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Working in Vietnam for many years and paying full insurance, but upon returning home, you face the risk of "forgetting" a financial sum reaching hundreds of millions of VND. Will that money disappear? Can you authorize someone else to handle it after you’ve flown home? DEDICA will provide detailed answers from both legal and practical perspectives right in this article.
Many experts and foreign workers (Expats) after 3-5 years or more working in Vietnam often face a reality: They pay Social Insurance (SI) monthly as regulated, but when their labor contract ends to return home or move to another country, they are unclear about their legal rights.
Most common questions at DEDICA:
"I’ve already returned home; can I still withdraw the money now?"
"I’m flying out next week; can the dossier be processed in time?"
"The amount of SI paid over the past 5 years is huge; if I don't withdraw it now, will I lose it all later?"
In reality, SI is not just an obligation but your legal asset. Lack of understanding of regulations or delays in procedures can lead to unfortunate financial losses.
Working for many years without completing the one-time SI withdrawal procedure upon termination of the labor contract can push you into complex legal situations.
Asset "Freezing" Risk SI funds do not automatically transfer to your personal account when you leave. If you don't perform the procedure to enjoy one-time SI, this money will remain in the management system of the Vietnam Social Insurance agency. Although it does not disappear immediately, leaving it too long without management or updated residence information can make future reconciliation and withdrawal extremely difficult.
Legal Policy Fluctuations Regulations on SI for foreigners in Vietnam are still in the process of being finalized. According to Decree 143/2018/ND-CP, the rights to withdraw one-time SI for foreigners are currently quite open. However, bilateral insurance agreements between Vietnam and other countries (such as Korea, Japan...) are gradually being signed. In the future, regulations may change toward preserving the contribution period to calculate pensions instead of allowing easy one-time withdrawal as they do now.
Document Difficulties After Leaving Vietnam To withdraw SI, you need important documents such as: The closed SI book, resignation decision, passport, visa/temporary residence card... If you have returned home and these documents are lost or expired, requesting re-issuance from afar is an "administrative nightmare."
Risks from Improper Legal Authorization Many people choose to ask acquaintances or non-specialized individuals to handle it. If the Power of Attorney is not consularly legalized according to regulations or the authorization content is not tight, the dossier will be rejected, wasting time and travel costs.
Based on the provisions of the Law on Social Insurance and Decree 143/2018/ND-CP, employees who are foreign citizens working in Vietnam are entitled to one-time SI in one of the following cases:
Cases for one-time SI withdrawal:
Upon termination of the labor contract, or when the practice certificate or practice license expires without continuing to work under a labor contract.
Persons suffering from one of the life-threatening diseases as regulated by the Ministry of Health.
Employees who satisfy the conditions for pension benefits but do not continue to reside in Vietnam.
How is the one-time SI benefit level calculated? The benefit level is calculated based on the number of years of SI contribution, specifically:
1.5 months of the average monthly salary for years paid before 2014.
02 months of the average monthly salary for years paid from 2014 onwards.
Practical example: A Japanese expert working in Vietnam from 2020 to 2025 with a stable insurance contribution salary. When returning home, the total one-time SI amount could be equivalent to several months of actual salary – a significant budget for resettlement in the home country.
To ensure the SI withdrawal process goes smoothly, especially for those with busy schedules or about to leave Vietnam, the following steps must be followed:
Step 1: Close the SI Book: Right after terminating the labor contract, the enterprise is responsible for coordinating with the SI agency to close the book and return it to you. This is the most important "travel document."
Step 2: Prepare the standard dossier: The dossier includes: The SI book (original); Application for one-time SI benefits (Form No. 14-HSB); Copy of valid Passport/Temporary Residence Card; Copy of Resignation Decision/Expired Labor Contract (translated and notarized if necessary).
Step 3: Submit the dossier and wait for resolution: The dossier is submitted at the SI agency of the district where you are residing or where you last paid insurance. The legal resolution time is within 10 working days from the date of receiving a complete dossier.
This is the question DEDICA receives the most. The answer is: YES. If you have returned home or are too busy to work directly with the SI agency, you have the full right to authorize an individual or a legal organization in Vietnam to perform it on your behalf.
Important notes on authorization from abroad:
The Power of Attorney (POA) must be drafted according to the correct template of the Vietnam Social Insurance agency.
POAs executed abroad must be Notarized and Consularly Legalized at the Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate in the host country.
The authorization content must clearly state: Submitting the dossier, receiving the results, and most importantly, receiving the money (if you want to receive it through the authorized person's account for them to transfer it back to you).
Question 1: I’ve been home for 2 years; can I still withdraw SI now? Answer: Currently, Vietnamese law does not stipulate a maximum time limit to request one-time SI after quitting. However, you should do it as soon as possible to avoid lost documents or changes in residence regulations.
Question 2: How will the SI money be paid? Answer: You can receive it in cash directly at the insurance agency/post office or via ATM card. For foreigners who have returned home, receiving via the bank account of a reputable authorized person is the most popular option.
Question 3: My company's HR says they don't support the withdrawal procedure; what should I do? Answer: The company is only responsible for closing and returning the book to you. Filing for one-time SI is a personal right; you must do it yourself or hire external legal consulting services.
Question 4: How long does the actual processing time usually take? Answer: According to regulations, it is 10 days, but in reality, it can last 15-20 days if the dossier needs to reconcile contribution data between different provinces/cities.
At DEDICA, we understand that language barriers and complex administrative procedures in Vietnam are the biggest obstacles for foreign experts. DEDICA provides a full-package solution:
Dossier consulting and review: Checking the validity of the SI book, reconciling the contribution process to ensure you receive correctly and fully.
Situation handling: Supporting dossier submission and obtaining results for customers about to fly home.
Comprehensive authorization service: Performing all procedures on behalf of the customer.
Working with HR/Company: Assisting businesses and employees in closing books and resolving information errors on the SI system.
Contact DEDICA Law Firm for in-depth legal advice!
📞 Hotline: (+84) 39 969 0012 (Support via WhatsApp, WeChat, and Zalo)
🕒 Working hours: Monday – Friday (8:30 – 18:00)
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