

What the Yen Has Done: 10-Year Rates Against USD, EUR, THB, MYR and PHP

The table shows yen needed for one unit of each currency, from the Ministry of Finance’s basic and arbitrated rates; higher means a weaker yen (as of October 2026).⁴⁶⁴⁷

Currency	October 2016 table	October 2026 table	Change (derived)
US dollar	¥101	¥159	+57.4%
Euro	¥113	¥184	+62.8%
Thai baht	¥2.91	¥4.82	+65.6%
Malaysian ringgit	¥25.05	¥39.11	+56.1%
Philippine peso	¥2.16	¥2.59	+19.9%

Baht, ringgit and peso rates are derived from US dollar cross rates based on market rates two months earlier. The Bank of Japan’s monthly average for the US dollar moved from ¥103.81 in October 2016 to ¥156.23 in September 2026 (as of October 2026).⁴⁸

Double Conversion: Yen to Dollars to Baht, Ringgit or Pesos

Pensioners in Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines cross two exchange rates. JPS pays in US dollars, and your local bank converts again, so each step may carry its own exchange margin or fees (as of October 2026).¹ In Thailand the remittance rate also sets the taxable amount.³⁰

Receiving the pension in a Japanese account and transferring it yourself is an alternative; transfer methods are covered in the guide to international money transfers, and account retention in the guide to keeping Japanese bank accounts abroad.

Stress-Testing Your Budget: the 20% Rule of Thumb (Illustrative)

Take a hypothetical budget of 40,000 baht a month, a round number for arithmetic, not a recommended budget. At ¥4.70 per baht it costs ¥188,000; if the yen weakens so that a baht costs 20% more yen, it costs ¥225,600 (derived).¹³ The 20% figure is a planning assumption, not a forecast.

Practical Mechanics: Local-Currency Buffer, Staged Conversion, Keeping Costs Flexible

• Hold several months of spending in local currency so you are not forced to convert at a bad rate.
• Convert in stages rather than in one large transfer.
• Keep fixed costs adjustable, for example shorter leases until you know the place.
• Decide deliberately how much of your savings stays in yen; foreign-exchange gains can be taxable while you are a Japan resident, as the international money transfers guide explains.

Housing: Renting vs. Buying in Retirement Communities

Why Renting First Is the Usual Starting Point

Renting for a trial period keeps options open. It leaves you flexible if health, visa rules or the exchange rate change, and avoids locking capital into an asset you may struggle to sell.

If You Consider Buying: Ownership Limits and Exit Costs

Foreign ownership is restricted in parts of the region. The Philippine Constitution limits private land to those qualified to hold public land, which excludes foreigners outside hereditary succession (Article XII, Section 7).⁴⁹ Rules for foreign buyers in Thailand and Malaysia are covered in the guide to purchasing real estate abroad, and the Japanese inheritance tax treatment of property abroad in the cross-border inheritance guide.

Keeping or Selling Your Home in Japan

A home kept in Japan is a fallback, but it has running costs such as fixed asset tax and maintenance. If you rent it out, you may need a tax representative (Nohzei Kanrinin 納税管理人), covered in the guide to appointing a tax agent.

Building an Emergency Medical and Repatriation Reserve

What the Reserve Must Cover

Hospitals abroad often want money before treatment. MOFA notes possible deposits at Thai private hospitals, refusal of patients unable to pay at well-equipped Malaysian private facilities, prepayment or proof of funds in the Philippines, and deposits of about €500 in Portuguese emergency departments (as of October 2026).⁵⁹¹¹¹² The reserve should also cover medical evacuation or return to Japan, a companion’s travel, temporary housing after return, and repatriation of remains.

