National Pension Service

Main Contents of the Social Security Agreement Between Korea and Czech Republic

Main Contents of the Social Security Agreement Between Korea and Ireland

• Jul. 2001 : Held the first round of Negotiation Meetings for the Agreement in Ireland
• Aug. 2002 : Held the second round of Negotiation Meetings for the Agreement in Korea
• Aug. 2002 : Participated in the meetings for the Administrative Arrangement of the Agreement in Korea
• Sep. 2003 : Participated in the meetings for the implementation of the Agreement in Ireland
• Oct. 2007 : Signed the Agreement on Social Security between Korea and Ireland in Ireland
• Oct. 2008 : Provided a written notification to Ireland that Korea has complied with all requirements for entry into force of this Agreement
• Oct. 2008 : Received written notification from Ireland that Ireland has complied with all requirements for entry into force of this Agreement
• Nov. 2008 : Signed the Administrative Arrangement of the Agreement in Korea
• Jan. 2009 : Social Security Agreement between Korea and Ireland entered into force

Applicable Legislation

• Korea

  • the National Pension Act and regulations thereto

• Ireland

  • the Social Welfare Acts and regulations made under those Acts as they relate to:
    • State pension (contributory)
    • State pension (transition)
    • widow's (contributory) pension
    • widower's (contributory) pension
    • invalidity pension
    • guardian's payment (contributory)
    • bereavement grant: and
    • the liability for payment of employment and self-employment contributions; and
  • with respect to Part II of this Agreement only,Section 4 of the Health Contributions Act, 1979.

Personal Scope of this Agreement

This Agreement shall apply to any person who is or who has been subject to the social security legislation of either contracting country and to the dependents and survivors of such a person. Therefore, this agreement may apply to a national of both contracting countries, stateless person, refugee and a national of a third state if they are or have been subject to the legislation of either contracting country.

※ For more information, you may refer to the section Agreement

Exemption from Dual Coverage

• In general, an employee is subject to the legislation of a contracting country in which he/she is employed.
• In general, a self-employed person is subject to the legislation of the country where he/she ordinarily resides.
• A detached worker is exempt from being covered under the legislation of the country which he/she is sent to for less than 5 years if he/she is covered under the legislation of his/her home country (In the case that agencies of both contracting countries agree on, exemption period may be extended).
• If a person who ordinarily resides and is self-employed in his/her home country, is temporarily (within 5 years) self-employed in the other contracting country, he/she is only subject to the legislation of his/her home country during that period (In the case that agencies of both contracting countries agree on, exemption period may be extended).

※ For more information, you may refer to the section Agreement or Guide for Exemption Application.

[ Countries that employees and the self-employed pay their contributions to ]

Benefits under this Agreement

Even though your periods of coverage in one country are not sufficient to qualify for pension benefits, you may be eligible for benefits after this Agreement has entered into force. This is possible due to totalization of coverage in both countries.

• Korean National Pension Benefits under the Social Security Agreement

  • If you have at least 12 months of insured period in Korea but do not have enough periods of coverage to qualify for pension benefits (Old-age pension, Survivors pension) under the Korean National Pension Scheme, you may be able to qualify for Korean National Pension benefits by totaling the periods of coverage under the Korean and Irish pension systems. However, those periods creditable under the Irish pension system, must not coincide with the periods under the legislation of Korea.
  • Your benefit is calculated by dividing the Korean periods of coverage by the total periods of coverage and then multiplying by the benefits amount (Theoretical Benefit). The benefits amount (Theoretical Benefit) is calculated based on the total periods in both countries.

