National Pension Service

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

History of the Agreement with Belgium

• Dec. 2000 : Held the first round of Negotiation Meetings for the Agreement in Belgium
• Jun. 2001 : Held the second round of Negotiation Meetings for the Agreement in Korea
• Jul. 2005 : Signed the Agreement on Social Security between Korea and Belgium in Belgium
• Oct. 2005 : Participated in the meetings for the Administrative Arrangement of the Agreement in Korea
• Dec. 2005 : Provided a written notification to Belgium that Korea has complied with all requirements for entry into force of this Agreement
• Jan. 2007 : Signed the Administrative Arrangement of the Agreement in Korea
• Mar. 2007 : Participated in the meetings for the implementation of the Agreement in Belgium
• Apr. 2009 : Received written notification from Belgium that Belgium has complied with all requirements for entry into force of this Agreement
• Jul. 2009 : Social Security Agreement between Korea and Belgium entered into force

Applicable Legislation

• Korea

  • to the "National Pension Act" and to its regulations

• Belgium

  • to the legislations concerning:

    • old-age and survivors pension for employed persons and self-employed persons;
    • the invalidity insurance for employed persons, sailors of the merchant marine, mine workers and self-employed persons; and, as regards Part Ⅱ only, to the legislation concerning:
    • the social security for employed persons;
    • the social security for self-employed persons

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 dependants and survivors of such a person. Therefore, this agreement may apply to a national of both contracting countries, a stateless person, and a refugee 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 is engaged in self-employment.
• 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 is engaged in self-employment in both contracting countries, he/she is only subject to the legislation of the country where he/she ordinarily resides.

※ 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 totaling the coverage of both countries

• Korean National Pension Benefits under the Social Security Agreement

  • If you have period of coverage under the Korean National Pension Scheme but do not have enough periods of coverage (e.g., 20 years for Full Old-age pension) to qualify for pension benefits 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 Belgian pension systems. However, those periods creditable under the Belgian 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.

• Belgian Pension Benefits under the Social Security Agreement

  • If you have any periods under the Belgian Pension Scheme, you are eligible for old-age pension and survivors pension under the Belgian pension system without totalizing the Korean periods of coverage. Because there's no minimum period for old-age pension and survivors pension in Belgium. However, in the calculation of your benefits payable, the Belgian agency will compare the potential benefit amount obtained by totalizing periods of coverage with the amount obtained without totalizing periods of coverage and pay whichever is higher.
  • You should be covered for 120 days of employment during the 6 months prior to the occurrence of invalidity to be eligible for the disability pension in Belgium. For example, the insured event occurs to a Belgian person who has 60 days of employment in Belgium and 60 days of employment in Korea, he/she would be eligible to obtain a disability pension.
• 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 granted to Belgian nationals based on the Agreement. However, 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 under the Belgian social security system, and as such any contribution which a Korean national paid to the Belgian 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 Guide for Exemption Application

Agencies of this Convention

• As regards Korea,

  • National Pension Service (NPS)

• As regards Belgium,

  • Regarding "Exemption from Dual Coverage"

    • For employed person : National Social Security Office (www.onssrszlss.fgov.be)
    • For self-employed person : National Social Insurance Institute for the Self-Employed (www.rsvz-inasti.fgov.be)

  • Regarding "Benefits"

    • Old-age and survivors pensions

      • Federal Pensions Service (FPS) (www.sfpd.fgov.be)
      • National Social Insurance Institute for the Self-Employed (www.rsvz-inasti.fgov.be)

    • Invalidity pensions

      • general invalidity: National Sickness and Invalidity Insurance Institute (INAMI) (www.riziv.fgov.be)
      • invalidity of mariners: Relief and Welfare Fund for Mariners

Guide for Exemption Application under the Agreement between Korea and Belgium

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

If you are mandatorily covered by the Korean National Pension Scheme and detached to Belgium, you can be exempt from Belgian pension contributions and social security contributions (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 relevant Belgian 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 Belgium within a certain period of time (5 years) by an employer in Korea
     • An employee who is sent to work in Belgium 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 is self-employed in both countries
     • Others: a worker who is able to be exempted from Belgian pension contributions (social security contributions) under the Agreement

   • How to request a Korean Certificate of Coverage?

     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 between Korea-Czech Republic" 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. You can also get them by visiting NPS' regional office and copying the form in the manual brochure at the NPS.

2. Presentation of the Certificate of Coverage to the Belgian Agency

   An employer who is responsible for paying pension contributions is exempt from paying social security contributions 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 National Social Security Office(to the National Social Insurance Institute for the Self-Employed in case of the self-employed person).

   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 procedures of Belgium. However, in some cases, there are 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 Belgian 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 Belgian agency and submit it to the Korean National Pension Service.

1. A Request for a Belgian Certificate of Coverage

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

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

   • Who requires a Belgian Certificate of Coverage?

     • An employee who is sent to work in Korea within a certain period of time (5 years) by an employer in Belgium
     • An employee who is sent to work in Korea by an employer in Belgium 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 Belgium and is self-employed in both countries
     • Others: a worker who is able to be exempted from Korea National Pension contributions (social security contributions) under the Agreement

   • How to request a Belgian Certificate of Coverage?