Leaving Japanese Health Insurance and What It Means for the Reserve

National Health Insurance and Late-Stage Elderly Medical Care end when you leave Japan after filing the moving-out notification (Tenshutsu-todoke 転出届), and because overseas medical expense reimbursement (Kaigai Ryoyohi 海外療養費) is a benefit for insured persons, it is generally no longer available after that.⁵⁰⁵¹ Insurance options abroad are covered in the guide to senior healthcare and medical insurance abroad.

Sizing the Reserve (Illustrative Method, Not a Figure)

• Several months of living costs.
• Your insurance deductible and the cost of anything excluded, such as pre-existing conditions.
• A return-to-Japan setup amount (flights, deposits, first months of rent).
• Keep part in yen in Japan and part in local currency abroad.

Step-by-Step Administrative Procedure & Timeline

When	Financial-planning step
T-12 months	Get your own pension figure. Take a trial stay: Thailand 30 days visa-free for tourism for Japanese passport holders since September 2026, Malaysia up to 3 months, the Philippines 30 days extendable to 59, Portugal and Spain 90 days in any 180 (as of October 2026).52535455
T-6 months	Choose a visa route and check its floor; price the budget at today’s rate and at a 20% weaker yen; get insurance quotes.
T-3 months	Register overseas pension payment with JPS; open a local bank account; decide which Japanese accounts to keep.
T-1 month	File the moving-out notification and leave National Health Insurance; settle resident tax; appoint a tax agent if needed.
First year abroad	Return the JPS existence certificate (Genkyo Todoke 現況届) on time; file the treaty form where it applies; file destination tax returns; compare actual spending with the budget at 6 and 12 months.

Arrival formalities apply too: Thailand requires a Digital Arrival Card and Malaysia an MDAC, and the EU Entry/Exit System has been fully operational since 10 April 2026 (as of October 2026).⁵⁶⁵³⁵⁷ Each step’s procedure is covered in its own guide.

Japanese Citizens vs. Foreign Residents: Critical Distinctions

Point	Japanese citizens	Foreign residents
Pension payment abroad	Same JPS procedures33	Same JPS procedures33
Retirement visa	Needed in each destination	Not needed if retiring to the country of citizenship
Return to Japan	Always possible	Permanent Residence lapses without timely return on a valid re-entry permit58
Raising the pension	Voluntary National Pension contributions before 65	Depends on coverage history and any agreement

JPS applies the same overseas procedures regardless of nationality.³³ A foreign national retiring to their own country needs no retirement visa there; the Japanese pension may still be taxed under that country’s rules and its treaty with Japan.

A Special Re-entry Permit lasts one year from departure and a standard re-entry permit up to five years within the period of stay; Permanent Residence lapses if you do not return in time.⁵⁸ This closes the fallback a Japanese citizen always keeps; see the guide to permanent residence and re-entry.

Foreign residents with short coverage, or who took the lump-sum withdrawal, may have little or no pension to budget with; see the guides to the lump-sum withdrawal and to social security agreements. Japanese citizens can raise their basic pension through voluntary contributions, covered in the voluntary enrolment guide.

Common Pitfalls & Regulatory Compliance Risks

• Planning on the model pension. Fix: use your own Nenkin Teiki-bin figure.³⁴
• Using old yen budgets. Fix: re-convert at today’s rate and date the result.¹³
• Ignoring tax on the pension abroad. Fix: check Thailand’s remittance rule, Malaysia’s exemption end date and Portugal’s post-NHR rules.³⁰³⁴³⁸
• Forgetting the double conversion. Fix: compare bank charges and timing for dollar receipts.¹
• Missing the visa floor. Fix: compare your net pension with the floor before you commit.
• Holding the reserve only in yen in Japan. Fix: keep part in local currency.
• Buying property before a trial stay. Fix: rent first.
• Assuming Japanese health insurance still covers you. Fix: arrange cover before departure.⁵⁰
• Missing the existence certificate. Fix: diarise the JPS deadline.
• Foreign permanent residents leaving without a valid re-entry permit. Fix: check permit validity first.⁵⁸
• Relying on crowdsourced cost data or rankings. Fix: use official statistics and local quotes.

