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Claiming your State Pension when you live abroad

You can claim your State Pension if you live outside the UK. However, you’ll only receive the yearly index-linked increases if you live in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland or in a country with which the UK has a social security agreement that includes state pensions.

If you live outside those areas, you won’t be entitled to the yearly index-linked increases. However, if you return to live in the UK, your State Pension will be increased to current levels.

• More about State Pension when you move abroad - country specific information Opens new window
• Details of countries with which the UK has a social security agreement Opens new window
• Frequently asked questions about retiring abroad Opens new window

How the State Pension is paid if you live abroad

Your State Pension can be paid directly into a bank or building society account. You can use a bank or building society in the UK, or a bank in the country in which you live. In most countries, the money will be automatically converted into the local currency.

Where the country does not have the facilities for direct banking, you can receive your State Pension in the form of a cheque in UK currency. This can be sent every four or 13 weeks either directly to the bank or to your home address. For small amounts of pension, under £5 per week, annual payments may be made, usually at Christmas.

If you only spend part of the year abroad

If you divide your time between the UK and abroad you'll have to choose which country you want your State Pension paid into. You can't choose to have it paid in one country for part of the year, and a different country for the rest of the year.

If you decide to come back to live in the UK

In this situation, you can ask for your State Pension to be paid into a UK bank account.

Paying tax on your State Pension

Your tax position will depend on:

If you spend part of your time in the UK and part abroad you're likely to be classed as a UK resident. If you move abroad permanently, you're likely to be classed as a non-UK resident.

If you are a non-resident your tax position depends on whether you live in a country with a 'double taxation agreement' with the UK. This means you won't have to pay UK tax on your State Pension, but it will be taxable in the country where you live.

If you live in a country without a 'double taxation agreement', you'll have to pay UK tax and may be taxed again abroad.

It's a good idea to get advice about paying tax on your State Pension if you live abroad. You can contact HM Revenue & Customs Centre for Non-Residents.

• Countries with double taxation agreements with the UK Opens new window
• Read information for non-residents on the HM Revenue & Customs website Opens new window

Making State Pension contributions if you work abroad

If you're working abroad, you may be able to pay into the State Pension scheme of the country where you're working. You can do this in EEA countries and some others, such as Canada and New Zealand, where there are special arrangements.

Depending on how long you work abroad, you can have your contributions credited to your UK State Pension or you could receive two pensions - one from the UK and one from the country where you lived and worked. This will be decided when you reach State Pension age, taking into account where you live.

• More about State Pension when you move abroad - country specific information Opens new window

Who to contact before you move abroad

If you're moving abroad to live, you'll need to tell:

You'll also need to give them your change of address.

The Pension Service will usually send you a form about four months before you reach State Pension age. This form asks about any insurance and residence you may have in other countries. If you're less than three months away from State Pension age and you've not received this form, it's advisable to get in touch with the International Pensions Centre (IPC).

If you are living in any EEA country you should claim as follows:

• if you have worked in the country you are now living in, your claim for your UK State Pension should be made through the pension institution in that country
• if you have not worked in the country you are now living in, you should claim your UK State Pension direct from the IPC, unless you have worked in another EEA country since leaving the UK, in which case you should make your claim through the last institution you were insured with

• International Pension Centre - frequently asked questions Opens new window
• HM Revenue & Customs National Insurance Contributions office Opens new window

More useful links

• Tax when leaving or coming into the UK
• Download HM Revenue & Customs leaflets about tax and living abroad Opens new window
• More information about pensions from the FSA Opens new window
• See frequently asked questions about tax and living abroad Opens new window