On 15 April 2026, during a visit by a delegation from the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland to the Kantei – the Office of the Prime Minister of Japan – a social security agreement was signed between the Republic of Poland and Japan. The event took place in the presence of the heads of government of both countries.

On the Polish side, the document was signed by Sebastian Gajewski, Deputy Minister for Family, Labour and Social Policy, whilst on the Japanese side it was signed by Akira Kono, the Japanese Ambassador to Poland.

The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between Poland and Japan in the field of social security and to safeguard the rights of persons working or carrying out professional activities within the territory of both countries. Among other things, this will help to avoid double payment of contributions and facilitate the coordination of social security systems.

The initiative to conclude the agreement was taken by the Polish side in response to the needs of the Polish community in Japan. Following the resumption of talks in 2021 and the completion of six rounds of negotiations – in Warsaw, Tokyo and online – solutions were agreed upon based on international social security standards. In particular, they take into account the principles of equal treatment, the free transfer of benefits, the aggregation of insurance periods and the application of a single set of legislation.

The agreement signed will provide a solid legal basis for further cooperation in the field of social security. It will make it easier to access pension benefits and allow them to be transferred between countries. 

This agreement is an important step in the development of economic cooperation, which will facilitate the movement of workers and investors between Poland and Japan.