What does totalisation between AVS and INPS mean?

The aggregation allows you to count the contributions paid in Switzerland also for the Italian pension system, and vice versa. This means that a border worker who has worked 20 years in Switzerland and 10 in Italy does not lose any of these contributions at the time of retirement: they are counted jointly. This gives access to higher pension pensions than in an isolated system. Automatic coordination takes place from 1 January 2024 on a legal basis.

My wife is Italian and our two children are born in Italy: what rights do they have on my G Permit?

The children of a border worker registered as Permit G have the right to follow the family unit in the LAMal coverage (Swiss health insurance) thanks to the option right for group G. If they reside with you in Ticino and you are border workers, they automatically fall under your LAMal policy with an excess of CHF 0-2500 depending on their age. They also remain beneficiaries of coordinated pension aggregation in your system when they are entitled to their own pensions.

I have contributions in both Switzerland and Italy: from which country will I receive my main pension?

The main pension depends on the country where you worked the most. If you have 25 years of AVS and 15 INPS contributions, the coordinated pension will be paid by both systems: the AVS of your canton of Ticino and the Italian INPS. You do not have to choose: receive two annuities, calculated jointly through totalization. You will receive separate but coordinated bank transfers.

I am a new frontier worker (registered after 17 July 2023): what tax exemption am I entitled to?

The new frontier workers have a €10,000 exemption on taxable income in Switzerland, under the system of the new tax agreement in force from 1 January 2024. Old frontier workers (already registered before 17 July 2023) have an exemption of €7,500 until 31 December 2033 (transitional regime). This difference affects your cantonal and municipal taxes, but not your coordinated pension rights.

How do I get an estimate of my AVS-INPS coordinated pension?

Contact the SECO (State Secretariat for the Economy) in your Ticino region for the AVS extract, and INPS through their website or a local CAF for the INPS extract. With these two documents, you can contact an insurance broker specialized in border workers or a tax consultant who will provide you with an accurate projection. We recommend doing this at least 5-10 years before your retirement to give yourself time to plan for the third pillar if necessary.

AVS-INPS 2026 coordination: family with children (cross-border guide)

Di Laura Bianchi · Published on 5 September 2026

AVS-INPS coordination document for cross-border workers with Ticino landscape view

Total AVS-INPS contributions for border workers with children: how to coordinate the pension between Switzerland and Italy by 2026.

Context

In brief

AVS-INPS coordination is essential for cross-border workers with family
New Cross-Border Agreement from 1 January 2024 changes taxation
Totalization of contributions: joint counting of AVS-INPS
Family with children has rights to LAMal and specific benefits

Key facts

What: Coordination between Swiss AVS and Italian INPS
When: Effective from 1 January 2024
Where: Swiss-Italian border
Who: SECO, Canton Ticino and INPS
Agreement: Signed on 23 December 2020, effective 1 January 2024
Regimes: Old cross-border workers exemption €7'500 (transitional 2024-2033), new €10'000
LAMal: Franchises CHF 300-2500 adults, right of option group G
Tax: Withheld ONLY in Switzerland, no double taxation

On 1 January 2024, the New Cross-Border Agreement between Switzerland and Italy, signed on 23 December 2020, came into force. This agreement introduces automatic coordination between the AVS (Swiss old-age insurance) and INPS (Italian pension institute) systems, allowing cross-border workers to totalize the contributions paid in both countries. For those working in Ticino as cross-border workers and have children, this novelty completely transforms pension planning and family rights.

Before this reform, coordinating a pension between Switzerland and Italy required lengthy calculations and administrative negotiations. The new automatic regime eliminates much of this complexity. However, the reform clearly distinguishes between two categories of cross-border workers: those already registered before 17 July 2023 access a transitional regime with an exemption of €7'500 until 31 December 2033, while new cross-border workers have a franchise of €10'000. To understand which regime applies to you, you can quickly verify your rights and cross-border status.

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Operational details

The decision to coordinate the pension between AVS and INPS is not automatic: it requires awareness and active planning. A cross-border worker with children must evaluate which scenario is most advantageous. If they remain in Switzerland until retirement, AVS provides a solid base; if they plan to move to Italy before retirement, totalization with INPS becomes crucial. If they alternate periods between the two countries, automatic coordination offers protection. For a family with children, coordination has concrete implications for benefits. In Switzerland, the presence of children influences the contribution rates of the LPP (second pillar): those with children have lower savings rates in the 25-34 age bracket (7-10% instead of the standard 7-18%). The Italian INPS does not apply the same direct benefit, but offers family allowances if the cross-border worker remains registered in the Italian system. The choice of coordination does not cancel these benefits; rather, it preserves them through totalization. Scenario: a Ticino cross-border worker with 20 years of AVS contributions in Switzerland (starting at 25 years old) and 15 years of INPS contributions in Italy (after a temporary move). Without totalization, they would reach 35 years of AVS contributions by 60 years old but would not be entitled to a full Italian pension (which requires 20 years of contributions). With totalization from January 1, 2024, the 20 Swiss years are counted towards the Italian requirement, accelerating the right to the Italian pension and ensuring a coordinated pension from 65 years old. This protection also extends to the cross-border worker's children, who maintain continuous health coverage during the transition. The LAMal in Switzerland offers tiered deductibles. A family with 2 children has different costs depending on the age bracket. If the children were born in Italy but reside in Ticino during the cross-border worker's employment, LAMal with the Swiss option ensures continuity. If the family resides in Italy but the cross-border worker works in Ticino, the Group G option right allows them to maintain Swiss LAMal for the children, provided they are part of the declared family unit.