• Irish Pension Benefits under the Social Security Agreement

  • If you have at least 52 contribution weeks of coverage under the Irish Pension Scheme but do not have enough periods of coverage (e.g., at least 260 weeks for Old-age pension; 520 weeks on and after 2012) to qualify for pension benefits under the Irish pension system, you may be able to qualify for Irish pension benefits by totaling the periods of coverage under the Korean and Irish pension systems. However, those periods creditable under the Korean National Pension Scheme, must not coincide with the periods under the legislation of Ireland.
  • Your benefit is calculated by dividing the Irish periods of coverage by the total periods of coverage and then multiplying by the benefits amount (Theoretical Benefit). The benefits amount (Theoretical Benefit) is calculated based on the total periods in both countries.
• A national of either contracting country who resides in the other contracting country is treated equally with the national of the other contracting country in the application of the legislation of the other contracting country.
• Korean lump-sum refunds are not granted to Irish nationals based on this Agreement. Lump-sum refunds can be paid to nationals of a third state only in accordance with the reciprocity principle under the National Pension Act.
• There is no lump-sum refund system under the Irish social security, and as such any contribution which a Korean national paid to the Irish social security system will be granted in monthly installments not in a lump-sum.

※ For more information, you may refer to the section Agreement or Agreement or Guide for Exemption Application

Agencies of this Convention

• As regards Korea,

  • National Pension Service (NPS)

• As regards Ireland,

  • Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA) : www.welfare.ie

Guide for Exemption Application under the Agreement between Korea and Ireland

How to be Exempt from Ireland Pension Contributions (Social Security Tax)

If you are mandatorily covered by the Korean National Pension Scheme and detached to Ireland, you can be exempt from Irish pension contributions and social security tax (including health insurance, occupational injuries insurance, unemployment insurance, etc.), provided that you get "a Certificate of Coverage under Social Security Agreement" from the National Pension Service of Korea and submit (show) it to the Irish agencies.

1. A request for a Korean Certificate of Coverage?

   If you are an employee, your employer in Korea must request a Korean Certificate of Coverage.

   If you are self-employed, you yourself must request a Korean Certificate of Coverage

   • Who requires a Korean Certificate of Coverage?

     • An employee who is sent to work in Ireland within a certain period of time (5 years) by an employer in Korea
     • An employee who is sent to work in Ireland by an employer in Korea within a certain period of time and the detached period is extended for a certain period (those periods can be extended based on mutual agreement between two countries)
     • A person who ordinarily resides in Korea and temporarily (within 5 years) self-employed in Ireland
     • Others: a worker who is able to be exempted from Irish pension contributions (social security tax) under the Agreement

   • How to request a Korean Certificate of Coverage under the Social Security Agreement?

     The employer or self-employed person must request a Korean Certificate of Coverage by visiting the National Pension Service of Korea with the required documents or sending the required documents to the National Pension Service of Korea by mail or fax.

     • National Pension Service, Center for International Affairs, 6th Floor, Kukmin-Yeonkum Building, 180, Giji-ro, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk-do, 54870, Korea
     • Fax (063)900-3404

   • Required Documents

     • When you request the Certificate, you must submit an "Application for Certificate of Coverage under Social Security Agreement" and documents to confirm the employee's detachment such as a Detachment Order.

     ※ "Application for Certificate of Coverage under Social Security Agreement" is available on our website → Social Security Agreement → Forms or you can get them by visiting NPS's regional office and by copying the form in the manual brochure at the NPS.

2. Submission of the Certificate of Coverage to Ireland Agency

   An employer who is responsible for paying pension contributions is exempt from paying social security tax for the period specified on a Korean Certificate of Coverage under Social Security Agreement by showing (or submitting at the request of the agency) the Certificate to the Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA).

   However, if a contributor has already paid contributions for the exempt period specified on a Certificate before showing (submitting) it, he/she is able to request a refund according to the internal procedure of Ireland. However, in some cases, there could be limitations on the period regarding retroactive exemptions or refunds, so we recommend that you request the exemption allowing a suitable amount of time.

How to be Exempt from Korean National Pension Scheme

If you are mandatorily covered by the Irish social security system and temporarily work (or are self-employed) in Korea, you can be exempted from the Korean National Pension Scheme, provided that you get "a Certificate of Coverage under Social Security Agreement" from the Irish agency and submit it to the Korean National Pension Service.

1. A Request for a Irish Certificate of Coverage

   If you are an employee, your employer in Ireland must request a Irish Certificate of Coverage.

   If you are self-employed, you yourself must request a Irish Certificate of Coverage.

   • Who requires a Irish Certificate of Coverage?

