National Pension Membership Certificate

At a glance

• It is issued in Korean or English. The English certificate shows the coverage periods, details and changes in workplace names (Government24 guidance).
• If you have no membership history, the English certificate is issued stating no membership history (Government24 guidance).
• Fee: free of charge (Government24 civil service guidance).

Who needs to do this

• Current or former members who need to prove their National Pension coverage periods.
• According to Government24, anyone who needs the English membership certificate can apply regardless of National Pension membership.
• The lump-sum refund of contributions when leaving Korea is a different procedure. For it, see the NPS benefits for foreigners page and the KoreaMoa guide on the National Pension lump-sum refund for foreigners.

Where to apply

• Online: Government24 or the NPS website (Government24 guidance).
• Mobile: the National Pension app (Government24 guidance).
• In person: a nearby NPS branch (Government24 guidance).
• Enquiries: NPS call center 1355 (no area code).

What to bring

• Online and mobile app: log in with a joint certificate to view and print; only the member can issue it (Government24 guidance).
• In person: ID for identity check (passport, residence card, etc.) (Government24 guidance).
• Representative in person: application form, the representative's ID, a letter of authorization and a copy of the member's ID (Government24 guidance).
• The application is Form No. 10 (application for a membership certificate), and the certificate is Form No. 11.

Fees

• According to Government24 civil service guidance, the National Pension membership certificate is issued free of charge.

Steps

• Step 1: Choose the certificate you need, Korean or English.
• Step 2: Online, log in to Government24, the NPS website or the app with a joint certificate; in person, bring ID to a branch.
• Step 3: After you submit the application, NPS checks whether you acquired member status and issues the certificate.

Common sticking points

• Online and in the app only the member can issue it, so for someone else to receive it they must visit a branch with a letter of authorization and the other documents (Government24 guidance).
• Online issuance requires logging in with a joint certificate (Government24 guidance).
• The membership certificate proves coverage periods; it is not a claim for the lump-sum refund, which is claimed separately.

This guide is general information and does not assess any individual case. Laws and fees can change, so check the original text via the official links and with the competent office.