National Pension Refund for Foreigners Leaving Korea 2026

If you worked in Korea, a slice of every paycheck probably went to the National Pension. When your contract ends and you head home, that money doesn't have to stay behind. Many foreign workers can claim it back as a Lump-sum Refund (반환일시금), paid by the National Pension Service (NPS, 국민연금공단).

The catch is that not every foreigner qualifies, and the process has a few details that are easy to miss, such as a filing deadline, document rules for applying from abroad, and specific conditions for picking up cash at Incheon Airport. This guide walks through who can claim, what you get, and how to apply, based on official NPS information checked on November 10, 2026.

Who is eligible

The general legal basis is Article 77 of the National Pension Act (국민연금법), which lists grounds for a lump-sum refund such as loss of nationality or emigration abroad, reaching age 60 with less than 10 years of coverage, and death. For foreigners, though, NPS says the refund is paid only in the cases below. A foreign insured person becomes entitled only if at least one of the following applies.

The country lists below come from the NPS table, current as of June 15, 2026.

Social security agreement countries (24)

Germany, United States, Canada, Czech Republic, Hungary, Australia, France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Austria, India (from Nov. 1, 2011), Türkiye (from Jun. 1, 2015), Switzerland (from Jun. 1, 2015), Brazil, Peru, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Croatia, Uruguay, the Philippines, Argentina.

Reciprocity countries (26)

• At least 6 months of coverage (1): Belize
• At least 1 year of coverage (8): Grenada, Jordan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Thailand, Bhutan, Laos
• Regardless of coverage period (17): Ghana, Sri Lanka, Bermuda, Malaysia, El Salvador, Indonesia, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Trinidad and Tobago, Sudan, Colombia, Vanuatu, Tunisia, Uganda, Cambodia, Solomon Islands

If your country isn't on either list and you weren't covered under an E-8 (non-seasonal), E-9 or H-2 visa, you may not be eligible. Check with NPS about your specific situation before making plans around the refund.

When you can claim

Article 77 lists loss of nationality or emigration abroad, reaching age 60 and death as general grounds for a refund. For eligible foreigners returning home, NPS pays the refund after your departure from Korea is confirmed.

What you get and what you must do

How to apply

NPS offers four ways to apply. Pick the one that matches where you are and how much time you have before you leave.

1. In person in Korea, before you leave

Visit an NPS office and bring:

• Application form
• Passport
• Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증)
• Proof of your bank account, such as a bankbook
• Proof that you will depart within 1 month, such as a flight ticket

2. From abroad by mail

If you have already left, you can mail your claim. You'll need the application form, your passport, proof of your bank account, and an application for overseas remittance. Documents issued abroad have extra requirements:

• Public documents issued overseas need consular attestation.
• Private documents need notarization plus consular attestation.
• In countries that are part of the Apostille Convention, an apostille replaces consular attestation.
• Documents in a foreign language must be translated into Korean, and the translation must be notarized.

3. Through an agent

Someone else can apply for you. The agent submits the same documents as a mail application plus their own ID. The agent must be named on the application form or in a power of attorney signed by you. Notarization or an apostille may be waived if the documents are verified by Korean authorities and confirmed by a Korean embassy.

4. Through a partner institution in your home country

NPS has MOU partner institutions in six countries. You submit the same documents as a mail application, and notarization or an apostille may be waived if Korean authorities verify the documents and a Korean embassy confirms them.

• Mongolia: Social Insurance General Office
• Uzbekistan: Ministry of Labour and Social Protection
• Thailand: Ministry of Labour
• Sri Lanka: Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare
• Kyrgyzstan: Social Fund
• Indonesia: BPJS Ketenagakerjaan

Getting paid in cash at Incheon Airport

Instead of a bank transfer, you can choose to receive the refund in cash on the day you fly out of Incheon International Airport. This option has strict conditions:

• You must depart from Incheon within 1 month of applying.
• Your former employer must have reported your resignation (loss of coverage) to NPS by the day before you leave.
• It's available on weekdays only. It is not available on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays or the last business day of December; on those days the refund is paid by transfer or remittance instead.
• Your flight must depart between 10:30 and 24:00 (Terminal 1) or 11:00 and 24:00 (Terminal 2).
• Cash is paid in one of 16 foreign currencies (for example USD, EUR, JPY or CNY), not Korean won.
• Choose "Airport Payment" on your application, and provide a Korean or overseas bank account as a backup.

Here is how the process works:

1. Apply in advance. Within 1 month before departure, go to any NPS office except the Incheon Airport center. Bring your passport, Alien Registration Card, a ticket departing within 1 month, and a copy of your bankbook. You'll receive a Certificate of Application Acceptance.
2. Visit the NPS Incheon Airport Center on departure day. It's in Terminal 1, 1st floor, between Exits 1 and 2, booths 7–8, open 09:00–18:00. Everyone goes here, even if you're flying from Terminal 2. You'll receive a Notice of Decision.
3. Stop at Woori Bank before immigration. In Terminal 1, use the B1 Airport Financial Center for $10,000 or more (09:00–16:00), or the 3rd floor near Counter H for under $10,000 (09:00–21:00). In Terminal 2, use the B1 T2 Branch for $10,000 or more (09:00–16:00), or the 3rd floor near Counter A for under $10,000 (09:00–21:00).
4. Collect your cash after immigration. Go to the Woori Bank booth near Gate 11 (Terminal 1) or Gate 250 (Terminal 2), open 09:00–21:00.

Who should check this

• Workers finishing an E-9 or H-2 contract. Time covered under E-8 (seasonal-work E-8 excluded), E-9 or H-2 visas qualifies regardless of nationality, so it's worth confirming your refund before your last day.
• Professionals from agreement or reciprocity countries. If you're from a country such as the United States, Canada, Australia or the Philippines and are leaving Korea, you may be entitled through a social security agreement. If your country is on the reciprocity list with a minimum period, check that your coverage meets it.
• People who left Korea years ago. If you left without claiming, the 5-year deadline may still be running. Contact NPS to find out where you stand.

Common mistakes

• Waiting too long. If you don't apply within 5 years of becoming entitled, the claim can expire. The later re-application windows are narrower, so it's safer not to rely on them.
• Counting on airport cash without checking the conditions. If your employer hasn't reported your resignation by the day before you fly, or you leave on a weekend or public holiday, you won't get cash at the airport. That's why the backup bank account matters.
• Forgetting what the refund means for the future. Once refunded, that coverage period is gone and doesn't count toward a future pension. Under NPS's general rule, a person who rejoins the pension can restore the period by repaying the refund with interest. If you might return to work in Korea, check with NPS whether this applies to you.

FAQ

My country isn't on the list. Can I still get a refund?

If you were covered under an E-8 (seasonal-work E-8 excluded), E-9 or H-2 visa, those periods qualify regardless of nationality. Otherwise, you may not be eligible. Check with NPS about your situation.

Can I apply over the phone?

No. NPS does not accept claims by phone or fax. You can apply in person in Korea, by mail from abroad, through an agent, or through a partner institution in your home country. You can still call NPS with questions.

How much interest will I get?

Interest is based on the 3-year fixed deposit rate and runs from the month after each contribution to the month you become entitled. The NPS Korean page lists the 2026 rate as 2.2%. Your exact amount depends on your contribution history, so ask NPS for the figure.

Related articles

• K-ETA 2026–2027: Complete Guide for Visa-Free Travelers, if you plan to come back to Korea for a visit later