The 30-Day Master Exit Timeline: Step-by-Step Relocation & Social Insurance Withdrawal Checklist for Expats

Relocating out of Vietnam is an intense logistical operation. Between terminating apartment leases, shipping household goods, closing bank accounts, and saying farewell to colleagues, managing your statutory social insurance refund often gets pushed to the bottom of the pile.

To help foreign professionals execute a flawless departure without leaving thousands of dollars behind, our senior advisory team compiled the 30-Day Master Exit Timeline.

Phase 1: T-minus 30 Days (Notification & Pre-Audit)

• Formal Resignation & Work Permit Notice: Confirm with HR the exact effective date of labor contract termination and request formal initiation of work permit cancellation.
• Audit VssID Digital Profile: Log into the official VssID app to verify that all contribution months from your first working day have been logged accurately by your employer.
• Retrieve Passport Copies: Ensure you have certified notarized copies of the passport photo page and entry visa/TRC used during your employment term.

Phase 2: T-minus 15 Days (Closing the Book & Local Authorization)

• Social Book Closure (Chốt sổ BHXH): HR must submit your book to the district social office to generate the official departure confirmation slip (Tờ rời chốt sổ).
• Sign Notarized Power of Attorney (PoA) in Vietnam: This is the golden master step. Visit a local Vietnamese notary office (Phòng Công chứng) with your authorized proxy to sign the bilingual PoA. Doing this while physically in Vietnam costs under $25 USD and eliminates thousands of dollars in overseas consular legalization later.
• Bank Account Verification: Confirm with your bank (or your proxy) the designated VND or international foreign currency account where the government payout will be wired.

Phase 3: T-minus 0 Days (Departure Day)

Board your international flight with total peace of mind. Hand over your physical insurance book and official termination decision to your proxy before boarding.

Phase 4: T-plus 10 to 15 Business Days (Dossier Submission & Payout)

• Your proxy submits Form 14-HSB, the closed book, passport records, and work permit cancellation certificate directly to the Social Security office.
• The social security agency audits the file and issues an official payment approval decision (Quyết định hưởng trợ cấp BHXH 1 lần).
• The State Treasury transfers your lump-sum refund directly to the authorized bank account, followed by remittance to your overseas banking institution.

DichVuBHXH.vn coordinates every step of this 30-day timeline. Connect with our dedicated English case managers today to plan your exit.