Every country's pension rules on this page
- United Kingdom: minimum 10 years. Your National Insurance record decides the amount — get your forecast online. From 6 April 2026, people abroad can pay only voluntary Class 3 contributions (£18.40 a week in 2026–27), and only with 10 years of UK residence or 10 qualifying years. https://www.gov.uk/international-pension-centre · https://www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details
- United States: minimum 40 credits — about 10 years of work. Social Security pays abroad in most countries; apply online or through the US embassy's Federal Benefits Unit. https://www.ssa.gov/international/ · https://lostandfound.dol.gov
- France: minimum no minimum. Every quarter you worked counts; you get a full-rate pension automatically at 67 even with missing quarters (the amount is still in proportion). https://www.lassuranceretraite.fr · https://www.info-retraite.fr
- Germany: minimum 5 years. Left Germany with under 5 years? Citizens of countries outside the EU who live outside the EU can ask for their own contributions back after 24 months. https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de · https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de
- Spain: minimum 15 years. At least 15 years, 2 of them in the last 15. https://www.seg-social.es
- Italy: minimum 20 years. At least 20 years of contributions. https://www.inps.it
- Portugal: minimum 15 years. At least 15 years with contributions. https://www.seg-social.pt
- Greece: minimum 15 years. At least 15 years (4,500 days of insurance). https://www.efka.gov.gr
- Japan: minimum 10 years. Leaving Japan with between 6 months and under 10 years paid? Foreigners can claim a lump-sum refund within 2 years of leaving (it covers up to 5 years, about 20% is withheld) — but those years are then wiped from your record. https://www.nenkin.go.jp
- South Korea: minimum 10 years. Foreigners from some countries can claim a lump-sum refund when they leave — ask the National Pension Service. https://www.nps.or.kr
- Philippines: minimum 10 years of monthly contributions. Under 120 monthly contributions, the SSS pays back your contributions with interest as a lump sum instead of a pension. You can keep paying voluntarily from abroad. https://www.sss.gov.ph
- Thailand: minimum 15 years of monthly contributions. Under 180 months of contributions, the Social Security Office pays a lump sum instead of a pension. https://www.sso.go.th
- Australia: minimum 10 years of residence. The Age Pension depends on residence (10 years, 5 of them in one stretch) and is means-tested; your super is separate — search for lost super through the tax office. https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au · https://www.ato.gov.au
- Canada: minimum no minimum. CPP: any contributions count. Old Age Security: 10 years of residence after 18 (20 years to receive it while living abroad). https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions.html
- New Zealand: minimum 10 years of residence. The residence requirement is rising gradually from 10 to 20 years for people turning 65 from July 2024. https://www.workandincome.govt.nz
- Mexico: minimum 875 contribution weeks in 2026 (rising 25 a year to 1,000) — about 17 years. The weeks required rise by 25 each year until 2031. https://www.imss.gob.mx
- Brazil: minimum 15 years. At least 15 years of contributions to the INSS (20 for men who started contributing after November 2019). https://www.gov.br/inss
- China: minimum 15 years. 15 years of contributions for a monthly pension; foreigners who leave can ask for their personal account balance. https://www.mohrss.gov.cn
- Singapore: minimum no minimum. Only citizens and permanent residents pay into CPF; foreign employees don't build a state pension here. https://www.cpf.gov.sg
- United Arab Emirates: minimum no minimum. State pensions are for UAE and Gulf citizens; foreign employees receive an end-of-service gratuity from the employer instead. https://gpssa.gov.ae
- Netherlands: minimum no minimum. The AOW builds 2% for each year you lived or worked in the Netherlands during the 50 years before your pension age. https://www.svb.nl · https://www.mijnpensioenoverzicht.nl
EU, EEA and Swiss rules add up your years in all of them — and the UK–EU agreement adds UK and EU years together.
US agreements add years across the two countries. Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Uruguay.
- Born in 1960: between 66 years and 1 month and 66 years 11 months, by birth date.
- Born after 5 April 1977: 68 under current law.
- Born before 1 September 1961: 62; from September: 62 years and 3 months.
- Born January–March 1965: 62 years 9 months; April–December: 63.
- 65 with 38 years 6 months of contributions; otherwise 67 (slightly lower for people reaching it before 2027).
- 67 — check INPS for the changes planned from 2027.
- Linked to life expectancy: about 66 years 9 months in 2026.
- 67, or 62 with 40 years of work.
- 60 if you've stopped working, otherwise 65.
- CPP from 60 to 70 (65 standard); Old Age Security from 65.
- NZ Super from 65.
- 65 for men, 62 for women.
- Retirement ages are rising gradually since 2025 — check the local social security office.
- The AOW age follows life expectancy (67 and 3 months from 2028).
- Living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland? One application in your country of residence covers every EU/EEA country you worked in.
- Otherwise, apply to each country's pension office directly — most accept claims from abroad, several months before pension age.
- A partner's pension can pass partly to you: contact the pension office of each country your partner worked in, with the death and marriage certificates.
- “Pension release” offers of cash before pension age — they usually mean heavy tax charges and fees.
- Cold calls or ads urging you to move your pension offshore — use only regulated advisers.
- Anyone asking for a fee to “find” your state pension — the pension offices and tracing services are free.