Pension question, India
Can international workers withdraw EPF when they leave India?
EPFO's FAQ states that an International Worker from a country with which India has a Social Security Agreement may withdraw the full EPF balance on ceasing to be an employee in a covered establishment, whereas an International Worker not covered by an SSA may withdraw the full amount only (i) on retirement from service after 58 years of age or (ii) on retirement due to permanent and total incapacity certified by the authorised medical officer. The FAQ also states that EPS-95 withdrawal benefit is not available to IWs from non-SSA countries.
What to do next
- Check whether your home country has a social security agreement with India.
- Find your UAN or PF account number on old payslips.
- Run our free check to see which other countries may hold a pension in your name.
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Tell us where you worked. The free check shows which countries may hold a pension for you, and which can be ruled out and why. No sign in, no charge.
Run the free checkQuestions people also ask
How many years are needed for an EPS pension?
EPFO's Information Brochure on International Workers states plainly that an IW needs more than 10 years of service to be eligible for pension under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS).
Do you give advice on what to do?
No. We identify where a pension is likely held and the official route to it, and we name each source with the date we read it. We do not give financial, tax or legal advice.