Unemployment benefits in Japan
Calculator, eligibility, benefit days, and how to apply at Hello Work
If you were covered by employment insurance (koyo hoken) and lose your job, you can receive the basic allowance while you look for a new job. Enter your age, pay, and reason for leaving to estimate the amount. This page also explains the conditions, the number of days, when payment starts, and the steps at Hello Work.
Checked against official pages of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and Hello Work in October 2026
Key points
- In principle, you need 12 months of coverage in the 2 years before you left (6 months in 1 year after dismissal or bankruptcy)
- Voluntary resignation: 7-day waiting period plus a 1-month restriction (since April 2025)
- Apply at Hello Work within 1 year from the day after you left
This site is mainly in Japanese. English pages: Leaving a job in Japan (checklist) ・ Unemployment benefits calculator ・ How to quit a job ・ Immigration notification ・ Resident tax ・ Health insurance and pension ・ Lump-sum withdrawal calculator
Who can receive them
- You were covered by employment insurance for at least 12 months in the 2 years before you left (counting months with 11 or more working days, or 80 hours or more) (Hello Work, in Japanese)
- If you lost your job through dismissal or bankruptcy, or your fixed-term contract was not renewed, 6 months in the 1 year before you left is enough
- You are unemployed, able and willing to work, and actively looking for a job
- Not covered: international students who worked part-time, and people who worked under 20 hours a week (MHLW checklist for foreign nationals, English PDF)
How much and for how long
The daily amount is about 50% to 80% of your average daily wage over your last 6 months (45% to 80% if you are 60 to 64); lower wages get a higher rate. There are upper and lower limits, revised every August. Our calculator (in Japanese) estimates the amount.
| Reason for leaving | Insured under 10 years | 10 to 19 years | 20 years or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your own reasons (including voluntary resignation) | 90 days | 120 days | 150 days |
| Dismissal or bankruptcy | 90 to 240 days | 180 to 270 days | 240 to 330 days |
After dismissal or bankruptcy, the number of days depends on your age and insured period (up to 330 days for ages 45 to 59 with 20 years or more). Up to 360 days applies only to people who have difficulty finding a job, such as people with disabilities (Hello Work, in Japanese).
When payment starts
- Waiting period: the first 7 days after your eligibility is decided are not paid
- Voluntary resignation without a valid reason: a further 1 month without payment if your last day of work was on or after 1 April 2025. It is 3 months for your third voluntary resignation within 5 years, or after dismissal for serious misconduct (MHLW, in Japanese)
- There is no restriction after dismissal, bankruptcy, or the non-renewal of your contract
- The restriction is lifted if you take certain education and training for reskilling (since April 2025)
How to apply
- Wait for your separation notices (離職票 1 and 2) from your employer
- Go to the Hello Work office for your address, register as a job seeker, and submit the separation notices
- Bring: separation notices 1 and 2, your My Number card (or a My Number document plus photo ID such as your residence card or passport), 2 photos (3 cm × 2.4 cm; not needed if you show your My Number card), and a bank passbook or cash card in your name
- Attend the briefing session. You receive your eligibility card (or eligibility notice), the unemployment certification form, and your first certification day
- Every 4 weeks, go to Hello Work on your certification day and report any work and your job search. In principle you need at least 2 job-search activities in each period
- The money is paid into your bank account
Deadline: you can receive benefits only within 1 year from the day after you left. If you apply late, you may not receive all of your days.
FAQ
Can foreign nationals receive unemployment benefits?
Yes, if you were covered by employment insurance and meet the conditions. International students who worked part-time, and people who worked under 20 hours a week, are not covered. The jobs you can look for depend on your status of residence.
I quit my job myself. When does the payment start?
After the 7-day waiting period, there is a benefit restriction of 1 month in principle if your last day of work was on or after 1 April 2025. It is 3 months if this is your third voluntary resignation within 5 years, or if you were dismissed for serious misconduct. The restriction is lifted if you take certain education and training for reskilling.
Can I receive the benefits after I leave Japan?
You must visit Hello Work in person on each certification day and be ready to start work in Japan, so in practice you cannot receive them while living abroad. If you leave Japan for good, check the lump-sum withdrawal payment for your pension.
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