National Pension Service

Main Contents of the Social Security Agreement Between Korea and Croatia

History of the Agreement with Coratia

• Sep 2017 : Held the first preliminary meeting of the Agreement
• Dec 2018 : Signed the Agreement
• Jan 2019 : Held the meeting for the Administrative Arrangement of the Agreement
• Jul 2019 : Held the implementation meeting of the Agreement
• Nov 2019 : Entry into force of the Agreement

Applicable Legislation

• In relation to Korea

  • National Pension Act

• In relation to Croatia

  • the Laws and Regulations governing the compulsory pension insurance system

Personal Scope of this Agreement

This Agreement shall apply to persons who are or have been subject to the legislation of one or both Parties and to the dependants and survivors of such persons within the meaning of the applicable legislation of that Contracting Party.

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

Exemption from Dual Coverage

• In general, an employed or self-employed person who works in the territory of one Contracting Party shall, with respect to that work, be subject only to the legislation of that Contracting Party.
• A detached worker is exempt from being subject to the legislation of the Party which he/she is sent to for no more than 5 years if he/she is covered under the legislation of his/her home country.
• A person who is normally self-employed in one contracting party and is engaged in a similar activity as a self-employed person in the other contracting party is subject to the legislation of first contracting party.
• A person who is employed or self-employed in both contracting parties is subject to the legislation of the contracting party in which he/she ordinarily resides, or A person who is employed in one contracting party and self-employed in the other contracting party is subject to the legislation of the first contracting party.

  → In case of ② and ③, the exemption period can be extended for 2 years by a mutual consent between the both Contracting Parties

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

[ Applicable Legislation under the Agreement ]

Those who are employed or self-employed in both countries

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, thanks to the totalization of coverage periods in both countries.

• Korean National Pension Benefits under the Social Security Agreement

  • If you have no less than a 12-month of period of coverage but do not have enough periods of coverage to qualify for pension benefits under the Korean national pension scheme, you may be able to qualify for Korean national pension benefits by totalizing periods of coverage under the Korean and Croatian pension system. However, these periods creditable under the Croatian pension system, must not coincide with those 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.

• Croatian Pension Benefits under the Social Security Agreement

  • If you have no less than a 12-month of period of coverage but do not have enough periods of coverage to qualify for pension benefits under the Croatian pension system, you may be able to qualify for Croatian pension benefits by totalizing periods of coverage under the Korean and Croatian pension systems. However, these periods creditable under the Korean national pension scheme, must not coincide with those under the legislation of Croatia.
• A person who resides in the territory of a Party shall receive equal treatment with nationals of that Party in the application of its legislation regarding entitlement to or payment of benefits.
• Korean lump-sum refunds are granted to nationals of Croatia based on the Agreement.

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

Agencies of this Agreement

• Korea

  • National Pension Service (NPS)

• Coratia

  • Croatian Pension Insurance Institute : www.mirovinsko.hr

Guide for Exemption Application under the Agreement between Korea and Croatia

How to be exempted from Croatian Pension Contributions

If you are mandatorily covered by the Korean legislation and detached to Croatia for temporary work (or self-employment), you can be exempt from Croatian pension contributions, provided that you obtain "a Certificate of Coverage under the Social Security Agreement" from the National Pension Service of Korea.

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 Croatia for a certain period of time (no more than 5 years) by an employer in Korea.
     • A person who is normally self-employed in Korea and engaged similar self-employment activities in Croatia for a certain period of time (no more than 5 years)
     • A person who is employed or self-employed in both contracting parties and ordinary resides in Korea.
     • A person who is employed in Korea and is self-employed in Croatia

     ※ An employee or a self-employed person specified in ①, ② is granted an extension of the detached(working) period by mutual consent between the two countries.

   • How to request a Korean Certificate of Coverage?

     The employer 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 EDI, 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 the Social Security Agreement between Korea and Croatia" and documents to confirm the employee's detachment such as a detachment order.
     • An "Application for Certificate of Coverage under the Social Security Agreement between Korea and Croatia" form is available on our web-site -> Social Security Agreement -> Forms. You can also obtain this document by contacting NPS.

2. Submission of the Certificate of Coverage to the Croatian Competent Institution.

   An employer who is responsible for paying pension contributions is exempt from paying pension contributions for the period specified on a Korean Certificate of Coverage under the Agreement on Social Security by submitting the Certificate to the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute.

   If a contributor has already paid contributions for the previous exemption period, within a certain period, he/she is able to request a refund according to the internal procedure. However, in some cases, there could be limitations on the period regarding retroactive exemptions, so we recommend that you request the exemption in time.

How to be exempted from the Korean National Pension Scheme

If you are mandatorily covered by the Croatian pension 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 the Social Security Agreement" from a Competent Institution in Croatia and submit it to the Korean National Pension Service.

