To all Candidates for EPA Nurses/EPA Care Workers
Procedures for Candidates for EPA Nurses/EPA Care Workers Who Have Failed the National
Examination in the Last Year of Their Residence Period to Return to Their Homelands
After Termination of the Employment Contracts, Etc. (For Candidates)
Acceptance Support for Foreign Professional Department
Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services (JICWELS)The EPA candidates for nurses and care workers who came to Japan under the Economic Partnership Agreement(EPA), who have failed the national examination during the length of stay based on the EPA (except those whobecame the subject for the special extension) or who have failed the national examination after being the subjectof the special extension in previous year, must return to their homelands before the expiration of their status ofresidence. We hereby inform you of the procedures and notes for your smooth return.
(*) The procedures for the special extension will be announced to the accepting facility through the e-mailaround the end of March 2023.
1. Procedures for Return(1) Decision of the date of termination of your employment contract
The employment contracts of the EPA candidates will not be terminated immediately after their failure in the nationalexaminations. They are allowed to continue working until the end of their residence period as long as they train andwork to obtain the necessary knowledge and skills to acquire the national qualification. If you wish to terminate theemployment contract before the expiration of your residence period, please consult with your accepting
institution/facility and start taking the procedures to terminate the employment contract.
When terminating an employment contract, it is necessary to comply with Japanese labor-related laws and regulations.
If you have any questions or difficulties about the procedure to terminate the employment contract, please contact
the consultation desk of JICWELS.
<Consultation Desk of JICWELS>・Consultation desk (every Monday to Friday) 0120-115-311*English, Indonesian, Vietnamese and Japanese are available
Consultation is also available by e-mail (sodan@jicwels.jp)(2) Determination of the date of return
After deciding the termination of the employment contract, please consult with your accepting institution/facility todetermine when to return. If you stay in Japan three months or longer after the termination of the employment contract,
your status of residence may be revoked. Please return to your country as soon as possible after the termination ofyour contract so as not to be regarded as an illegal stay.
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The staff of your accepting institution/facility is responsible for confirmation of your departure from the departure
airport. Therefore, please consult with the staff of the accepting institution / facility to determine the date of return,the departure airport and the departure schedule by the staff of the facility.
(3) Questionnaire
Please fill in the questionnaire sheet of JICWELS and submit it through your accepting institution/facility toJICWELS before returning to your country. The person in charge of accepting institution/facility logs into EPA
integrated system (https://jicwels.net/fac/Account/Login) first, then you type in your questionnaire on EPA integratedsystem. After you finished it, it must be submitted to JICWELS through the accepting institution/facility. So please
cooperate with filling in it if you receive a questionnaire from your accepting institution/facility.
(4) Registration Card for Contact
JICWELS, Japanese government or affiliated agencies provide a variety of support services to former EPA candidates
after their return. Moreover, JICWELS holds an alumni reunion hosted by us. For the details, please refer to “3. (3)Support for the Returned Candidates”. If you wish to receive these various types of support, etc., please submit yourcontact address (name, home address after return as well as e-mail address and Facebook address, etc.) to JICWELS
by either way of the following [1] or [2].
[1] 【Recommendation】 Resister your contact address (name, home address, e-mail address and Facebook address,etc.) after you returned from JEIS for EPA candidates(*).
[2] Submit your contact address through your accepting institution/facility.
The information of your contact address submitted from you are provided for to the relevant ministries and agenciesof the Japanese government as well as the implementer of the leaning support programs. Also, when the informationof your home address and e-mail address was changed, please inform JICWELS (Nursing: kangochallenge@jicwels.jp / Caregiving: kaigo-challenge@jicwels.jp) of your new information so that JICWELS
updates your information. (You must inform JICWELS of the change even if you do not wish to receive supportservices.)(*) Way of access to JICWELS EPA integrated system (JEIS)QR cord and URL (accessible from either)

