Notice period calculator · Japan 2026

Notice periods in Japan 2026

The notice an employer must give often grows with the years you have worked for them. The calculator above works out your notice period from your hire date and last day, together with severance and final pay.

The rules in brief

• Dismissal and notice: A dismissal needs an objectively reasonable cause, or it is void (Labour Contract Act art. 16). The employer must give 30 days’ notice or 30 days’ average pay. There is no statutory severance pay; many companies pay a retirement allowance under their own rules, which is taxed lightly as retirement income (deduction of ¥400,000 a year of service, ¥700,000 after 20 years, half of the rest taxed).

The legal notice is the same whatever the length of service: 30 days (or 30 days’ pay). (Labour Standards Act art. 20)

These are the legal minimums. A contract or collective agreement can give longer notice.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the notice period after 5 years in Japan?
30 days (or 30 days’ pay).

Can my contract give more notice?
Yes. A contract or collective agreement can give more than the legal minimum, but not less.

Rules and official sources: see “Rules applied (2026)” in the calculator. Last checked: October 2026. Estimates for information, not financial advice.