Work and unemployment

Five national programs covering unemployment benefit, job-seeker training, education and training benefits, older job seekers and re-employment.

Work and unemploymentNationwide (the Hello Work office with jurisdiction over your place of residence)

Japan's Basic Unemployment Allowance: Eligibility for Foreign Workers

Japan's basic unemployment allowance (kihon teate) is an employment-insurance benefit paid to people who had a qualifying insured period before leaving their job and who are actively looking for work but have not yet found it. Simply resigning does not automatically qualify you; you must be in an actual state of unemployment as defined by the program. Exact eligibility and amounts depend on individual circumstances, so the final confirmation always happens at Hello Work.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-28

Work and unemploymentNationwide (Hello Work)

Japan Job Seeker Support Program: Training Benefit for Foreign Job Seekers

Japan's Job Seeker Support Program (求職者支援制度) lets people who are not employment-insurance policyholders or eligible for unemployment benefits take vocational training through Hello Work at no cost. A related training benefit of JPY100,000 per month is also available, but only to applicants who separately meet a defined set of conditions.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-28

Work and unemploymentNationwide (Hello Work offices)

Japan Education and Training Benefit: Pre-Enrollment Check Guide

The Education and Training Benefit (教育訓練給付金) pays part of the cost of a designated course to people currently or previously covered by employment insurance who meet the insured-period and other requirements. There are three categories—Specialized Practical, Specific General, and General—each with different payment rates, caps, and payment timing. Confirm your course and entitlement before enrolling.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-28

Work and unemploymentNationwide (the Hello Work office covering your area of residence)

Older Job Seeker Benefit in Japan: Rules for Workers Age 65 or Older

The Older Job Seeker Benefit (高年齢求職者給付金) is a lump-sum payment under Japan's employment insurance system for insured workers age 65 or older who leave their job. Eligibility is not automatic; it depends on the insured period, active job-seeking, and formal registration and unemployment recognition at Hello Work.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-28

Work and unemploymentNationwide (Hello Work offices)

Re-employment Allowance in Japan: Conditions for Foreign Workers

The Re-employment Allowance (再就職手当) is an employment-insurance job-promotion benefit for people whose Basic Allowance eligibility has been determined and who start a new job or a business early. For foreign workers, nationality alone does not decide the outcome; each applicable condition, including the remaining benefit days and the employment conditions, is checked. Because the employment route and the self-employment route are checked against different conditions, first identify whether the employment route or the self-employment route applies to your situation, and then read the conditions for that route.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-29