See also

Pension and social security

• Voluntary National Pension for Japanese Citizens Living Abroad: how Japanese citizens abroad can keep contributing before 65 to raise the basic pension they will budget with.

Retirement and pensioners abroad

• Japan Inheritance Tax Abroad: The 10-Year Rule & Estate Planning: how Japanese inheritance tax reaches property and heirs abroad, including a home bought in retirement.

Destination guides

• Moving from Japan to Thailand: LTR, Retirement, DTV & Tax Guide: retirement visas, tax on remitted income and long-stay life in Chiang Mai and Hua Hin.
• Moving from Japan to Malaysia: Visas, MM2H, Tax, Costs & Schools: MM2H routes, foreign-income tax and living in Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
• Moving from Japan to Portugal: D7, D8, Post-NHR Tax & Living: the D7 visa mechanics and post-NHR tax position summarised above.
• Moving from Japan to Spain: Digital Nomad, Non-Lucrative & Tax: the non-lucrative residence procedure behind the income test shown above.

References & Official Sources

---

Important Cross-Border Mobility & Compliance Notice

All information presented in this reference publication is compiled from official government authorities, bilateral treaties, and statutory regulations. Cross-border tax obligations, visa eligibilities, pension disbursements, and residency classifications vary significantly based on individual citizenship, financial circumstances, and length of stay. Always seek professional advice from certified tax accountants (Zeirishi), licensed immigration specialists, or competent administrative authorities before taking irrevocable administrative or financial actions.

Footnotes

1. Japan Pension Service, 「国別送金通貨一覧 / Currencies for Direct Deposit to Foreign Countries」 (PDF), https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/jukyu/tetsuduki/kyotsu/jukyu/kaigaikoza.files/CDDF.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

2. Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Statistics Bureau, 「家計調査報告（家計収支編）2025年（令和７年）平均結果の概要」, 参考4 (Tables 1 and 2), https://www.stat.go.jp/data/kakei/sokuhou/tsuki/pdf/fies_gaikyo2025.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

3. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (年金局年金課), 「令和８年度の年金額改定について」, press release 23 January 2026, page https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/houdou/0000191631_00020.html ; PDF https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/12600000/001672868.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰

4. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (年金局), 「令和６年度 厚生年金保険・国民年金事業の概況」, December 2025, Tables 6, 12, 13, 20 and 23, https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/001617995.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰

5. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 「世界の医療事情 タイ」, page dated 21 August 2025, web.archive.org snapshot of 4 September 2026, https://web.archive.org/web/20260904064239/https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/toko/medi/asia/thailand.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

6. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 「海外在留邦人数調査統計 令和７年（2025年）10月１日現在」 (published 25 December 2025), https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/files/100957047.pdf (archived copy: http://web.archive.org/web/20260421192127id_/https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/files/100957047.pdf) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹

7. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 「在外公館等で入手できる具体的な情報・支援一覧 アジア」 (mission jurisdictions), web.archive.org snapshot of 20 August 2026, https://web.archive.org/web/20260820121437/https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/ca/ha/page25_000836.html ; Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai home page, snapshot of 18 May 2026, https://web.archive.org/web/20260518151648/https://www.chiangmai.th.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_ja/index.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

8. Consulate-General of Japan in Penang, home page, web.archive.org snapshot of 18 May 2026, https://web.archive.org/web/20260518000218/https://www.penang.my.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_ja/index.html ↩ ↩²

9. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 「世界の医療事情 マレーシア」, page dated 1 October 2024, web.archive.org snapshot of 23 November 2025, https://web.archive.org/web/20251123161054/https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/toko/medi/asia/malaysia.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

10. Consulate-General of Japan in Cebu, 「総領事館案内」 (jurisdiction), web.archive.org snapshot of 5 October 2026, https://web.archive.org/web/20261005094839/https://www.cebu.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/11_000001_00139.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

11. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 「世界の医療事情 フィリピン」, page dated 1 October 2024, web.archive.org snapshot of 16 March 2026, https://web.archive.org/web/20260316144539/https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/toko/medi/asia/phili.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

12. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 「世界の医療事情 ポルトガル」, page dated 1 October 2024, web.archive.org snapshot of 10 April 2026, https://web.archive.org/web/20260410195849/https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/toko/medi/europe/portugal.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

13. Japan Customs, 「外国為替相場（税関長公示）」 weekly rates for 18 to 24 October 2026, https://www.customs.go.jp/tetsuzuki/kawase/csv/261018-261024.csv (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

14. Royal Thai Consulate-General, Osaka, “Non-Immigrant Visa (O-A) Long Stay” requirement sheet (2025), https://image.mfa.go.th/mfa/0/RzaiZWKBzF/consular/Visa/12.Non-Immigrant_(OA)_Long-Stay.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩

15. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, “Non-Immigrant Visa O-A (Long Stay)”, updated 30 November 2022, https://www.mfa.go.th/en/page/non-immigrant-visa-o-a (accessed October 2026) ↩

16. Thailand Board of Investment, Long-Term Resident Visa portal, https://ltr.boi.go.th/ (accessed October 2026) ↩

17. Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia, MM2H programme pages (Silver, overview), last updated 10 February 2026, https://www.mm2h.gov.my/category/silver ; https://www.mm2h.gov.my/category/overview (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩² ↩³

18. Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, “S-MM2H Application Guidelines (English) Ver 2025” (4 March 2025), https://mtcp.sarawak.gov.my/web/attachment/show/?docid=ajBHSVVvcUdaODk3UEx1M0pnMjVsdz09OjooelROwIuhRPv42y9qgReE (accessed October 2026) ↩

19. Philippine Retirement Authority, “Expanded SRRV Program” (August 2025), https://www.pra.gov.ph/Uploads/Files/Expanded%20SRRV%20Program.pdf ; SRRV page https://www.pra.gov.ph/SRRVisa (accessed October 2026) ↩

20. Philippine Retirement Authority, “Processing of SRRV Application (Revised Sep 2025)”, https://pra.gov.ph/Uploads/Files/Processing%20of%20SRRV%20Application%20(Revised%20Sep%202025).pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩

21. Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros (Portugal), Vistos portal, “Means of subsistence”, https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/necessary-documentation/means-of-subsistence (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩²

22. Diário da República, Decreto-Lei n.º 139/2025, de 29 de dezembro (minimum monthly wage €920 from 1 January 2026), https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2025/12/24900/0001400016.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩²

23. Boletín Oficial del Estado, Real Decreto 1155/2024, consolidated text, Articles 61 and 62, https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2024-24099 (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩²

24. Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal, “Cuantías anuales” (IPREM €600 a month), https://www.sepe.es/HomeSepe/es/prestaciones-desempleo/Cuantias-anuales.html (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩²

25. National Statistical Office of Thailand, Household Socio-Economic Survey 2024, executive summary (March 2025), https://nso.go.th/nsoweb/storage/survey_detail/2025/20250321102834_75752.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩² ↩³

26. National Statistical Office of Thailand, “The 2021 Household Socio-economic Survey, Chiang Mai Province”, Table 8.1, https://www.nso.go.th/nsoweb/downloadFile/stat_main_nso/aXtq/file_th (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩²

27. Department of Statistics Malaysia, “Household Expenditure Survey Report, Malaysia & States 2024” (8 October 2025), https://www.dosm.gov.my/portal-main/release-content/household-expenditure-survey-report--malaysia--states (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

28. Philippine Statistics Authority, OpenSTAT, “Number of Families, Average Annual Family Income and Expenditure, by Region, Province, and HUC: 2023” (updated 23 January 2026), https://openstat.psa.gov.ph/PXWeb/api/v1/en/DB/1E/IE/0011E3ANIE0.px (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