https://jicwels.net/fac/Account/C_Login2. Notes for Return(1) Returning expenses
The cost of repatriation of the candidates shall be shouldered by the accepting institution/facility, except the case that2the termination of the contract is heavily attributable to the candidates.
“The case regarded as heavily attributable to the candidates” is, for example, that the candidate is deserved to thepunitive dismissal based on the working regulations stipulated by the accepting institution. The fact that thecandidates did not pass the national examination does not apply for “The case regarded as heavily attributable to thecandidates” .
(2) Stay after the expiration of your status of residence
You cannot stay in Japan after the expiration of the period of residence. Please consult with your accepting facility if
there is any possibility that you may not be able to return home before the expiration of the period of residence due
to hospitalization or any other inevitable reason.
Besides, even within the period of stay, if you stay for 3 months or more with the employment contract terminated,
your status of residence may be revoked, and you may be considered as an illegal stay. It is desirable to return tohomeland as soon as possible after the employment contract ends.
(3) Transport of Packages
There are three ways to send your packages to your country: air mail, Surface Air Lifted (SAL), and surface mail.
Air mail is fast but relatively expensive. Surface mail is relatively inexpensive, but it may take a couple of months toreceive it. When economical air mail, SAL, is used, it takes about ten days to arrive in the Southeast Asia region.
When the accepting facility provides you with a PC, electric dictionary and/or any other articles, please be sure to
return them before you deliver the packages. Further, there is no rule who will bear the cost of transport.
(4) Carry-on Baggage and Check-in Baggage
You must pay the excess baggage charge when your baggage exceeds the weight limit. Please directly confirm eachairline about the size limit, the weight limit or number limit for carry-on baggage and check-in baggage, and also
about the items etc. which can be brought in, in advance. Further, there is no rule who will bear the excess baggagecharge.
(5) Residence CardYour residence card must be invalidated by being punched during the embarkation procedure at the airport. We
recommend that you keep your invalidated residence card, as you may need it after returning to your country.
(6) Procedure for the change the place of residence of the EPA candidates
When moving out of Japan (return home), the EPA candidates must take the procedure for move-out. A move-out
notice must be submitted to the municipal office of residence within 14 days before the date of moving out.
(7) Payment of salaries
The accepting institution/facility is responsible for the payment of unpaid salaries by the return of candidates. Also,
please calculate the necessary expenses.
3(8) Other cancellation, settlement, etc.
Please be sure to cancel the personal contracts such as your cellular phone, internet, credit card and others forsettlement before you return home. As their assignment to your friend or colleague may be prohibited by law beside
may cause problems, please definitely cancel the contracts. Further, in case that invoice such as utility expenses
comes after you return home, please deposit expected amount for the invoice with the accepting facility or housemate(when you share a room with) in advance.
(9) Payment obligation of Resident tax
Resident tax imposed on incomes generated from January to December are deducted from monthly salaries fromJune in following year. You must settle all resident tax generated during your stay (from June, 2024 to May, 2025) inJapan in advance, before returning to your country. Payment must be made for the municipality where you lived on
January 1, 2024.
(10) Lump Sum Withdrawal Payment from the Pension FundYou can claim the Lump Sum Withdrawal Payment from the Pension Fund from your country within two years after
the date when you no longer have a residence in Japan. Your pension handbook is required for this application. Pleasereceive your pension handbook from the accepting institution/facility before your resignation when they keep it.
<Detailed Procedure for Claiming a “Lump Sum Withdrawal Payment”>
URL ： https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/jukyu/sonota-kyufu/dattai-ichiji/20150406.html
English: https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/jukyu/todokesho/sonota-kyufu/20150406.files/A.pdf
Indonesian: https://www.nenkin.go.jp/international/japanese-system/withdrawalpayment/payment.files/F.pdf
Tagalog:https://www.nenkin.go.jp/international/japanese-system/withdrawalpayment/payment.files/G.pdf
Vietnamese:https://www.nenkin.go.jp/international/japanese-system/withdrawalpayment/payment.files/I.pdf【Reference: For the Philippines】
The Agreement between Japan and the Republic of the Philippines on Social Security became effective on 1 August
2018. As a result, dual coverage by Japan and the Philippines are eliminated, as well as your Japanese coverage period
and Philippine coverage period are totalized. Please enquire Japan Pension Service for the details.
(Reference 1) URL of Japan Pension Service
https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/shaho-kyotei/kunibetsu/notice/Philippines.html
https://www.lcgjapan.com/pdf/nlb0449.pdf(Reference 2) URL of Ministry of Foreign Affairs
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/press/release/press4_006048.html

4(11) Issuance of Certificate of Employment
When you need a certificate of employment, please ask your accepting institution/facility to issue it before you
return.
3. Notes for after the return(1) Procedure for taking the National Examination from the next fiscal year onwards
1) Candidates for EPA nurses
It is possible for candidates for EPA nurses to take the Japanese national nursing examination by visiting Japanagain even after the return. For the application, “the certificate of eligibility for admission to the nationalexamination（受験資格認定証）,” which has been already issued, is required. Please be sure to take it with you
when you return home and keep it safe as not be reissued.
The details for application procedure will be delivered to your e-mail address mentioned in the “Registration Cardfor Contact” from JICWELS or government affiliated agencies. JICWELS also publishes the details on our website.
(Usually around October.)
Necessary documents for an application such as an application form or a photographic mount for examination canbe obtained at the Japanese Embassy in your country.
In addition, when you visit Japan again for the purpose of taking the national nursing examination, it is necessaryto obtain a visa for “Temporary Visitor” at the Japanese Embassy or the Japanese Consulate General in your country.
(You can find the contact information in the category of <Inquiries for visa>.)<Inquiries for the certificate of eligibility for admission to the national examination >Department of Nursing, Health Policy Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
TEL: 03-5253-1111 (Extension: 4199)＜Inquiries for the exam procedure＞Examination & License Department, Medical Professions Division, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
TEL: 03-5253-1111 (Extension: 2574)

