When a family member dies in Japan
What to do, and by when
This page is for families of foreign nationals who die in Japan. It lists the notifications and deadlines, how to return the residence card, health insurance and pension, and which country's law decides inheritance.
Checked against official pages of the Immigration Services Agency, the Japan Pension Service, the National Tax Agency, and cities in October 2026
Key points
- File the death notification within 7 days. The cremation permit is issued at the same time
- Return the residence card within 14 days
- Inheritance is decided, in principle, by the law of the country of the person who died
This site is mainly in Japanese. Easy Japanese: やさしい日本語
Deadlines at a glance
| What | Deadline | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Death notification (death certificate from the doctor) | Within 7 days of learning of the death | City office of the place of death or of your address |
| Return the residence card | Within 14 days | Regional immigration office, or by mail |
| Tell the embassy or consulate | As soon as possible | Embassy of the person's country |
| Report the death of a pensioner | As soon as possible | Japan Pension Service |
| Renounce the inheritance (if Japanese law applies) | Within 3 months of learning that you are an heir | Family court |
| Inheritance tax return (if the estate is large) | Within 10 months | Tax office |
| Funeral expense benefit (National Health Insurance) | Within 2 years after the funeral | City office |
Death notification and cremation
- A relative or someone who lived with the person files the death notification within 7 days of learning of the death, at the city office of the place of death or of the filer's address. The doctor's death certificate is required, and the city may ask for the person's passport (Immigration Services Agency guidebook, English PDF)
- The cremation permit is issued when the death notification is accepted. Funeral companies often take the notification to the city office for you
- Also tell the embassy or consulate of the person's country (Minato City, in English)
Returning the residence card
A relative or someone who lived with the person returns the residence card to the Immigration Services Agency within 14 days of the death (Immigration Control Act, Article 19-15). Bring it to a regional immigration office, or mail it to the Odaiba Branch Office of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau with a document proving the death (Immigration Services Agency, in Japanese). A late return can be fined.
Health insurance and pension
- National Health Insurance: end the membership at the city office. The person who paid for the funeral can claim a funeral expense benefit within 2 years (for example 70,000 yen in Shinjuku City; the amount differs by city)
- Pension: everyone living in Japan aged 20 to 59 is covered regardless of nationality. If the person received a pension, report the death as soon as possible; family can also claim unpaid pension (Japan Pension Service)
- Survivors' pensions: a Survivors' Basic Pension for a spouse with a child or for the child, and a Survivors' Employees' Pension for dependent family. A Lump-sum Death Benefit may be paid if no survivors' pension is payable. Claims can be made by mail from outside Japan (Japan Pension Service)
Inheritance: which law applies
- Inheritance is governed, in principle, by the law of the country of the person who died (Act on General Rules for Application of Laws, Article 36)
- If that law refers back to Japanese law (for example for real estate in Japan), Japanese law applies (Article 41)
- Under Japanese law, an heir can renounce the inheritance at the family court within 3 months of learning that they are an heir (Civil Code, Article 915). This is important if the person had debts
- Japanese inheritance tax: the basic exemption is 30 million yen plus 6 million yen for each statutory heir. Whether property outside Japan is taxed depends on where the heirs and the person lived and their status of residence. The return is due within 10 months (National Tax Agency)
Where to get help
- Immigration Services Agency information center: 0570-013904 (from IP phones or abroad: 03-5796-7112), weekdays 8:30 to 17:15, in English and 10 other languages
- Houterasu (Japan Legal Support Center) multilingual information service: 0570-078377, weekdays 9:00 to 17:00. General information on the legal system, including inheritance, and where to get consultation
- Your city office, for the death notification, health insurance, and the funeral expense benefit
FAQ
Which country's law decides who inherits?
In principle, the law of the country of the person who died (Act on General Rules for Application of Laws, Article 36). If that law in turn refers to Japanese law, for example for real estate in Japan, Japanese law applies (Article 41). Ask a lawyer or the embassy if you are unsure.
Who returns the residence card, and by when?
A relative or someone who lived with the person returns it to the Immigration Services Agency within 14 days of the death (or of finding the card). You can bring it to a regional immigration office or send it by mail with a document proving the death.
Can family members abroad claim pension benefits?
Yes. The Japan Pension Service accepts claims and reports by mail from outside Japan, for example for survivors' pensions and unpaid pension.
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