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International social security · SPD Advocacia

Worked in Japan and Brazil? Your Japanese time can help you retire

The agreement between Brazil and Japan lets you use your Japanese contribution time to meet the requirement of Brazil's social security institute, INSS. The firm reviews both records, prepares the claim and follows the data exchange with the Japan Pension Service.

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How does the Brazil-Japan social security agreement work?

Brazil and Japan signed a social security agreement in 2010, enacted by Decree 7,702/2012 and in force since March 1, 2012. On the Brazilian side, it covers retirement by age, disability retirement and survivor's pension, at INSS, in the special pension schemes for public servants and in the military scheme. On the Japanese side, it covers the National Pension, the Employees' Pension Insurance and other pension schemes listed in the text (art. 2).

Anyone who does not have enough time in Brazil alone can use Japanese periods to meet the INSS requirement (art. 17). INSS calculates a theoretical amount as if all the time were Brazilian and pays the share of time completed in Brazil. Japan does a similar calculation with the Japanese time (arts. 13 to 15). That is why the insured person can receive two benefits, one from each country. The agreement provides for direct payment, in a freely convertible currency, to people living in the other country (art. 5).

The claim can be filed in Brazil or in Japan. A claim filed with the other country's institution counts as made on the same date with the right institution and is forwarded without delay (art. 22). In Brazil, the form used is BR/JP-01, and the liaison body is the INSS international agreements office in São Paulo; in Japan, it is the Japan Pension Service. An employee sent by the company can stay in the home system for up to five years, with an extension of up to three years in special cases (art. 7).

What the law says

The points that matter most

Three benefits

On the Brazilian side, the agreement covers retirement by age, disability retirement and survivor's pension (art. 2).

Adding up periods

Japanese time helps meet the INSS requirement when Brazilian time is not enough (art. 17).

Claim in one country

A claim filed in Japan counts as filed on the same date in Brazil (art. 22).

Posting

An employee sent by the company stays in the home system for up to five years, with a possible extension (art. 7).

Source: Decree 7,702/2012 (Brazil-Japan Social Security Agreement), arts. 2, 5, 7, 13 to 15, 17 and 22; INSS, page on the agreement with Japan. Content reviewed on October 23, 2026.

What is your case?

Situations the firm handles

Dekasegi

Worked in Japan and returned to Brazil

We add up the Japanese time for INSS retirement by age.

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Living in Japan

Want to claim your INSS benefit from there

A claim filed in Japan goes to INSS with the same date.

Decree 7,702/2012, art. 22
Refund

Thinking of asking for a refund of Japanese contributions

The agreement treats this refund in its own way, so get an analysis first.

Decree 7,702/2012, art. 13
Survivor's pension

Family of someone who worked in both countries

The survivor's pension also uses the sum of periods.

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Disability

Inability to work with time in Japan

The medical report can be completed by a doctor in Japan, on the agreement form.

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Power of attorney

Handle matters in Brazil without traveling

We advise on the power of attorney for INSS and for court proceedings.

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This page provides general information, does not replace an analysis of the case and there is no guarantee of results.

Step by step

How the firm works

  1. Review. We pull your CNIS (Brazil's contribution record) and your pension history in Japan.
  2. Count. We simulate the sum of periods and the share each country should pay.
  3. Claim. We prepare the application and the agreement forms, such as BR/JP-01.
  4. Follow-up. We follow the exchange between INSS and the Japan Pension Service, with updates on WhatsApp.
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Case review

Let's look at your case

Answer the questions, one at a time. At the end you can attach documents, which go straight to a folder in the firm's Drive, and send the summary via WhatsApp. Everything is protected by attorney-client confidentiality.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Does time in Japan count toward retirement by length of contribution?

Not under the agreement. On the Brazilian side, it covers retirement by age, disability retirement and survivor's pension (art. 2 of Decree 7,702/2012).

Can I file the claim from Japan?

Yes. A claim filed with the Japanese institution counts as made on the same date in Brazil and is forwarded to INSS (art. 22).

I asked for a refund of my contributions in Japan. What now?

For Japanese benefits, the agreement excludes from the sum the lump-sum payments that amount to a refund of contributions (art. 13). The effect in your case depends on your history, and the firm reviews it before any claim.

Will I be paid in yen or in reais?

Each country pays its own benefit. The agreement provides for direct payment, in a freely convertible currency, to people living in the other country (art. 5).

How is the medical assessment for disability retirement done?

If you live in Japan, the medical report can be filled in by a doctor from the Japanese public or private health system, on the agreement form. If you live in Brazil, you go through the INSS medical assessment.

How much does it cost?

After the analysis, the firm sends a written fee proposal before any engagement.