From national health insurance eligibility to the documents needed to claim Japan's overseas medical expense reimbursement and the treatment process — all in one place.
Differences in health insurance coverage between short-term (visa-free) and long-term residents
How to obtain Form A / Form B documents for submission to your city/ward office in Japan
How to claim costs for emergency treatment of sudden toothache
A collection of the questions Japanese patients ask most often
Check whether Korean national health insurance applies and how to claim reimbursement, based on your residency status (short-term/long-term) in Korea.
Tourism, visiting relatives, visa-free entry, business trips, etc. (90 days or less)
Not covered by Korea's National Health Insurance (100% out-of-pocket)
Emergency treatment costs for sudden toothache can be claimed (English medical certificate / itemized statement / receipt required)
Submit to your city/ward office in Japan after returning home (Form A treatment record and Form B itemized statement required)
International students (D-2), work visa holders, foreign resident registration card holders (6 months or more)
Same benefits as Korean nationals (roughly 30% co-payment)
Basic checkup, X-ray, one scaling per year, cavity treatment (amalgam/GI), gum treatment, tooth extraction
Resin fillings, gold/ceramic inlays & crowns, orthodontics, whitening, implants, etc.
How dental treatment costs are covered depends on your purpose of entry and visa type.
Tourism, short visits, visa-free entry, etc.
Since Korea's National Health Insurance does not apply, the initial consultation fee, X-ray fee, and treatment cost are all paid out-of-pocket (100% non-covered).
International students (D-2), employment (E-series), permanent residency (F-5), etc.
Mandatory enrollment if you have registered as a foreign resident and stay 6 months or longer (D-2 international students, for example, can enroll immediately upon registration).
Basic checkup, X-ray, one scaling per year, basic cavity treatment (GI/amalgam), gum treatment
Resin fillings, inlays/crowns (gold/ceramic), orthodontics, whitening, standard implants
If you maintain eligibility under Japan's National Health Insurance, you can get a portion of the necessary treatment costs you paid at a Korean dental clinic reimbursed after returning home.
You are not reimbursed the exact amount you paid in Korea. Instead, the reimbursement is calculated based on the standard treatment fee for the same procedure in Japan.
Before paying, ask the front desk in advance to "prepare documents for submission for Japan's overseas medical expense reimbursement."
| Document | Prepared by | Key contents & notes | Checklist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form A (Treatment record / 診療内容明細書) | Treating dentist | Diagnosis, findings, specific treatment details and dates. Doctor's signature and stamp required. | |
| Form B (Itemized receipt statement / 領収明細書) | Clinic front desk / billing office | Total treatment cost, breakdown of covered/non-covered items, currency (KRW), and actual amount paid. | |
| Dental-specific statement (歯科診療内容明細書) | Treating dentist | Specific procedure records by FDI tooth number. | |
| Detailed treatment statement and original receipt | Clinic front desk / billing office | Detailed treatment cost statement and card/cash receipt issued by the Korean dental clinic. |
The full flow from booking an appointment to treatment, payment, and issuing documents.
Search in advance for and book a dental clinic that offers Japanese interpretation or is designated for treating foreign patients.
Present your passport (short-term) or foreign resident registration card (long-term). Let staff know in advance that "documents for submission in Japan are needed."
After an X-ray, a treatment plan is established. Get an advance breakdown of covered vs. non-covered costs.
Pay after treatment. If using an overseas credit card, pay in Korean won (KRW) to avoid double currency conversion fees.
Verify Form A/B, receipts, FDI tooth numbers, and that the doctor's signature and stamp are not missing.
The most common questions from Japanese patients and dental clinic front-desk staff.