National Pension for Foreigners in Korea: Who Pays, How Much, and the Lump-Sum Refund
Short answer: Foreigners residing in Korea are subject to compulsory National Pension coverage in the same way as Koreans, if they are aged 18 to under 60 and are not excluded. In 2026 and 2027 the total contribution rate is 9.5% of your standard monthly income. If you work at a covered workplace, you and your employer each pay 4.75%. When you leave Korea, you may be able to claim a lump-sum refund of your contributions plus interest, but only if you meet one of the conditions below, such as your nationality or visa type.
Everything here comes from the National Pension Service (NPS) English pages read on November 3, 2026. The NPS page on foreigners and refunds is dated June 15, 2026, so check the live page before you rely on a country list.
Who must join
NPS says foreigners aged 18 to under 60 who work at a covered workplace are “workplace-based insured persons”. Foreigners in the same age range who are not workplace-based are “individually insured persons”. The page lists these exclusions:
| Excluded group | Detail from NPS |
|---|---|
| Excluded by law | Examples named are trainees (people employed after training are covered), international students and diplomats |
| Home country has no mandatory pension for Koreans | Foreigners whose home country’s pension system does not mandatorily cover Koreans |
| Social security agreement | Foreigners who submit an original Certificate of Coverage under a social security agreement |
The second item is the “principle of reciprocity”: whether you are covered can depend on how your home country treats Koreans. The NPS page does not list in one place which nationalities are in the compulsory group, so ask NPS if you are unsure. Contact details for foreigners’ consultations are on the NPS English site, which lists an English line at 82-2-6960-3250.
How much you pay
| Item | 2026-2027 figure |
|---|---|
| Total contribution rate | 9.5% of Standard Monthly Income |
| Workplace-based insured persons | 4.75% employer plus 4.75% employee |
| Individually insured persons | 9.5%, paid by the insured person |
| Standard Monthly Income maximum | KRW 6,590,000 |
| Standard Monthly Income minimum | KRW 410,000 |
| Period these limits apply | July 2026 to June 2027 |
The NPS contributions table is laid out in a way that makes the mapping of the 9.5% to individually insured persons an interpretation; confirm with NPS.
The contribution is the Standard Monthly Income times the rate. Standard Monthly Income is rounded down to the nearest KRW 1,000 and recalculated each year, so what you pay can differ slightly from 4.75% of your exact salary. As an arithmetic illustration only, at the maximum income of KRW 6,590,000 an employee’s 4.75% works out to about KRW 313,000 a month. That figure is our calculation, not a number printed by NPS.
Contributions are due on the 10th of the following month, moving to the next business day if that falls on a weekend or holiday. Late payment adds arrears.
The lump-sum refund when you leave Korea
NPS says an eligible foreigner receives a refund that covers the insured period, plus interest, in the same way as a Korean national. The interest is based on the 3-year fixed deposit rate. You qualify if any one of these applies:
- Your home country gives Koreans a corresponding benefit (reciprocity).
- Korea has a social security agreement with your country that includes a lump-sum refund.
- You were insured while holding an E-8 (training employment), E-9 (non-professional employment) or H-2 (visiting employment) visa.
The NPS page says that, under the June 2026 listing, 24 countries qualify through social security agreements and 26 through reciprocity. The reciprocity countries are grouped by the minimum insured period needed: at least 6 months (1 country), at least 1 year (8 countries), or no minimum (17 countries). Examples given include Germany, the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan, but the page’s table is hard to read in text form, so we do not reproduce a country list. Check the NPS page for your nationality.
How to apply
NPS says that in principle you apply in person at an NPS office. If you are already overseas, you can use an agent or send documents by mail.
- Before leaving Korea: application form, passport, Alien Registration Card, proof of a bank account, and evidence that you depart within one month of applying.
- From overseas by mail: application, passport, bank account proof and an overseas remittance application.
- Through an agent: the same documents plus the agent’s ID. A power of attorney signed by you may replace the agent section.
- Document formalities: official documents need consulate attestation, private documents need notarization and consulate attestation, and countries in the Apostille system use an Apostille. Foreign-language documents must be translated into Korean and notarized. NPS notes that these steps may be waived if Korean embassies verify the documents.
- Home-country channel: for Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan and Indonesia, NPS lists agreements that let you apply through your own country’s social insurance institution.
Airport payment at Incheon
NPS offers payment in foreign currency at Incheon International Airport on your departure day if you depart within one month of applying. The conditions on the page include: your former employer must report your resignation to NPS by the day before you leave; the service is not available on weekends, public holidays or the last business day of December; flights must depart on weekdays between set hours (10:30 to 24:00 at Terminal 1, 11:00 to 24:00 at Terminal 2); and 16 currencies are supported, not KRW. You must still give a bank account as a backup. All airport applicants go to the NPS Incheon Airport center on the 1st floor of Terminal 1 (09:00 to 18:00), whichever terminal they fly from.
Deadline
You must claim within five years of becoming entitled, after which the right expires. NPS adds that you may reapply within 10 years of reaching age 60, or survivors within five years of death.
Social security (totalization) agreements
NPS says agreements are designed to reduce dual contributions for workers sent abroad temporarily, combine coverage periods from both countries so people with split careers can qualify for benefits, treat each country’s nationals equally, and allow benefits to be paid overseas. Details vary by agreement. NPS’s list of contracting countries shows 41 entries on November 3, 2026, including Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, China, Japan, India, Australia, Vietnam and the Philippines. The list page does not show status or effective dates, so confirm that an agreement is in force and what it covers.
Quick checklist
- Am I aged 18 to under 60 and not in an excluded group?
- Which of the three refund conditions applies to me?
- Am I leaving within one month of applying, and do I want airport payment?
- Do my documents need attestation, Apostille or translation?
- Has my employer reported my resignation to NPS?
- Is my claim within five years of becoming entitled?
Common mistakes
- Assuming everyone gets a refund. Eligibility depends on nationality or visa type.
- Applying too late, past the five-year limit.
- Relying on an old country list instead of the current NPS page.
- Forgetting a backup bank account when choosing airport payment.
This guide is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Confirm your own case with the National Pension Service.
Sources
- National Pension Service (English): Foreigners and Lump-sum Refund
- National Pension Service (English): Contributions
- National Pension Service (English): Social Security Agreement, objectives
- National Pension Service (English): Social Security Agreement, contracting countries