Гайд
Pension in Spain for Foreigners:
A Complete Guide
A Complete Guide
The issue of pensions in Spain is one of the most sensitive for foreigners, especially for those who have work experience outside the EU. There are many rumors surrounding this topic. Natalia Malysheva, a tax consultant, explains in detail who is entitled to an old-age pension in Spain (Jubilación ordinaria), when and under what conditions, and why even minimal contributions can provide you with a decent standard of living.
Who is entitled to an old-age pension?
The Spanish old-age pension (Jubilación ordinaria) is a contributory pension, meaning it is based on accumulated contributions. Eligibility depends on two key criteria: age and work record.
A pension in Spain does not depend on your nationality. It depends solely on the contributions (cotizaciones) you have paid into the Social Security system (Seguridad Social).
Minimum age criteria
The minimum retirement age is gradually increasing.
The minimum retirement age is gradually increasing.
Minimum Contribution Requirements
To qualify for a pension, you must have a total contribution period of at least 15 years, and it must meet several specific rules:
Total contribution period: At least 15 years. This period may include work experience from countries that have a Social Security Agreement with Spain (bilateral agreements, Convenios Bilaterales).
Recent contributions: At least 2 years must fall within the 15 years immediately preceding retirement.
To qualify for a pension, you must have a total contribution period of at least 15 years, and it must meet several specific rules:
Total contribution period: At least 15 years. This period may include work experience from countries that have a Social Security Agreement with Spain (bilateral agreements, Convenios Bilaterales).
Recent contributions: At least 2 years must fall within the 15 years immediately preceding retirement.
Spanish contributions: At least 1 year must have been worked directly in Spain.
Foreigners’ contribution periods: bilateral agreements
For foreigners who have work experience outside the EU, the existence of a bilateral agreement between Spain and their country of origin is critically important.
Under such agreements, each country pays a pension only for the work period completed on its own territory. Spain will pay only for your Spanish contribution period.
List of partner countries (some examples)
Spain has such agreements with a long list of countries, including:
Spain has such agreements with a long list of countries, including:
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Moldova
- USA
- Canada
- Australia
- Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and many others.
Practical examples
Pension for Autónomos: no discrimination
Many autónomos (self-employed workers) still mistakenly believe that they "won't have a pension."
This is not true. The pension rights of autónomos are no different from those of employees on a work contract. The same rules for minimum retirement age and required contribution period apply.
The only difference is that autónomos pay their Social Security contributions (Seguridad Social) themselves.
And since 2023, contributions have been tied to real net income — the higher the income, the higher the contributions, which may affect the amount of your future pension.
This is not true. The pension rights of autónomos are no different from those of employees on a work contract. The same rules for minimum retirement age and required contribution period apply.
The only difference is that autónomos pay their Social Security contributions (Seguridad Social) themselves.
And since 2023, contributions have been tied to real net income — the higher the income, the higher the contributions, which may affect the amount of your future pension.
Two components of your pension:
earned + supplementary payment
The Spanish pension consists of two main components, and this is critical to understand if you have a short contribution history or paid minimum contributions:
1. Earned pension (based on your actual contributions and work record).
2. Supplement up to the minimum (Complemento a mínimos).
Your “earned” pension for a short contribution period can be extremely small.
For example, with 3 years of contributions in Spain and a contribution base of €1000, the pension amount may be around €16.
Complemento a mínimos: how do you receive the minimum?
This is a government supplement that raises your pension to the legally established minimum if your earned pension falls below it.
To receive the supplement, you must meet three conditions:
1. Earned pension (based on your actual contributions and work record).
2. Supplement up to the minimum (Complemento a mínimos).
Your “earned” pension for a short contribution period can be extremely small.
For example, with 3 years of contributions in Spain and a contribution base of €1000, the pension amount may be around €16.
Complemento a mínimos: how do you receive the minimum?
This is a government supplement that raises your pension to the legally established minimum if your earned pension falls below it.
To receive the supplement, you must meet three conditions:
- Reside permanently in Spain.
- Have an earned pension below the established minimum.
- Have additional income (for example, rental income) not exceeding the permitted limits.
Income limits for 2025 (example with a dependent spouse)
Formula for calculating the supplement:
Supplement=Minimum pension+Min. allowed income−Earned pension+Additional income\text{Supplement} = \text{Minimum pension} + \text{Min. allowed income} - \text{Earned pension} + \text{Additional income}Supplement=Minimum pension+Min. allowed income−Earned pension+Additional incomeThe Complemento a mínimos supplement in 2025 cannot exceed €564.7 per month (or €7,905.8 per year).
Supplement=Minimum pension+Min. allowed income−Earned pension+Additional income\text{Supplement} = \text{Minimum pension} + \text{Min. allowed income} - \text{Earned pension} + \text{Additional income}Supplement=Minimum pension+Min. allowed income−Earned pension+Additional incomeThe Complemento a mínimos supplement in 2025 cannot exceed €564.7 per month (or €7,905.8 per year).
Is it worth overpaying contributions?
I carried out my own calculations, modeling the pension of a single retiree with 3 to 20 years of contributions in Spain, paying contributions based on the minimum base of €1000–1200 (taking into account 12 years of work in another country).
Theoretically:
The more contribution years and the higher the base, the higher the pension.
In practice, if you pay on the minimum base — this is NOT the case!
Theoretically:
The more contribution years and the higher the base, the higher the pension.
In practice, if you pay on the minimum base — this is NOT the case!
Example for 2024: minimum pension €837
If you pay contributions based on the minimum base of € 1000−1200, then after 15−16 years of contributions, the total pension amount for a single retiree will no longer change.
Starting from the 15th-16th year, no matter how many more years you work or contribute to Social Security, your pension amount will remain at the minimum level (approximately € 837 according to 2024 figures).
The state simply reduces its supplement (Complemento) so that the total does not exceed the legally established minimum.
If your goal is to secure the guaranteed minimum pension, it is enough to accumulate sufficient contribution years so that your earned pension is just slightly above the threshold required for the supplement (as happens around the 16th year of contributions).
Starting from the 15th-16th year, no matter how many more years you work or contribute to Social Security, your pension amount will remain at the minimum level (approximately € 837 according to 2024 figures).
The state simply reduces its supplement (Complemento) so that the total does not exceed the legally established minimum.
If your goal is to secure the guaranteed minimum pension, it is enough to accumulate sufficient contribution years so that your earned pension is just slightly above the threshold required for the supplement (as happens around the 16th year of contributions).
Natalia Malysheva
Professional status in Spain:
- Gestor Administrativo (Colegio de Gestores de Málaga, No. 516)
- Accredited Colaborador with AEAT
- Authorized PAE Center (Punto de Atención al Emprendimiento)
- Authorized center for issuing digital certificates – PVP (Punto de Verificación Presencial)
- Specialization: tax audits in Spain, client protection
Education and professional qualifications:
- Máster Universitario en Gestión Administrativa (Universidad Europea de Valencia)
- ACCA Diploma in International Financial Reporting (IFRS)
- IFA “Accounting Technician,” UK
- IFA “Associate Financial Manager,” UK
- Effectiveness of IPO Company Valuation, UK
- Diploma in CAP/CIPA, Certified International Professional Accountant