On September 10, 2025, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that the "Agreement on Social Security between Japan and the Republic of Austria (Japan-Austria Social Security Agreement)" will come into force on December 1, 2025. The agreement, signed on January 19, 2024, saw its diplomatic notes for enforcement exchanged in Vienna, the capital of Austria, on September 10.
Currently, employees temporarily dispatched from companies in Japan and Austria to each other's countries (such as corporate expatriates) are required to join pension systems in both countries, resulting in double payment of pension premiums. This agreement aims to resolve such issues, allowing temporary dispatch employees with an expected assignment period of five years or less to, in principle, join only the pension system of their home country. Additionally, insurance periods in both countries can be totaled to establish pension entitlement rights in each respective country.
The agreement's implementation is expected to reduce burdens on companies and expatriates while further promoting human and economic exchanges between Japan and Austria. The Japan-Austria Social Security Agreement becomes Japan's 24th social security agreement. Japan currently has social security agreements with 23 countries, with 1,338 Japanese nationals residing in Austria and 515 Austrian nationals residing in Japan.