I am a foreigner working in Vietnam on a short-term contract. Am I entitled to social insurance benefits?

“I am a Canadian working in Vietnam under an 8-month contract for a technology company. The company deducts social insurance contributions monthly, but I am about to return to Canada. Am I still eligible for social insurance benefits in Vietnam?”

In reality, many foreigners only work in Vietnam for a few months to less than a year on projects, expert contracts, or temporary management positions. Because the working time is not very long, many believe they are not eligible for or entitled to social insurance benefits in Vietnam.

However, according to the 2024 Social Insurance Law, foreign workers in Vietnam can still be subject to mandatory social insurance if they meet the prescribed conditions, such as having a valid work permit and signing a labor contract that requires social insurance participation.

This means that whether a contract is short-term or long-term is not the only factor determining whether a foreign worker is eligible for social insurance.

In many cases, even if they only work in Vietnam for less than a year, employees are still registered for social insurance by their companies in accordance with current laws. A common problem is that many foreign workers only discover they have been enrolled in social insurance when checking their payslips or preparing to leave their jobs. Some think the contributions will automatically be lost because their working time is too short. Others believe that only those who work long-term in Vietnam are entitled to social insurance benefits.

For example, some companies may not finalize their social insurance records in time before the employee leaves the country. Some may change their passports or visas during their employment, causing social insurance data to be inconsistent. Others may not retain their employment records or may not know their social insurance number after leaving their job.

Furthermore, many foreign workers leave Vietnam quite quickly after their contracts end, so they often don't have time to directly handle the procedures related to social insurance. This is why foreign workers should check their social insurance status before quitting their job or leaving Vietnam, even if their employment only lasts a few months. In many cases, even after returning home, workers can still review and process their social insurance benefits if their previous social insurance participation data is still fully recorded in the system.

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