1. Lawful termination of employment contract

You must have a lawful termination decision. You are not eligible for UI if:

• You unilaterally terminate the contract unlawfully (e.g. quitting without proper notice or without the required advance notice period).
• You are already receiving a pension or monthly loss-of-work-capacity allowance.

2. At least 12 months of unemployment insurance contributions

Note: Many people mistakenly believe a few months of contributions is enough. The law requires at least 12 months of contributions.

• For definite- or indefinite-term labour contracts: you must have paid UI for at least 12 months within the 24 months before termination.
• Contribution periods need not be continuous—they can be aggregated across different employers.

3. Application filed at the Employment Service Center

You must submit your benefit application in person (or online via the public service portal) to the Employment Service Center (ESC) within 03 months from the date your contract ends.

4. Still unemployed after 15 days

After 15 working days from the date the ESC accepts your application, if you still have not found new employment, the official benefit decision will be issued.

1. Monthly unemployment benefit formula

Your monthly benefit equals 60% of the average monthly salary on which UI was paid for the 06 consecutive months immediately before termination.

Monthly benefit = Average salary of last 6 UI contribution months × 60%

2. Maximum benefit cap

Even if your salary was 100 million VND/month, UI benefits are capped at five times the regional minimum wage. Under Decree 293/2025/ND-CP (effective 2026), the caps are:

• Region I: Maximum 5,310,000 × 5 = 26,550,000 VND/month.
• Region II: Maximum 4,730,000 × 5 = 23,650,000 VND/month.
• Region III: Maximum 4,140,000 × 5 = 20,700,000 VND/month.
• Region IV: Maximum 3,700,000 × 5 = 18,500,000 VND/month.

A smart unemployment insurance calculator will automatically apply this cap to your actual payout.

3. How to calculate benefit duration in months

How long you receive benefits depends on your total contribution period:

• 12 to under 36 months of contributions => 03 months of benefits.
• Each additional 12 months of contributions => 01 additional month of benefits.
• Maximum benefit period: 12 months. Unused partial months are preserved.

1. What documents are required?

You only need to prepare these four types of documents:

1. Application for unemployment benefits (MOLISA form).
2. Original or certified copy of termination documents (resignation decision, dismissal decision, notice of contract termination, etc.).
3. Social insurance book (closed and returned by your former employer).
4. Citizen ID card / national ID (copy plus original for verification).

2. Filing deadline

Remember: you have only 03 months from the date your labour contract ends to submit your application. Even one day late, authorities may refuse to process your claim and transfer your contribution months to preservation status.

3. Submission and payment process

• Step 1: Submit your application at any ESC (in any province or city you choose).
• Step 2: Wait for processing. Within 20 working days of receiving a complete application, the ESC will issue a benefit payment decision.
• Step 3: Receive payment. Within 5 working days of the decision, social insurance will transfer the first month's benefit to your bank card.
• Step 4: Monthly reporting. Each month you must visit the ESC on the scheduled date to report your job search status. Missing a visit may suspend that month's payment.

1. Where do I apply for unemployment insurance?

You may submit your application at any Employment Service Center (ESC) nationwide that is most convenient—you are not required to apply where you are registered, temporarily reside, or where your former company is located.

2. Can I claim benefits if I resign voluntarily?

• NO: If you unilaterally terminate the contract unlawfully (e.g. leaving without notice or with insufficient advance notice—typically 30 or 45 days depending on contract type).
• YES: If you resign with proper advance notice, or your employer agrees in writing to early termination (mutual termination agreement).

3. Do I lose contributions if I never claim? How preservation works.

You will not lose your contributions. If you do not claim UI within 3 months, or have unused benefit months, your UI contribution period is automatically preserved. When you start a new job, that period is added to your new employer's contributions.

4. What if I find a new job while receiving benefits?

If you sign a new labour contract (of at least 1 month) while receiving benefits, you must notify the ESC. Your benefit decision will be terminated. However, benefit months you have not yet received are preserved and counted toward your next period of unemployment.

5. Must unemployment insurance be paid during probation?

Under current rules, if you sign only a "probation contract" (not a labour contract), the employer is not required to pay social, health, or unemployment insurance. That period does not count toward UI. However, if probation is recorded as part of a formal labour contract, you and the employer must pay full insurance contributions.

Tip: Do not leave money on the table! Always use an accurate unemployment insurance calculator to cross-check against the official benefit decision from authorities. Knowing the rules is the best way to protect your legal rights.