Notice from the Mie Prefecture Consultation Center for Foreign Residents (MieCo)

みえ外国人相談サポートセンター(MieCo)のお知らせ ~受付時間は、平日9時~16時です~

2025/03/31 Monday Announcements, Culture and Leisure

Consultation hours are 9:00-16:00 on weekdays.

Mie Prefecture has a consultation center (MieCo) for foreign residents. You can consult by phone. You can also talk to a counselor directly at the counter. Consultation is free (telephone charges apply).

When consulting by phone

Call 080-3300-8077.

When the call is connected, say your preferred language. You will be assisted by an interpreter in that language

When consulting at MieCo counter

Staff members who speak foreign languages ​​will assist you. If there is no one who speaks your language, a telephone interpreter service will be used.

Address: Tsu-shi Hadokoro-cho 700 UST Tsu 3F

Inside the Mie Prefectural Citizens’ Exchange Center – Mie International Exchange Foundation (MIEF)

Access:

  • Train: 1-minute walk from the east exit of Tsu Station
  • Car: Parking is free for up to 30 minutes. After that, a fee will be charged.

Horário de Atendimento

Monday to Friday (closed on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and December 29 to January 3)

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Languages ​​available

English, Portuguese, Spanish, Filipino, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Nepali, Indonesian, Thai, and Japanese

If you would like to consult a specialist (lawyer, clinical psychologist, or immigration officer), see this article on the MieInfo website.

 See the MieCo pamhplet here

Mie Prefecture Support Center for Foreign Residents “MieCo” FAQ (Regarding Social Security)

2025/03/31 Monday Announcements, Culture and Leisure

みえ外国人相談サポートセンター「MieCo」のよくある質問(年金について)

Mie Prefecture has a support center for foreign residents called MieCo. Below are some of the most common questions received by the center, along with their answers.

Question 1

I would like to know about the procedure for applying for a refund of social security contributions when leaving Japan.

Answer 1

People who leave Japan and meet the requirements can apply for a refund of social security contributions (Dattai Ichijikin).

To do so, you must make an appointment with the Japanese social security office and complete the procedure in person.

The social security office counters offer interpretation services in 11 languages. For more details on the translation service, please see the link below.

For more information on social security contribution refunds:
https://www.nenkin.go.jp/international/japanese-system/withdrawalpayment/payment.html

About Japan’s Pension System

In principle, all people who live in Japan and are between the ages of 20 and 60 must be enrolled in the public social security system (Kokumin Nenkin – National Pension). In addition, workers who meet certain requirements must be enrolled in the Kosei Nenkin – Workers’ Pension, which is an additional pension plan for employees of companies.

For more information on pensions and social assistance, please also refer to the following material:

Excerpt from the Japan Immigration Services Agency’s Guide to Living and Working