1. A Request for a Croatian Certificate of Coverage

   If you are an employee, your employer in Croatia must request a Croatian certificate of coverage.

   If you are self-employed, you must personally request a Croatian certificate of coverage.

   • Who requires a Croatian Certificate of Coverage?

     • An employee who is sent to work in Korea for a certain period of time (no more than 5 years) by an employer in Croatia.
     • A person who is ordinarily self-employed in Croatia and engaged in similar self-employment activities in Korea for a certain period of time (no more than 5 years).
     • A person who is employed or self-employed in both contracting parties and ordinary resides in Croatia.
     • A person who is employed in Croatia and is self-employed in Korea

     ※ An employee or a self-employed person specified in ①, ② is granted an extension of the detached(working) period by mutual consent between the two countries.

   • How to request a Croatian Certificate of Coverage?

     You must request a Certificate of Coverage by contacting the Croatian Competent Institution with the required documents according to its internal regulations.

   • Competent Institution of Certificate of Coverage Issuance in Croatia

     • Croatian Pension Insurance Institute (www.mirovinsko.hr)

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 by you personally if you are self-employed; an "application of exemption" as well as an original copy of "Croatian Certificate of Coverage under the Social Security Agreement", and a copy of your identification to the Center for International Affairs 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 "Croatian Certificate of Coverage under the Social Security Agreement", you are exempt from Coverage under the Korean legislation 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.

※ Information here on our web-site is a general guide. You can get more information about the exemption of coverage from the Center for International Affairs of the NPS or from any regional office of the NPS.

Application for Korean Benefits under the Agreement

If you have periods of coverage both in Korea and Croatia but don't have enough periods of coverage under the Korean pension scheme to qualify for Korean old-age pension benefits (pensionable age), you may be able to qualify for Korean benefits by totalizing Korean and Croatian pension periods of coverage.

Old-age Pension

1. Eligible Persons

   If you meet the following conditions for the benefits by totalizing Korean national pension periods of coverage and Croatian pension 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	The statutory pensionable age	Others
   Old-age Pension	10 years or more	1953~1956 : 61 1957~1960 : 62 1961~1964 : 63 1965~1968 : 64 After 1969 : 65 (depending on the year of birth)	For less than 5 years from the pensionable age, income should be less than certain amount. * If income is more than certain amount, payment will be reduced.
   Early Old-age Pension	10 years or more	1953~1956 : 61 1957~1960 : 62 1961~1964 : 63 1965~1968 : 64 After 1969 : 65 (depending on the year of birth)	For less than 5 years from the pensionable age, income should be less than certain amount. * If income is more than certain amount, payment will be suspended. And the payment will be reduced from the eligible age of the Old-Age Pension.

   ※ The Korean national pension is gradually rising to age 65 by 2034

2. Filling out the Application Form and Required Documents

   If you want to apply for an Korean Old Age Pension, you must fill out A (General Information), B (Application for an Old-Age Pension), D (Method of Payment of Benefit), F (To be signed by the applicant) on the "Application for Old Age/Divided Pension" under the Social Security Agreement and submit it with the following required documents.

   Required documents

   • Your ID such as an Alien Registration Card, passport or Resident Registration Card

   • A copy of your Korean bank account information

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

   • If you have any dependents supported by you,

     • Documents to confirm your family relations: a Family Relations Certificate, a Marriage Certificate etc.
     • Documents to confirm the fact that the dependents are supported by you, if necessary
     • Documents to confirm your disability: a medical report of disability under the Agreement (a Croatian medical report is acceptable)

Divided Pension

1. Eligible Persons

   If you had 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 the Divided Pension if you meet all of the following conditions for the benefits.

   Required Conditions for Divided Pension

   • If you had lived with your ex-spouse for 5 years or more while your spouse was paying contributions;
   • When you divorce an old-age pensioner;
   • When your ex-spouse acquires old-age pension entitlement; and
   • When you reach the statutory pensionable age

2. Filling out the Application Form and Required Documents

   If you want to apply for a divided pension, you must fill out A (General Information), C (Application for a Divided Pension), D (Method of Payment of Benefit), F (To be signed by the applicant) on the "Application for Old Age/Divided Pension" under the Social Security Agreement and submit it with the following required documents.

   Required documents

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

     ※ If you prefer an overseas remittance, you must fill out the Overseas Remittance section D (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 Relations Certificate (Certificate of Marital Relations), etc.
   • If you are a foreign national or a Korean national living overseas: documents to confirm the periods of marriage and occurrence of divorce such as a certificate of marriage, a certificate of residence report of overseas Korean nationals, or a confirmation of residence.

Disability Pension

1. Eligible Persons

   If you have periods of coverage in Korea and become disabled physically or mentally, you may apply for the Korean disability pension under the Social Security Agreement on condition of the first medical examination date and payment of contributions below. (Provided that, the first medical examination date shall be later than the effectuation date of the Social Security Agreement between the two countries)

   Required Conditions for Disability Pension

   • (Condition of the first medical examination date)

     The first medical examination date should fall on between the 18th birthday and the day before eligible date for old-age pension.