Key points

Planning the AVS-INPS coordination for a family with children requires a step-by-step procedure. The first step is to verify your status: having a valid Permit G and being registered with the cantonal employment office in Ticino. The Permit G is the necessary condition to access the benefits of coordination. Many commuters do not explicitly verify this, but it is crucial to check before starting any pension procedure. The second step involves contribution statements. Contact the SECO (State Secretariat for Economic Affairs) or the cantonal tax office in your Ticino canton to obtain a statement of AVS contributions paid to date. Simultaneously, consult the INPS website or contact a CAF (tax assistance center) in Italy to obtain the INPS contribution statement. These two documents are essential: they will provide an accurate picture of your coordinated pension rights. The third step is to obtain an estimate of the coordinated pension. Some commuters turn to specialized insurance brokers, others directly to the SECO or Ticino tax consultants. The important thing is to have a credible projection of what your AVS pension will be at 65 years coordinated with the INPS portion. Knowing this amount allows you to evaluate whether it is necessary to supplement with the Swiss third pillar (pillar 3a), which offers tax advantages and tax-free pensions in Switzerland. ### Operational checklist: 7 concrete steps - Verify valid Permit G with the cantonal office - Request AVS contribution statement from SECO or cantonal administration - Request INPS contribution statement via INPS website or CAF - Obtain coordinated pension estimate from broker or consultant - Evaluate LAMal option (Switzerland vs. Italy) for the family - Open a pillar 3a with a Swiss bank/insurance if convenient - Communicate data to both systems at least 1-2 years before retirement For those with children, coordination also impacts the tax return. Once the commuter reaches retirement age, the joint AVS-INPS declaration must reflect total contributions and minimum supplements. If the commuter has benefited from exemptions or allowances (€7,500 or €10,000 depending on whether they are an old or new commuter), these reductions apply only to the taxable income in Switzerland but do not cancel INPS rights. Use our pension and paycheck calculator to simulate different AVS-INPS coordination scenarios based on your current contributions. If you have children and want to understand how deductions and benefits change, you can also consult our commuters tax calculation tools for an overview of your taxes, refunds, and family rights. Early planning 5-10 years before retirement is the best strategy to avoid leaving resources on the table.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does totalisation between AVS and INPS mean?: The aggregation allows you to count the contributions paid in Switzerland also for the Italian pension system, and vice versa. This means that a border worker who has worked 20 years in Switzerland and 10 in Italy does not lose any of these contributions at the time of retirement: they are counted jointly. This gives access to higher pension pensions than in an isolated system. Automatic coordination takes place from 1 January 2024 on a legal basis.
My wife is Italian and our two children are born in Italy: what rights do they have on my G Permit?: The children of a border worker registered as Permit G have the right to follow the family unit in the LAMal coverage (Swiss health insurance) thanks to the option right for group G. If they reside with you in Ticino and you are border workers, they automatically fall under your LAMal policy with an excess of CHF 0-2500 depending on their age. They also remain beneficiaries of coordinated pension aggregation in your system when they are entitled to their own pensions.
I have contributions in both Switzerland and Italy: from which country will I receive my main pension?: The main pension depends on the country where you worked the most. If you have 25 years of AVS and 15 INPS contributions, the coordinated pension will be paid by both systems: the AVS of your canton of Ticino and the Italian INPS. You do not have to choose: receive two annuities, calculated jointly through totalization. You will receive separate but coordinated bank transfers.
I am a new frontier worker (registered after 17 July 2023): what tax exemption am I entitled to?: The new frontier workers have a €10,000 exemption on taxable income in Switzerland, under the system of the new tax agreement in force from 1 January 2024. Old frontier workers (already registered before 17 July 2023) have an exemption of €7,500 until 31 December 2033 (transitional regime). This difference affects your cantonal and municipal taxes, but not your coordinated pension rights.
How do I get an estimate of my AVS-INPS coordinated pension?: Contact the SECO (State Secretariat for the Economy) in your Ticino region for the AVS extract, and INPS through their website or a local CAF for the INPS extract. With these two documents, you can contact an insurance broker specialized in border workers or a tax consultant who will provide you with an accurate projection. We recommend doing this at least 5-10 years before your retirement to give yourself time to plan for the third pillar if necessary.