     • An employee who is sent to work in Korea within a certain period of time (5 years) by an employer in Ireland
     • An employee who is sent to work in Korea by an employer in Ireland within a certain period of time and the detached period is extended for a certain period (those periods can be extended based on mutual agreement between two countries)
     • A person who ordinarily resides in Ireland and temporarily (within 5 years) self-employed in Korea
     • Others: a worker who is able to be exempted from Korea National Pension contributions (social security tax) under the Agreement

   • How to request a Irish Certificate of Coverage?

     You must request a Certificate of Coverage over the phone or by fax to the Irish agency with the required documents according to its internal regulations.

   • Issuing Agency of Irish Certificate of Coverage

     the Department of Social and Family Affairs ; DSFA: (www.welfare.ie): Social Welfare Services Office, PRSI Special Collections Section, Government Buildings, Cork Road, Waterford

2. Submission of the Certificate of Coverage to the Korean National Pension Service

   • If you are a worker, an employer in Korea, if you are a self-employed worker, you yourself must submit an "application of exemption" as well as an original copy of "Irish Certificate of Coverage under Social Security Agreement", and a copy of your identification to the International Center or the regional office by visiting or by sending a registered letter (Because an original copy must be submitted, a facsimile will not be accepted).
   • If you submit an "Irish Certificate of Coverage under Social Security Agreement", you are exempt from Coverage under the Korean National Pension Scheme for the period shown on the same Certificate. If you have already paid contributions before you submit your certificate, the amount of the contributions already paid can be transferred to your due contributions or refunded. However, in accordance with the regulations of the National Pension Scheme, the right to request a refund of a over-collected amount is valid only up to 5 years from the day following the processing of a qualification change, therefore, we recommend that you request the exemption within the required period.

※ Information here on our website is a general guide. You can get more information about the Exemption of Coverage from the International Center of the NPS or any regional office of NPS.

Application for Korean Benefits under the Agreement

If you have period of coverage in Korea and Ireland but don't have enough periods of coverage under the Korean pension system to qualify for Korean old-age pension benefits (age of 60, however, age of 55 for the early old-age pension), you may be able to qualify for Korean benefits by totaling Korean and Irish period of coverage.

Old-age Pension

1. Eligible Persons

   If you meet the following conditions for the benefits by totaling Korean National Pension period of coverage and Irish period of coverage, you may be able to apply for the Korean old-age pension under the Social Security Agreement. However, to be eligible to have your Korean periods counted, you must have completed at least 12 months.

   Old-age Pension

   Type	Totalized period of Coverage	Age of the first benefit payment	Other Cases
   Full Old-age Pension	20 years or more	age of 60 (55)	less than 65, not engaged in income-earning activities
   Reduced Old-age Pension	from 10 years to less than 20 years	age of 60 (55)	less than 65, not engaged in income-earning activities
   Active Old-age Pension	10 years or more	age from 60 to 65 (55-60)	engaged in income-earning activities
   Early Old-age Pension	10 years	age of 55	less than 65, not engaged in income-earning activities
   Special Old-age Pension	from 5 years to less than 10 years	age of 60 (55)	more than certain years of age

2. Filling out the Application Form and Required Documents

   If you want to apply for an old-age pension, you must fill out Part A (General information), Part B (Application for an Old-age Pension), Part J (To be signed by the applicant) on the "Application for Korean Benefits under the Korea-Ireland Social Security Agreement" and submit it with the following required documents.

   Required documents

   • Your ID such as Alien Registration Card, together with your passport or just your Resident Registration Card

   • A copy of your Korean bank account information

     ※ If you want overseas remittance, you must fill out the Overseas Remittance section Part H (Method of Payment of Benefit) and submit a copy of your foreign bank account information.

   • In the case of Early Old-age Pension

     • If you are an employee: an Employment Contract (Verification of Employer), Receipt for Earned Income Tax Withholding (Record of your salary or bank account where your salary is deposited into, etc.) are also required.
     • If you are an employer: a Certificate of Suspension or a Cessation of Business, or documents to confirm suspension or cessation are also required.

