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A Guide for Foreign Workers Preparing to Return to Their Home Country After Retirement

Are you planning to return to your home country after completing your work in Korea and your visa has expired or you have voluntarily resigned?
When you actually prepare to leave the country, there are more administrative procedures to take care of than you might think, such as insurance, retirement benefits, bank accounts, and phone cancellations.

It is important to check in advance, as failure to properly organize this may result in not receiving retirement pay or pension refunds, or problems upon re-entry.

JobPloy will provide you with an essential checklist for foreign workers before returning home.




1. Confirmation of retirement pay settlement

  • If you have worked for more than one year, you are eligible for severance pay.
  • Severance pay can be calculated based on length of service, salary, and contract.
  • We recommend that you prepare a written confirmation with your employer before resigning.

💡 It becomes very difficult to receive retirement pay after leaving the country, so it is essential to confirm payment before leaving the country!





2. Application for departure expiration insurance/national pension refund

Departure Expiration Insurance (for E-9 workers)

  • After retirement, you can apply through the Ministry of Employment and Labor's Foreign Employment Management System.
  • Pick up at the airport or deposit into a designated account 👉 Learn more about how to apply

National Pension

  • Subscribers who have been subscribers for 18 months or more can apply for a lump sum refund.
  • You can apply in your home country after returning to Korea, but we recommend applying before closing your bank account in Korea.
  • Go to National Pension Service




3. Confirmation of health insurance withdrawal and delinquency

  • Please report loss of qualification and check for delinquency by contacting the National Health Insurance Corporation ( https://www.nhis.or.kr ) or by phone (1577-1000).
  • If you leave the country with unpaid taxes, you may face disadvantages when re-entering the country in the future.

💡 We recommend that you keep the certificate of qualification in PDF format before leaving the country .





4. Organize your bank, mobile phone, and address information.

  • Bank account: Close or clear online transfers if you do not plan to receive remittances in your home country.
  • Mobile phone: Visit your carrier or contact the customer service center to request suspension or cancellation.
  • Address: Report change or deletion of residence on alien registration card

👉 Related sites: Government24 , HiKorea





5. Check your re-entry and future visa plans.

  • If you plan to re-enter the country within 90 days of departure, you will need a visa extension or re-entry permit.
  • If you are planning to change to a long-term visa such as E-7, F-2, or F-4,
    • Before leaving the country, organize your career certificate, employment confirmation, and qualifications.
    • JobPloy also offers transition qualification consultations.

👉 Go to update your resume and career certificate




Summary of checklist before returning home after retirement

item explanation
severance pay Receive payment after final confirmation with the business location
Departure Expiration Insurance Airport pickup or account application
National Pension Lump sum refund application possible
health insurance Report disqualification and check for delinquent payments
Bank/Phone Account settlement, cell phone cancellation
Geosoji Report change or deletion
Visa Planning Check whether you can re-enter the country or change your status


JobPloy can help you

  • ✔ Guide to issuing career certificates
  • ✔ How to print a health insurance certificate
  • ✔ How to apply for public documents
  • ✔ E-9 → E-7 visa conversion consultation


Please contact us anytime if you need anything.
📩 support@jobploy.kr / 💬 Chat consultation: Weekdays 09:00~18:00


Safe return, perfect arrangements!
Check everything you need to do before leaving the country.
Make sure you're ready to come back anytime.

JobPloy is with foreign workers until the very end.
Thank you for your hard work!

Korean employment E9 E7 H2 retirement Re-entry

Jobploy Team Manager

I am a dedicated recruitment manager at Jobploy.