Things foreigners need to know about social insurance in Vietnam before leaving their job.

Are you about to quit your job and leave Vietnam after working there for a while? While completing the procedures, a question worries many: how will the social insurance contributions you've paid over the years be handled? Will you be able to withdraw them, or will you lose them?

Many foreigners only start researching this when their departure date is approaching – and by then, there's often not enough time to handle it properly. In fact, there are quite a few cases where people only discover they haven't withdrawn their social insurance contributions after returning home.

1. What rights do foreigners have regarding social insurance in Vietnam?

Before leaving your job, it's crucial to understand that you not only have an obligation to contribute to social insurance but also the right to receive benefits.

According to the 2014 Social Insurance Law and Decree 143/2018/ND-CP, foreign workers legally employed in Vietnam who are subject to mandatory social insurance will receive corresponding benefits. This means that the social insurance contributions you have made are a right that can be refunded or paid out according to regulations.

Important benefits to note:

Besides benefits such as sickness, maternity, or work-related accidents, what most foreigners are concerned about is the lump-sum social insurance payment – ​​especially when they no longer work in Vietnam. Understanding this right before leaving your job will help you be much more proactive in handling it later.

Not everyone who leaves their job can withdraw their social insurance immediately. Understanding the conditions correctly will help you avoid mistakes from the start. According to current regulations, foreigners can receive a lump-sum social insurance payment when:

• Employment contract has been terminated.
• Not continuing to reside in Vietnam
• Is there a requirement to receive social insurance benefits?

In addition, some special cases, such as those who are of retirement age but do not remain in Vietnam or who suffer from serious illnesses, will also be considered.

2. Important things to check before leaving your job

Social Insurance Book Status

Many people don't know that their social insurance book doesn't automatically close when they leave their job.

In fact, before you can apply to withdraw your social insurance, your book must be fully finalized. This depends on whether the company has completed its labor reduction reporting and confirmed your contribution history.

If you leave Vietnam before your book is finalized:

• You cannot submit a social insurance withdrawal application.
• You are required to contact the company again after you have left your job.
• The process will be lengthy and will depend on the cooperation of third parties.

This is why checking the status of your records before leaving your job is an important but often overlooked step.

Accuracy of Personal Information

A small but highly impactful factor in a profile is the consistency of information across documents.

In reality, it's not uncommon for:

• The name on the social insurance book is different from the name on the passport.
• Incorrect date of birth or passport number
• The information was not updated after the document renewal.

These discrepancies can cause your application to be rejected, even if you have prepared all the other necessary documents.

In particular, if you discover the error after returning to your home country, corrections will be much more complicated because they must be made remotely.

Residence Status and Plans to Leave Vietnam

Your ability to withdraw social insurance benefits depends not only on whether you quit your job, but also on whether you remain residing in Vietnam.

This directly affects:

• When can you submit your application?
• How to prove eligibility to withdraw social insurance benefits.
• Plan to receive money

If you are preparing to leave Vietnam, you should clearly determine your departure date and plan accordingly. If you have already returned to Vietnam, you need to prepare additional supporting documents and authorization arrangements.

👉 DEDICA Law can accompany you throughout the entire process, from consultation to procedure execution, helping you ensure your rights are protected quickly and in accordance with regulations.

Contact DEDICA Law Firm for expert legal advice!

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