Social Insurance
Claim your Vietnam social insurance lump sum, before or after you leave
If you worked in Vietnam on a labor contract of 12 months or longer, part of your salary — and a larger share from your employer — went into the social insurance fund every month. When you leave Vietnam, you can claim much of it back as a single payment. We verify your record, handle the paperwork, and file on your behalf if you've already left.
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Quick facts
Foreign workers get simpler terms than Vietnamese employees on this specific benefit.
No waiting period
File immediately
Once your contract ends or work permit expires — no 12-month wait like Vietnamese workers face
Payout timeline
5 working days
From the date a complete dossier reaches the social insurance office
Tax on the payout
0%
Social insurance lump sums are exempt from personal income tax
Who this applies to
Do foreign workers pay social insurance in Vietnam?
Yes, in most cases it is mandatory. Under Decree 143/2018/NĐ-CP, a foreign national must participate in Vietnam's compulsory social insurance scheme if they hold a work permit, practicing certificate, or practicing license, and have signed an indefinite-term or 12-month-plus labor contract with a Vietnamese employer. Contributions to the retirement and survivorship fund — the part that becomes your lump-sum entitlement — have been mandatory for foreign employees since January 1, 2022.
Two common exemptions: intra-company transferees, and workers who had already reached Vietnamese retirement age when their contract was signed. If you fall into one of these groups, you likely have nothing to claim — but it is worth checking your payslips, since employers sometimes register transferees incorrectly.
What changed in 2025
The Social Insurance Law 2024 — and why it barely affects you
Vietnam's Social Insurance Law 2024 (Law No. 41/2024/QH15) took effect on July 1, 2025. Most headlines about "restrictions on withdrawing social insurance" concern Vietnamese workers who join the system after that date. There is no separate "2026 law" — the legal turning point was July 1, 2025, and 2026 is simply the first full year of the new rules in operation.
Eligibility
Who qualifies for a lump-sum withdrawal
Contract terminated or permit expired
Your labor contract has been terminated, or your work permit, practicing certificate, or practicing license has expired without renewal. This is by far the most common route — resignation, non-renewal, and mutual termination all count.
Retirement age without enough contribution years
You have reached Vietnamese retirement age but have not accumulated enough contribution years for a pension.
Pension-eligible but no longer residing in Vietnam
You qualify for a pension but are no longer residing in Vietnam.
Serious illness or reduced working capacity
You are suffering from a life-threatening illness (such as cancer, cirrhosis, severe tuberculosis, or AIDS-stage HIV) or a working-capacity reduction of 81% or more.
Note what is not on the list: you cannot withdraw while you are still employed under an active contract. Termination first, claim second. If you are planning your departure from Vietnam, build this sequence into your timeline.
Payout
How much will you receive?
For each year of contributions, you receive two months of your average monthly salary on which contributions were paid, adjusted by the state's indexation coefficients. Contribution periods under one year are paid at the actual amount contributed, capped at two months of the average salary. The salary base is capped at a statutory ceiling, so very high earners will find the payout reflects the capped salary, not their full package. Odd months are rounded: 1–6 months counts as half a year, 7–11 months as a full year.
As a rough illustration: an expat who contributed for three years on a capped salary base of 46.8 million VND/month could expect in the region of 280 million VND (roughly USD 11,000) before indexation adjustments. Your actual figure depends on your recorded salary base and contribution months, which is exactly why the first step of any claim is verifying your social insurance book. The payout itself is exempt from personal income tax — what you are quoted is what you receive.
Full-service coverage
What our full service covers
1. Verify your contribution record
We check your social insurance book against your actual employment history so the payout is calculated on the correct salary base and contribution months.
2. Coordinate the book closure
We chase your current or former employer for the 'chốt sổ' confirmation that finalizes your last contribution month — the step that stalls most claims.
3. Prepare and translate the dossier
Claim form (Form 14-HSB), notarized Vietnamese translation of your passport, evidence of contract termination or permit expiry, and bank details — checked before submission.
4. File through the right channel
In person, by post, or via the National Public Service Portal, at the social insurance office where your contributions are recorded.
5. Handle claims after you've left Vietnam
If you've already departed, we act under a power of attorney (Form 13-HSB) to file, receive payment, and arrange transfer on your behalf.
Documents we prepare and check before filing
- Original social insurance book (sổ BHXH), closed and finalized by your last employer
- Claim form (Form 14-HSB), completed in Vietnamese
- Passport with a notarized Vietnamese translation of the identity page and relevant visa/immigration pages
- Evidence of your qualifying condition — terminated labor contract or expired work permit, or medical records for illness-based claims
- Power of attorney (Form 13-HSB) if filing and receiving payment on your behalf while you're abroad
- Vietnamese bank account details, with the account name matching your passport exactly
Already claimed your work permit and finished your contract? The bank account name on your claim must match your passport exactly — same order, same middle name, same spelling. We check this before you file, not after.
How it works
Claim process step by step
Share your situation
When your contract ended or your work permit expired, whether you're still in Vietnam, and whether your social insurance book was closed.
We verify your record
We confirm your contribution history and estimate what you're owed before any paperwork starts.
We prepare the dossier
Forms, translations, and supporting evidence, checked for the details that most often cause rejection.
We file and track
Submission to the competent social insurance office, in person or by power of attorney if you've left Vietnam.
You receive the payout
Paid in VND to a Vietnamese bank account within 5 working days of a complete dossier being accepted.
Avoid delays
Common mistakes that delay or sink claims
Figures on this page are illustrative. Your actual payout depends on your recorded salary base and contribution months, verified by the social insurance office against your closed social insurance book. We give you a real number once we review your record, not before.
FAQ
Common questions
Do I have to wait 12 months after my contract ends, like Vietnamese workers?
No. The 12-month waiting rule applies to Vietnamese employees. As a foreign worker, you can file as soon as your contract is terminated or your work permit expires without renewal.
How long does the payout take?
Five working days from the date the social insurance office receives a complete dossier. Incomplete files are returned with a written explanation, so accuracy up front is what determines your real timeline.
Can I receive the money in a foreign bank account?
Payment is made in Vietnam, in VND, to a Vietnamese bank account (yours or your authorized representative's). Plan for the international transfer as a separate step.
I left Vietnam two years ago and never claimed. Is it too late?
Almost certainly not. Your contribution record remains in the system. You can claim through an authorized representative with a legalized power of attorney.
Is the lump sum taxed?
No. Social insurance benefits are exempt from personal income tax in Vietnam.
My employer never gave me a social insurance book. What do I do?
Request it formally, in writing. Employers are legally required to finalize and return the book on termination. If the employer is unresponsive or has closed down, the social insurance office can assist in reconstructing your record — this is a situation where professional help pays for itself.
Next checks
Related services for departing foreigners
These related pages cover what often comes before or alongside a social insurance withdrawal claim.
Vietnam Work Permit
Your work permit history is what determined your social insurance contributions — we handle both ends of the process.
Criminal Record Certificate
Applying from overseas after you've left Vietnam? We handle this dossier the same way.
Airport Fast Track
Departing soon? Skip the immigration queue on your way out.
Left Vietnam without claiming, or planning your departure?
Send us your contract dates and current location, in Vietnam or already abroad. We'll tell you what you're entitled to and what documents your case needs.