   • If you have any dependents supported by you,

     • Documents to confirm your family relations: a Family Relation Certificate (a copy of Household Resident Register), a copy of the Registration of Korean National Residing Abroad, verification of residence, verification of common law status, etc.
     • Documents to confirm your dependence status: a Certificate of Studentship, a Certificate of Holding Office, a Certificate of Medical Care, a copy of the Certificate of BusinessRegistration, a copy of the Building Registration Certificate, documents to confirm special reasons for living separately, a remittance statement of the financial institution (communications and portal services), etc.
     • Documents to confirm your disability: a medical report for disability under the Agreement (a Irish medical report is acceptable)

   ※ If you have a certificate of disability registration falling under the 1st or 2nd degree based on the Korean Welfare of Disabled Persons Act prior to the date on which reasons of payment occur (e.g., the date when an old-age pensioner reaches pensionable age, when a disability pensioner has finished his/her medical treatment or 2 years have passed since the first medical examination, or in the case of survivor pension, when the person who is/was a contributor dies), it is considered a document of verification for disability.

Divided Pension

1. Eligible Persons

   If you lived with your ex-spouse for 5 years or more while your spouse was paying contributions, and your spouse is a beneficiary of old-age pension under the social security agreement, you may apply for a divided pension if you meet the following conditions for the benefits.

   You are entitled to the payment of benefits

   • When you become 60 years of age after having divorced an Old-age pensioner.
   • When you divorce an Old-age pensioner after turning 60 years of age.
   • When your ex-spouse acquires Old-age pension entitlement after you become 60 years of age.
   • When you become 60 years of age after your ex-spouse has acquired Old-age Pension entitlement.

2. Filling out the Application Form and Required Documents

   If you want to apply for a divided pension, you must fill out Part A (General information), Part C (Application for a Divided Pension), Part J (To be signed by the applicant) on the "Application for Korean Benefits under the Korea-Ireland Social Security Agreement"and submit it with the following required documents.

   Required documents

   • Your ID such as Alien Registration Card, together with your passport or just your Resident Registration Card
   • A copy of the your Korean bank account information

     ※ If you want overseas remittance, you must fill out the Overseas Remittance section Part H (Method of Payment of Benefit) and submit a copy of your foreign bank account information.

   • If you are a Korean national: documents to confirm your divorce such as a Family Census Register (Certificate of Marital Relations), etc.
   • If you are a foreign national or a Korean national living overseas: documents to confirm the period of marriage and occurrence occurrence of divorce such as a certificate of marriage, a certificate of residence report of overseas Korean national, or a confirmation of residence.

Disability Pension

1. Eligible Persons

   If you have periods of coverage in Korea and come to be disabled while you are covered under the Irish pension system, you may apply for the Korean disability pension under the Social Security Agreement. However, to be eligible for the benefits, you must have completed at least 12 months of coverage in Korea.

2. Filling out the Application Form and Required Documents

   If you want to apply for a disability pension, you must fill out Part A (General information), Part D (Application for a Disability Pension), Part J (To be signed by the applicant) on the "Application for Korean Benefits under the Korea-Ireland Social Security Agreement" and submit it with the following required documents.

   Required documents

   • ID such as Alien Registration Card and Passport, or just Resident Registration Card

   • A copy of your Korean bank account information

     ※ If you want overseas remittance, you must fill out the Overseas Remittance section Part H (Method of Payment of Benefit) and submit a copy of your foreign bank account information.

   • Documents to verify your disability history

     • Documents sent by the German Agency in relation to your disability(Medical report for disability, X-ray, CT or MRI film, etc.)
     • A Medical report that verifies disability (This form was established under the social security agreement between Korea and Ireland. It is to be used if the documents from Ireland are not sufficient)

   • If the accident occurred while you were working

     • Documents to confirm whether you are eligible for compensation under the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act, the Labor Standard Act or the Seamen Law

   • If you receive compensation from a person who caused you harm, you need the related documents

     • the decision of the court or a copy of the settlement reached with the person who caused your disability.