     • If the first medical examination happens while emigrating, losing Korean nationality, or foreigners staying outside Korea, they will not be eligible.
     • Periods for coverage of Government Employee Pension, Military Pension, Teachers Pension, Special Post Office Pension will be excluded.
     • Periods after eligible date for early old-age pension will be excluded.
   • (Condition of payment of contributions)

     The totalized periods of coverage between Korea and Croatia should meet one of the following conditions.

     • The insured period is 1/3 or more of the period subject to coverage.

       ※ The period subject to coverage means the period between the following month of the 18th birthday and the preceding month of the first medical examination date.

     • The insured period is 3 years or more of the period from 5 years prior to the first medical examination date.

       ※ If default period is 3 or more years among the period subject to coverage, the period will be excluded.

     • Insured period is 10 years or longer.

2. Filling out the Application Form and Required Documents

   If you wish to apply for a disability pension, you must fill out A (General Information), B (Application for a Disability Pension), D (Method of Payment of Benefit), F (To be signed by the applicant) on the "Application for Disability/Survivor Pension" under the Social Security Agreement and submit it with the following required documents.

   Required documents

   • Your ID such as an Alien Registration Card, passport or Resident Registration Card

   • If you have any dependents supported by you,

     • Documents to confirm your family relations: a Family Relations Certificate (a copy of Household Resident Register), a copy of the Registration of Korean National Residing Abroad, verification of residence, verification of de facto marriage status, etc.
     • Documents to confirm your disability: a medical report of disability under the Agreement (a Croatia’s medical report is acceptable)
     • Documents to confirm the fact that the dependents are supported by you, if necessary

   • Documents to verify your history of disability

     • Documents sent by the Croatian institution in relation to your disability (Medical report of 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 Croatia.)

   • 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 third person who caused you harm :

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

   • A copy of your Korean bank account information

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

Survivor Pension

1. Eligible Persons

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

   Required Conditions for Survivor Pension

   • When a person with insured periods of 10 years or more dies.
   • 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.
   • When a person who meets the conditions of ① and ② dies.
     • (Condition of the date of death)

       The person who meets the condition of payment of contributions and does not correspond with either of the following conditions:

       • If the death happens while emigrating, losing Korean nationality, or to foreigners staying outside Korea; or
       • If the death happens during the coverage of Government Employee Pension, Military Pension, Teachers Pension, Special Post Office Pension.
     • (Condition of payment of contributions)

       The totalized periods on the date of death between Korea and Croatia shall fall under any of the following conditions.

       • The insured period is 3 years or more of the period subject to coverage

         ※ The period subject to coverage means the period between the following month of the 18th birthday and the preceding month of the date of death.

       • The insured period is 3 years or more of the period from 5 years prior to the date of death.

         ※ If default period is 3 or more years among the period subject to coverage, the period will be excluded.

2. Filling out the Application Form and Required Documents

   If a person wants to apply for a Survivor Pension, he/she must fill out A (General information), C (Application for a Survivor Pension), D (Method of Payment of Benefit), F (To be signed by the applicant) on the "Application for Disability/Survivor Pension" under the Social Security Agreement and submit it with the following required documents.

   Required documents

   • Your ID such as an Alien Registration Card, passport or Resident Registration Card

   • Documents to confirm the beneficiary's death :

     • a Family Census Register, a medical report of death, a confirmation of the corpse, a certificate of death

   • Documents to verify your family relations :

     • a Family Relations Certificate, a Certificate of Marital Relations, a copy of the Registration of Korean National Residing Abroad, Verification of Residence, Verification of de facto marriage status, etc.

   • Documents to confirm disability :

     • a medical report of disability under the Agreement (a Croatian medical report is acceptable)
   • Documents to confirm the fact that the dependents are supported by you, if necessary

   • 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 third person who caused you harm :

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

   • A copy of your Korean bank account information

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

Lump-sum refund

The nationals of Croatia are granted to a Korean lump-sum refund in accordance with the Agreement.

Application for Croatian Benefits under the Agreement

1. Eligible Persons

   If you are eligible for the Croatian pension by totalizing the periods of coverage under the Korean and the Croatian pension systems, you are able to apply for Croatian benefits. (However, conditions of benefits vary depending on the legislation of Croatia)

2. Filling out and Submitting the Application Form

   A claimant can apply for Croatian pension benefits by contacting the Korean National Pension Service or through the following Competent Institution of Croatia.

   Competent Institution

   • Croatian Pension Insurance Institute (www.mirovinsko.hr)

※ Information on our web-site is a general guide. You can obtain detailed information from the competent institution in Croatia.