Please ensure that the employment separation certificate (解聘证明) you submit is in Chinese and has the necessary official stamps to validate it. If the original documents are not in Chinese, be sure to have them professionally translated by an authorized translation organization, and don't forget to include their stamp as well.

Here are two authorized translation agencies for your consideration:

• Shanghai Interpreters' Association
• Shanghai SISU Translation Service Co.

We contacted the Shanghai Social Security Hotline (Tel: 12345), and they provided us with a link to a guide on the process. In the document, it was mentioned that initially, all you need is your employment separation certificate (解聘证明). However, it's possible they may request additional documentation when you actually go through the process. The hotline also informed us that you can withdraw all the funds in your account, but in order to claim your pension, you must have contributed for a minimum of 15 years.

Take your documents and visit the Social Security Center (上海市社会保险事业管理中心) in your local district.

Here's a partial list of locations to consider, as each district has its own Social Security Center branch:

• Huangpu Social Security Center
• Xuhui Social Security Center
• Changning Social Security Center
• Jingan Social Security Center

Shanghai Social Security Hotline mentions that the entire process takes around 30 days.