2) Candidates for care workers
It is possible for EPA candidates, who returned to their homeland after qualifying for the National Examination
for certified care workers, to take the National Examination for certified care workers by visiting Japan again.
For application, the admission ticket for examination already issued (or the notice of failure) is required.
Please be sure to take it with you and keep it safe. It is not necessary to submit “Certificate of practical experience”
if you take necessary procedures.
For those who returned to their homeland after qualifying for the National Examination for certified care workers,“Guideline for the application” will be sent to your e-mail address mentioned in the “Registration card for contact”
from JICWELS or government affiliated agency. It will also be posted on the JICWELS website (usually around5July).
There are two ways to apply, which are [1] on the web or [2] by in writing. However, it is only limited to thosementioned below to apply [1] on the web.
・Those who are qualified to take the exam by already receiving the admission ticket for the national examination
for certified care workers from the past examination.
・Those who are able to pay the exam fee by credit card or by remitting through an agent from convenience store
in Japan (it is not acceptable by remitting from the bank, or convenience store outside of Japan).
For the details, please refer to “Information of the procedures for the application（受験手続についてのご案内）”
which will be posted on JICWELS website.
In addition, when you visit Japan again for the purpose of taking the national examination for certified careworkers, it is necessary to obtain a visa for “Temporary Visitor” at the Japanese Embassy or the Japanese
Consulate General in your country. Please complete the procedures in advance. You can find the contact
information in the category of <Inquiries for visa>.

<Inquiries for the national examination for certified care workers>
Examination Division of the Center of Social Welfare Promotion and National Examination
TEL: 03-3486-7511
E-mail：epa@sssc.or.jp<Inquiries for visa>
・Japan Visa Application Centre : JVAC (Indonesia)
http://www.vfsglobal.com/japan/indonesia/Japanese/index.html
Address: Kuningan City Mall, 2nd floor No. L2-09A, JI. Prof. Dr. Satrio Kav. 18, Setiabudi, Kuningan,Jakarta
TEL: +62-21-3041-8715

Embassy of Japan in the Philippines
Address: 2627 Roxas Boulevard., Pasay City, Metro Manila
TEL: +63-2-8551-5710

・Embassy of Japan in Vietnam
Address: 27 Lieu Giai, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Vietnam
TEL: +84-24-3846-3000(2) Notes for when staying in Japan after changing to other status of residence
When an EPA candidate changes his/her status of residence to those for other than “Designated Activities” (e.g.
Japanese spouse etc.) and takes the national examination while continuously staying in Japan, the supports from6the learning support programs offered by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (and commissioned agency)
will no longer be provided because of the new status of residence is not aiming for acquisition of the nationalqualification.
(3) Support for the Returned Candidates
The Japanese government provides the following programs as supports against EPA candidates returned home
(Achievements in FY 2023). Moreover, JICWELS holds an alumni reunion hosted by us.
If you wish to get the following learning supports or to join an alumni reunion after returning home, please be sure
to submit your registration card for contact to your accepting institution/facility or to register your contact addressfrom JEIS for EPA candidates before returning home. Regarding the way of registration, please refer to “1. (4)Registration Card for Contact”.
Also, when the information of your address or e-mail address in your registration card was changed, please inform
JICWELS (Nursing: kango-challenge@jicwels.jp / Caregiving: kaigo-challenge@jicwels.jp) of your newinformation. (Any information of the following programs etc. will not be provided you if you do not inform
JICWELS of the change.)【Learning support, etc. from Japanese government】[1] Trial examination in your country (Nursing/Caregiving)[2] Learning support by e-Learning (Nursing/Caregiving)[3] Communication correction guidance and Set up of the Learning consultation desk (Nursing/Caregiving)[4] Individual learning guidance (Nursing)[5] Communication correction test preparation commentary live lecture, National exam preparation commentary
live lecture and Distribution of self-challenge questions by e-mail (Caregiving)[6] Career Fair for Japanese Companies at Japanese Diplomatic Offices Overseas (Nursing/Caregiving)【An alumni reunion hosted by JICWELS】
Would you like to join the network of EPA fellows who have learned the skills of nursing and caregiving etc. inJapan and have been playing actively their role in home country after returning?
Returned EPA candidates and passers are interacting each other by sharing their experience in the alumni reunion.
Also, the alumni reunion provides you a chance to participate EPA projects of JICWELS held in your country.
We hear voice from the participants like “It was so nice to meet my friends after a long time” or “I was moved
by remembering my nostalgic memories”. Please register your contact address after returning home.
<Inquiries>
Acceptance Support for Foreign Professional Department of JICWELSTEL: 03-6206-1138 / Email: shien-assen@jicwels.jp

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EPA ALUMNI
Expand Your EPA Network:
Connect, Engage, Shine!
Stay in Contact After Returning Home:
Share Your EPA Experience with Fellow Alumni!☺
＜Main Alumni Activities＞⚫ Build Networks with Returnees⚫ Organize Vibrant Alumni Reunions⚫ Provide Info to Utilize EPA Experience Back Home
⚫ Promotion of EPA Programs in the Home Country, etc.
Great seeing EPA friends
and Japanese teachers
again! Had fun!!

Nostalgic and moving.
Looking forward tothe next reunion!

Join the Alumni (FREE!):
Register your contact details
after returning home HERE.→→→https://jicwels.net/fac /Account/C_Login