29. Instituto Nacional de Estatística (Portugal), “Inquérito às Despesas das Famílias 2022/2023” (definitive results, June 2024), Figure 2.6, https://www.ine.pt/ngt_server/attachfileu.jsp?look_parentBoui=673105441&att_display=n&att_download=y (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

30. Thailand Revenue Department, Legal Affairs Division, Q&A on personal income tax under Section 41 paragraph 2 of the Revenue Code (Departmental Instructions 161/2566 and 162/2566), 2024, https://www.rd.go.th/fileadmin/user_upload/lorkhor/newsbanner/2024/1/QnA161-162-1.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

31. Ministry of Finance Japan, Synthesised Text of the MLI and the Convention between Japan and Thailand (signed 7 April 1990), Articles 17, 20 and 21, https://www.mof.go.jp/tax_policy/summary/international/tax_convention/SynthesizedTextforJapan_Thailand_EN.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩

32. Japan Pension Service, 「租税条約等締結国一覧（令和７年１月現在）」 (PDF), https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/jukyu/tetsuduki/kyotsu/jukyu/kaigaitenshutsu.files/sozei.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩²

33. Japan Pension Service, 「年金を受けている方が海外に居住するとき」, updated 5 December 2025, https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/jukyu/tetsuduki/kyotsu/jukyu/kaigaitenshutsu.html (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

34. Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN), “Tax Treatment in Relation to Income Received from Abroad (Amendment)”, guideline dated 20 June 2024, paragraphs 5.1.2 and 5.2.2, https://www.hasil.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/20240620-guidelines-tax-treatment-in-relation-to-income-received-from-abroad-amendment-june-2024.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩² ↩³

35. Ministry of Finance Japan, Synthesised Text of the MLI and the Agreement between Japan and Malaysia (signed 19 February 1999, amended 2010), Articles 18 and 19, https://www.mof.go.jp/tax_policy/summary/international/tax_convention/SynthesizedTextforJapan_Malaysia_EN.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩

36. Bureau of Internal Revenue (Philippines), National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 (RA 8424), Sections 23 and 32(B)(6), web.archive.org snapshot of 5 August 2014, http://web.archive.org/web/20140805000917/http://www.bir.gov.ph/index.php/tax-code.html ↩

37. Ministry of Finance Japan, consolidated text of the Convention between Japan and the Republic of the Philippines (1980, amended 2008), Article 18, https://www.mof.go.jp/tax_policy/summary/international/tax_convention/Philippines_ST_en.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩

38. Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (Portugal), leaflet 「Residente Não Habitual: inscrição」, May 2024, https://info.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt/pt/apoio_contribuinte/Folhetos_informativos/Documents/residente_nao_habitual_inscricao_pt.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩²

39. Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (Portugal), leaflet 「IFICI: Incentivo Fiscal à Investigação Científica e Inovação」, March 2025, https://info.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt/pt/apoio_contribuinte/Folhetos_informativos/Documents/incentivos_investigacao.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩

40. Portal das Finanças, Código do IRS, Articles 11, 15 and 16, https://info.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt/pt/informacao_fiscal/codigos_tributarios/cirs_rep/Pages/irs15.aspx (accessed October 2026) ↩

41. Ministry of Finance Japan, Synthesised Text of the MLI and the Convention between Japan and the Portuguese Republic (signed 19 December 2011), Articles 17 and 18, https://www.mof.go.jp/tax_policy/summary/international/tax_convention/SynthesizedTextforJapan_Portugal_EN.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩

42. Boletín Oficial del Estado, Ley 35/2006 del Impuesto sobre la Renta de las Personas Físicas, consolidated text, Articles 2 and 9, https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2006-20764 (accessed October 2026) ↩