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

   • Issuing Agency of Belgian Certificate of Coverage

     • For employed person: National Social Security Office (www.onssrszlss.fgov.be)

       Place Victor Horta 11, 1060 Brussels, Belgium ; 02-509 31 11

     • For self-employed person: National Social Insurance Institute for the Self-Employed (www.rsvz-inasti.fgov.be)

       Place Willebroekkaai 35, 1000 Brussels, Belgium ; 02-546 42 11

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

   • The following must be submitted by your employer if you are an employee or yourself if you are self-employed; an "application of exemption" as well as an original copy of "Belgian 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 a "Belgian 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 periods of coverage in Korea and Belgium but don't have enough periods of coverage under the Korean pension system to qualify for Korean old-age pension benefits (age of 60 or age of 55 for the early old-age pension), you may be able to qualify for Korean benefits by totaling Korean and Belgian periods of coverage.

Old-age Pension

1. Eligible Persons

   If you meet the following conditions for the benefits by totaling Korean National Pension periods of coverage and Belgian periods of coverage, you may be able to apply for the Korean old-age pension under the Social Security Agreement.

   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 H (To be signed by the applicant) on the "Application for Korean Old age, Survivors and Divided pension and Lump sum benefit under Korea-Belgium Agreement on Social Security" 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 Belgian 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 H (To be signed by the applicant) on the "Application for Korean Old age, Survivors and Divided pesion and Lump sum benefit under Korea-Belgium Agreement on Social Security"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 marriageand 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 Belgian Pension System, you may apply for the Korean Disability Pension under the Social Security Agreement.

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 B (Application for a Disability Pension), Part E (To be signed by the applicant) on the"Application for Korean Invalidity benefits under Korea-Belgium Agreement Social Security"and submit it with the following required documents.

   Required documents

   • Your 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 Belgian 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 Belgium, it is to be used if the documents from Belgium 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 (a Belgian 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 Belgian Pension System.
   • When a person with a totalized insured period of 10 years or more under the Korean and the Belgian Pension system dies after losing insured status.
   • When a person with a totalized insured period of less than 10 years under the Korean and Belgian 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 Belgian 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 D (Application for a Survivor Pension), Part H (To be signed by the applicant) on the "Application for Korean Benefits under the Korea-Belgium 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(a Belgium 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.

Lump-sum refund

1. Eligible Persons

   If you are a national of the Belgium and meet the following conditions, you may apply for a Lump-sum refund. However, once you have received the Lump-sum refund, your concerned insured periods are not totalized for the Korean National Pension or Belgian Pension. Therefore, it may be advantageous for you to apply for a Pension instead of the Lump-sum refund.

   You are entitled to the payment of benefits

   • A Belgian national with less than 10 years of tatalized insured periods under the Belgian and Korean pension systems who reaches 60 years of age, provided that he/she is not eligible for the old-age pension.
   • A Belgian national who loses his/her insured status under the Korean National Pension and returns or plans to return to the Belgium, provided that he/she is not eligible for the old-age pension.
   • A surviving dependent of the Belgian national who died with totalization insured periods less than 10 years under the Belgian and Korean pension systems(only when this surviving dependent is not entitled to the Survivor Pension)
   • A surviving dependent of the Belgian national who died with more than 10 years of insured periods under the Belgian and Korean pension systems, but only when this person is not eligible for the Survivor Pension due to the non-payment of contributions.

2. Filling out the Application Form and Required Documents

   If you want to apply for a Lump-sum refund, you must fill out Part A (General information), Part F (Application for a Lump-sum refund), Part H (To be signed by the applicant) on the Application for Korean Benefits under the Korea-Belgium 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 to receive overseas remittance, you must fill out Overseas Remittance section Part F(Method of Payment of Benefit) and submit a certificate of your foreign bank account information.

   • For an application made because of leaving Korea

     • before leaving Korea: a copy of an air ticket
     • after leaving Korea: a copy of your passport (including proof of the immigration exit stamp dated after you discontinued your Korean insured status) or Certificate of The Facts Concerning The Entry & Exit

   • For an application made because of death

     • Documents to verify your family relations: an Identification Certificate, a Family Relation Certificate, a copy of the Registration of Korean National Residing Abroad, Verification of Residence, Verification of common law marriage, 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 disability: a medical report of disability under the Agreement (a Belgium medical report is acceptable)

※ Other information regarding the lump-sum refund is available on our website -> National Pension -> National Pension Scheme -> Foreigners and Lump-sum Refund

Application for Belgium Benefits under the Agreement

1. Eligible Persons

   If you have periods of coverage in Belgium and are eligible for the Belgian pension by totaling the periods of coverage under the Korean and the Belgian pension systems, you are able to apply for the Belgian benefits.

   ※ You can get more detailed information regarding the requirements for Belgian pension benefits from the relevant social security agency of Belgium.

   ※ For your reference, there's no minimum period for old-age pension and survivors pension in Belgium. If you have any periods under the Belgian Pension Scheme, you are eligible for old-age pension and survivors pension under the Belgian pension system without totalizing the Korean periods of coverage. However, in the calculation of your benefits payable, the Belgian agency will compare the potential benefit amount obtained by totalizing periods of coverage with the amount obtained without totalizing periods of coverage and pay whichever is higher. Regarding the disability pension, you should be covered for 120 days of employment during the 6 months prior to the occurrence of invalidity to be eligible for the disability pension in Belgium. Therefore, you can acquire benefit eligibility by totalizing the divided periods of coverage from both countries.

2. Filling out the and Submitting the Application Form

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

   Old-age and survivors pensions:

   • Federal Pensions Service(FPS)(www.sfpd.fgov.be)
   • National Social Insurance Institute for the Self-Employed (www.rsvz-inasti.fgov.be)

   Invalidity pensions:

   • general invalidity : National Sickness and Invalidity Insurance Institute (INAMI) (www.riziv.fgov.be)
   • invalidity of mariners : Relief and Welfare Fund for Mariners

※ Information here on our website is a general guide. You can get more information from the relevant social security agency of Belgium.