A municipal envelope marked 国民健康保険料 has arrived, with several sheets and payment slips inside. Start by finding the 納入通知書 (the notice explaining the premium) and the 納付書 (the slip used to pay). Check the municipality, the household name, the applicable year, each amount and deadline before you pay. The layout and payment options depend on your city or ward.
Words to find on the paperwork
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning and action |
|---|---|---|
| 国民健康保険料 | kokumin kenkō hokenryō | National Health Insurance (NHI) premium |
| 納入通知書 | nōnyū tsūchisho | Notice stating the assessed premium; keep this for your records |
| 納付書 | nōfusho | Payment slip; check its amount and deadline |
| 世帯主 | setainushi | Head of household; the notice may be addressed to this person |
| 年間保険料 | nenkan hokenryō | Premium calculated for the relevant fiscal year |
| 期別・第○期 | kibetsu / dai ○ ki | Installment number or period |
| 納期限 | nōkigen | Payment deadline |
| 一括納付 | ikkatsu nōfu | Payment for the full set of installments at once, where offered |
| 口座振替 | kōza furikae | Automatic bank withdrawal |
| 変更通知書 | henkō tsūchisho | Notice of a revised premium |
A five-minute reading order
- Identify the sender. Check the ward or city name and confirm the notice concerns 国民健康保険料 rather than pension, resident tax or a utility bill.
- Check the addressee. An NHI notice can be addressed to the head of household even if that person is covered by a different health insurance plan. Minato City explains that the household head is responsible for the household’s NHI premium notice; the calculation does not include that person’s own premium if they are not an NHI member.
- Separate the annual total from the slips. A notice can show the fiscal-year total while individual slips show installment amounts. Do not pay every enclosed slip plus a full-payment slip. In Minato City, its June mailing can include installment slips and a separate full-payment slip; use the option that applies to you.
- Read the deadline on each slip. Match 第○期 and 納期限 to the amount. The month of payment is not necessarily the month for which you were insured.
- Check for a later notice. A move, a change in income information, or leaving NHI may lead to recalculation. If two notices disagree, ask your municipality which is current before paying; Minato City advises using the most recent payment notice.
How and where to pay
Follow the options printed on your municipality’s slip. Depending on the locality and the slip, payment may be available at specified banks, convenience stores, a municipal counter, by bank transfer, or through supported mobile payment services. A QR code or barcode does not guarantee that every app will accept it. Minato City’s English NHI premium guide lists its local payment methods; Yokohama City’s English guide describes installment deadlines. Check your own city or ward for the methods and limits that apply.
If you already arranged 口座振替, read the notice for the withdrawal amount and date before paying a paper slip. If a due date has passed or a slip is lost, contact the issuing municipality for the correct way to pay or get a replacement. Do not assume another city’s rules apply. Minato City, for example, distinguishes between a notice it does not reissue and a payment slip it can reissue: see its premium explanation and lost-slip FAQ.
Questions to ask at the counter or on the phone
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| この納付書は、どの期の分ですか。 | Kono nōfusho wa, dono ki no bun desu ka? | Which installment is this slip for? |
| 口座振替になっていますか。 | Kōza furikae ni natte imasu ka? | Is automatic bank withdrawal set up? |
| 新しい通知書が届きました。どちらの金額を払えばいいですか。 | Atarashii tsūchisho ga todokimashita. Dochira no kingaku o haraeba ii desu ka? | I received a newer notice. Which amount should I pay? |
| 納付書をなくしました。再発行できますか。 | Nōfusho o nakushimashita. Saihakkō dekimasu ka? | I lost the payment slip. Can it be reissued? |
Common surprises
“I am not enrolled, so why is it addressed to me?” Check whether an NHI-enrolled family member belongs to your household. The household head may receive the notice. Minato City explains this case.
“I left NHI, but another slip arrived.” It may reflect a recalculation for the months you were enrolled rather than a new enrollment. Confirm the covered period with your municipality before discarding it. Minato City’s FAQ gives an example.
“I already paid, but a reminder arrived.” Keep the receipt or payment record and ask the issuing office to check. Processing may take time; Minato City notes that reminders can cross with a recent payment.
If this notice arrived while you are changing jobs or moving, see our address-change checklist and guide to documents after leaving a job. Your employer’s payslip deductions are a different document; compare your coverage dates before assuming they pay the same bill.
Checked against municipal guidance available in September 2026. Premium calculations, forms, deadlines and payment channels vary by municipality and may change. Your issuing office’s current notice is the source for your own payment.