43. Ministry of Finance Japan, Convention between Japan and the Kingdom of Spain (signed 16 October 2018), Articles 17 and 18, https://www.mof.go.jp/tax_policy/summary/international/20210215Spa_e.pdf (accessed October 2026) ↩

44. World Bank, International Comparison Program 2021, price level index (World = 100), actual individual consumption, https://api.worldbank.org/v2/sources/90/country/JPN;THA;MYS;PHL;PRT;ESP;USA;WLD/series/9020000;1000000;9100000/classification/PX.WL;PPPGlob/time/all/data?format=json ; programme page https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp (accessed 18 October 2026) ↩ ↩²

45. OECD, “PPP detailed results, 2022 onwards: Price level indices”, actual individual consumption (USA = 100), https://sdmx.oecd.org/public/rest/data/OECD.SDD.TPS,DSD_PPP@DF_PPP_CPL,1.1/all?startPeriod=2022&format=csvfilewithlabels (accessed October 2026) ↩

46. Ministry of Finance Japan, 「基準外国為替相場及び裁定外国為替相場」 applying in October 2026 (18 September 2026), as republished by the Bank of Japan, https://www.boj.or.jp/about/services/tame/tame_rate/kijun/kiju2610.htm (accessed October 2026) ↩

47. Ministry of Finance Japan, 「基準外国為替相場及び裁定外国為替相場」 applying in October 2016 (20 September 2016), as republished by the Bank of Japan, https://www.boj.or.jp/about/services/tame/tame_rate/kijun/kiju1610.htm (accessed October 2026) ↩

48. Bank of Japan, Time-Series Data Search, FM08, series FXERM07 (USD/JPY, Tokyo 17:00, monthly average), https://www.stat-search.boj.or.jp/api/v1/getDataCode?format=json&lang=en&db=FM08&startDate=201610&endDate=202610&code=FXERM07 (accessed October 2026) ↩

49. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, 1987 Constitution, Article XII, Sections 7 and 8, web.archive.org snapshot of 18 September 2023, https://web.archive.org/web/20230918185620/https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-article-xii/ ↩

50. e-Gov, National Health Insurance Act (国民健康保険法), Article 5, https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/333AC0000000192 ↩ ↩²

51. Otsu City, departure procedures checklist (PDF dated 7 January 2026), https://www.city.otsu.lg.jp/material/files/group/228/syukkoku.pdf ↩

52. Royal Thai Embassy, Tokyo, “Thailand Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival (VoA) Measures, Effective 15 September 2026”, 8 September 2026, https://site.thaiembassy.jp/en/news/consular/14288/ ; Thai MFA Department of Consular Affairs summary, https://consular.mfa.go.th/th/content/1-9-69-00?cate=5ddbe42115e39c4768007e1d (accessed October 2026) ↩

53. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 海外安全ホームページ, 「マレーシア 安全対策基礎データ」, updated 24 December 2025, https://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/info/pcsafetymeasure_017.html (accessed October 2026) ↩ ↩²

54. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 海外安全ホームページ, 「フィリピン 安全対策基礎データ」, updated 21 October 2025, https://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/info/pcsafetymeasure_013.html (accessed October 2026) ↩

55. Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, Article 4(1) and Annex II, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32018R1806 (accessed October 2026) ↩

56. Royal Thai Embassy, London, “Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) required from 1 May 2025”, https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/content/thailand-digital-arrival-card-tdac-required-from-1 (accessed October 2026) ↩

57. European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs, “Entry/Exit System will become fully operational on 10 April 2026” (30 March 2026), https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/entryexit-system-will-become-fully-operational-10-april-2026-2026-03-30_en (accessed October 2026) ↩

58. e-Gov, Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (出入国管理及び難民認定法), Articles 26 and 26-2, https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/326CO0000000319 ; Immigration Services Agency, 「みなし再入国許可」, https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/immigration/procedures/minashisainyukoku_00001.html ↩ ↩² ↩³