Taiwan labor insurance & pension after emigrating: 65, no early payout

Direct answer: Immigration will not reset Labor Insurance or the Labor Pension to zero, but the rules for the three funds differ. The Labor Insurance old-age annuity depends on seniority and age; those born in or after ROC year 51 (1962) may claim at age 65, and after household registration is moved out, they may continue receiving by sending back annually an identity certificate verified by an overseas mission. The individual labor pension account may only be claimed upon reaching age 60; settling abroad is not a reason for early claiming. The National Pension uses having household registration in Taiwan as the basis for coverage; those who have participated may still claim at age 65. The following is organized according to Labor Insurance Bureau announcements and legal provisions.

First, distinguish three types: Labor Insurance, Labor Pension, and National Pension are not the same.

Taiwan's retirement-related social insurance is often conflated, but they are three separate funds: ① Labor Insurance 'old-age benefits' — insured during employment, paid based on insurance years; ② Labor Pension 'personal account' — employers contribute at least 6% monthly to your account, the money is yours; ③ National Pension — mandatory for citizens with household registration who are not covered by occupational insurance. After emigration, the status and claiming conditions for these three differ; they must be reviewed separately and cannot be dismissed with a simple 'lost upon emigration.'

Source.: Ministry of Labor, Labor Insurance Bureau — Old-Age Benefit Claiming Qualifications (updated 2024-12-24)

At what age can the Labor Insurance old-age annuity be claimed? Those born after ROC year 51 (1962) may claim at age 65.

According to the Labor Insurance Bureau's "Old-Age Benefit Claiming Qualifications" (updated 2024-12-24), if total seniority reaches 15 years and the person has left employment and withdrawn from insurance, they may claim the old-age annuity upon reaching the statutory claiming age. The statutory age increases gradually by birth year: those born in or before ROC year 46 (inclusive) at 60, ROC year 47 at 61, ROC year 48 at 62, ROC year 49 at 63, ROC year 50 at 64, and those born in or after ROC year 51 (1962) uniformly at 65. Those with 15 years of seniority may claim up to 5 years early (the amount will be reduced); those with less than 15 years may claim a lump-sum old-age payment upon reaching the age. Those who already had seniority before the Labor Insurance annuity system took effect on January 1, ROC year 98 may alternatively choose to claim the old-age benefit in a lump sum; those who first joined insurance only after ROC year 98 cannot choose this. These conditions do not depend on whether you are in Taiwan.

Source.: Ministry of Labor, Labor Insurance Bureau — Old-Age Benefit Claiming Qualifications (updated 2024-12-24)

How can I continue receiving my Labor Insurance annuity if I am abroad and my household registration has been moved out?

According to the Labor Insurance Bureau's explanation (updated 2023-04-21), old-age annuity recipients who have been abroad for more than 2 years and whose household registration has been moved out must annually resend one of the following to the Labor Insurance Bureau: ① the original identity certificate verified by Taiwan's overseas mission, plus a copy of a valid passport; or ② a "Certificate of National of the Republic of China Residing Abroad" verified by an overseas mission. For those residing in mainland China, documents must be notarized by a mainland notary office and verified by the Straits Exchange Foundation. If unable to send in time, the annuity will be suspended first; after the documents are received, the amounts for the suspension period will be paid retroactively together. Rights will not be lost as a result.

Source.: Ministry of Labor, Labor Insurance Bureau — Impact of household registration being moved out after more than 2 years abroad on old-age annuity benefits (updated 2023-04-21)

Individual Labor Pension Account: The Money Is Yours, but It Can Only Be Claimed at 60; Immigration Does Not Permit Early Claiming

Under the new Labor Pension system, the individual pension account is contributed monthly by the employer, belongs to the individual worker, and does not reset to zero due to resignation or immigration. Under Article 24 of the Labor Pension Act, a worker may only claim upon reaching age 60: those with actual contribution seniority of 15 years may choose a monthly pension or a lump-sum pension; those with less than 15 years may claim a lump-sum pension. For circumstances in which early claiming before age 60 is permitted, Article 24-2 lists only conditions such as disability or physical/mental disability annuity; settling abroad, immigration, or acquiring foreign nationality are not included. Therefore, before immigrating there is no need to rush to "withdraw the Labor Pension", nor is it possible to withdraw it; you may first check the accumulated amount in your account and apply from overseas at age 60.

Source.: Labor Pension Act (Articles 24 and 24-2)

National Pension: Based on Household Registration; Coverage Ends upon Moving Out, but Claiming Is Still Possible at 65

Under Article 7 of the National Pension Act, the insured persons under the National Pension are nationals "under age 65, with household registration in the country" and not participating in Labor Insurance, Government Employees and School Staff Insurance, or other relevant social insurance; therefore, after being abroad for more than 2 years and having household registration moved out, they are no longer insured persons under the National Pension and no longer need to pay premiums. Accumulated seniority will not disappear: Article 29 provides that "insured persons or those who have participated in this insurance" may claim old-age annuity benefits upon reaching age 65. Those with less than 15 years of Labor Insurance seniority may, under Labor Insurance Bureau rules, also combine National Pension seniority to reach 15 years and choose to claim the Labor Insurance old-age annuity at age 65. Household registration interacts with National Health Insurance, National Pension, and tax registration; it is advisable to assess them together.

Source.: National Pension Act (Articles 7 and 29)

This page is a neutral compilation of information for reference only; it is not immigration/legal advice and does not constitute any commitment. Programs frequently change; please refer to the latest official announcements. · Last Updated: 2026-10-18