Kenji (name changed), a Japanese citizen, asked DEDICA:
"I have been working in HCMC since 2019, and my employment contract is ending as I prepare to return to Japan. HR mentioned I could claim one-time social insurance (BHXH), but no one could provide a concrete figure. I tried calculating it myself, but every website gave a different result. How can I know in advance how much I will receive?"
DEDICA ADVISES With DEDICA’s one-time BHXH calculator for foreign workers, you can estimate your payout in minutes, free of charge. The formula is set by the 2024 Law on Social Insurance: for every year of contribution, you receive 02 months of your average monthly salary used for contributions, adjusted for inflation. Two points often cause calculation errors: only the period of retirement and survivorship fund contributions from January 1, 2022, is counted, and the salary base is capped. Here is the basis to verify each figure.
How to calculate one-time BHXH for foreigners under the 2024 Law on Social Insurance
Regarding eligibility, you do not need to wait 12 months after leaving your job like most Vietnamese workers: foreigners are entitled to request payment immediately upon termination of their employment contract, or when their work permit expires without renewal.
Regarding the payout, as foreigners only began participating in Vietnam's BHXH system from late 2018, all years of contribution fall within the "from 2014 onwards" period, entitling them to the standard rate: 02 months of average salary for each year of contribution.
The final figure depends on three rules that individuals often overlook. First, only the period of retirement and survivorship fund contributions counts; for foreigners, this only began on January 1, 2022, under the roadmap of Decree 143/2018/ND-CP; the period from 12/2018 to the end of 2021 only involved sickness, maternity, and work-related accident funds. As in Kenji's case working from 2019: the years 2019 to 2021 do not increase the payout amount.
Second, the average salary is based on the entire contribution period (Clause 2, Article 72, Law on Social Insurance 2024), and the salary of each year must be adjusted according to the consumer price index, commonly known as the inflation coefficient (Clause 2, Article 73, Law on Social Insurance 2024, Article 16, Decree 158/2025/ND-CP). The coefficients for claims processed in 2026, per Official Letter 340/BHXH-CSXH dated February 3, 2026:
| Contribution Year | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjustment Coefficient | 1.11 | 1.07 | 1.03 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Third, the salary base is capped at 20 times the reference level (Point dd, Clause 1, Article 31, Law on Social Insurance 2024): from July 1, 2026, this is 50.6 million VND/month due to the base salary increase to 2.53 million VND. If you earn 80 million VND, the payout is still calculated based on the cap. Additionally, odd months from 01 to 06 months count as half a year, and from 07 to 11 months count as a full year (Clause 6, Article 5, Law on Social Insurance 2024).
Illustrative example: continuous contribution from 01/2022 to the end of 12/2025 (4 years), contribution salary of 30 million VND/month, claimed in 2026. Annual adjusted salaries are 33.3; 32.1; 30.9; and 30 million, with an average of approximately 31.58 million VND/month; receiving 8 months of the average, approximately 252.6 million VND. Just one extra odd month or a different salary period would change the result.
Estimate in minutes using DEDICA's one-time BHXH calculator
All the rules above are pre-coded into DEDICA’s one-time BHXH calculator for foreigners: you input each period of contribution and the corresponding salary (you can add multiple periods if you changed companies), and the tool automatically applies the latest inflation coefficients, enforces the salary cap, excludes periods before January 1, 2022, and returns the result immediately without requiring personal information. The interface is in English, so you can share the link directly with foreign employees or colleagues.
Once a valid application is submitted, the social insurance agency settles it within 07 working days (Clause 3, Article 79, Law on Social Insurance 2024). DEDICA has supported clients in signing contracts and executing powers of attorney just 02 days before their flights, with clients receiving payment while already abroad.
Conclusion
In summary, the one-time BHXH payout for foreigners equals 02 months of the inflation-adjusted average salary for each year of contribution to the retirement and survivorship fund from January 1, 2022, calculated on a salary not exceeding the cap. You should take three steps in order: (1) enter your contribution history into DEDICA’s calculator for an estimated figure; (2) cross-check your BHXH book with your passport and request your company to finalize the book before leaving Vietnam; (3) submit the application, or execute a power of attorney for a lawyer to act on your behalf if you have already returned home or are nearing your flight date.
Try DEDICA’s one-time BHXH calculator now to find out approximately how much you may receive. DEDICA Law Firm is ready to support you with BHXH procedures. Contact DEDICA for in-depth legal consultation, even if you have already left Vietnam or no longer have a Vietnamese bank account; our lawyers can accept power of attorney and follow the case until the funds arrive in your account.
The content of this article and the calculator's results are for reference only; the actual benefit depends on your records, contribution history, and regulations at the time of processing. Please contact DEDICA lawyers for advice tailored to your specific case.