   • If you have any dependents supported by you,

     • Documents to verify your family relations: a copy of your family register, a copy of the Registration of Korean Nationals Residing Abroad, a Verification for Residence, a Verification for the marriage in effect, etc.
     • Documents to confirm your dependence status: a Certificate of Studentship, a Certificate of Holding Office, a Certificate of Medical Care, a copy of Certificate of Business Registration, a copy of Building Registration Certificate, documents to confirm special reasons for living separately, a remittance statement of the financial institution (communications and portal services), etc.
     • Documents to confirm your disability: a medical report for disability under the Agreement (Irish medical report is acceptable)

Survivor Pension

1. Eligible Persons

   A surviving dependent of the person who meets the following conditions can apply for a survivor pension.

   Surviving dependents are entitled to the payment of benefits

   • When a person with insured periods under the Korean National Pension Scheme dies while he/she was covered under the German Pension system.
   • When a person with a totalized insured period of 10 years or more under the Korean and the German Pension system dies after losing insured status.
   • When a person with a totalized insured period of less than 10 years under the Korean and German pension systems dies within 2 years after the first medical examination during the insured period due to disease or injury that occurred during the insured period of the German pension system. This case even applies if a person dies within 2 years after the first medical examination which is made within 1 year after that person's insured status was discontinued.
   • When a person who is a beneficiary of the Old-age Pension or the Disability Pension with 1st or 2nd degree of disability under the Agreement dies.

2. Filling out the Application Form and Required Documents

   If a person wants to apply for a Survivor Pension, he/she must fill out Part A (General information), Part E (Application for a Survivor Pension), Part J (To be signed by the applicant) on the Application for Korean Benefits under the Korea-Ireland Social Security Agreement and submit it with the following required documents.

   Required documents

   • ID such as Alien Registration Card and Passport, or just Resident Registration
   • A copy of your Korean bank account information

     ※ If you want overseas remittance, you must fill out Overseas Remittance section Part G (Method of Payment of Benefit) and submit a copy of your foreign bank account information.

   • Documents to confirm the beneficiary's death

     • a copy of the family register, a medical report for death, a confirmation of the corpse, a certificate of death
   • Documents to verify your family relations: a copy of your family register, a copy of the Registration of Korean National Residing Abroad.
   • Documents to confirm your surviving dependence status: a Certificate of Studentship, a Certificate of Holding Office, a Certificate of Medical Care, a copy of Certificate of Business Registration, a copy of Building Registration Certificate, documents to confirm special reasons for living separately, a remittance statement of the financial institution (communications and portal services), etc.
   • Documents to confirm disability: a medical report for disability under the Agreement(Irish medical report is acceptable)

   • Documents to show the result of the first medical examination

     • a medical report for death, a confirmation of the corpse, a certificate of death and other documents to confirm the first medical examination. (if a Korean national dies in Korea, a report for health insurance medical examination and treatment, etc. is required)

   • If the accident occurred while working

     • documents which verify whether you are eligible for compensation under the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act, the Labor Standard Act or the Seamen Law

   • If you receive compensation from a person who caused you harm, you need the related documents.

     • the decision of the court or a copy of the settlement reached with the person who caused your disability.

Application for Irish Benefits under the Agreement

1. Eligible Persons

   If you have periods of coverage in Ireland for 52 contribution weeks or more and are eligible for the Irish pension by totaling the periods of coverage under the Korean and the Irish pension systems, you are able to apply for the Irish benefits.

   ※ You can get more detailed information regarding the requirements for Irish pension benefits from the Department of Social and Family Affairs.(For your information, you are eligible for the Irish old-age pension benefits if you have at least 260 weeks of contributions ; 520 weeks of contributions on and after 2012.)

2. Filling out and Submitting the Application Form

   A claimant can apply for Irish pension benefits by asking the Korean National Pension Scheme or through the following social security agent of Ireland.

   Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA)

   • Address: Oisin House, 212-213 Pearse Street, Dublin 2
   • Telephone number: 00-353-1-704-3000
   • E-mail Address: info@welfare.ie
   • Homepage : www.welfare.ie

※ Information here on our website is a general guide. You can get more information from the Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA).