Old-age annuities abroad: what you need to know (cross-border guide)

Context

In brief

• Switzerland has social security agreements with 21 countries outside the EU/EFTA area.
• Swiss nationals living abroad can voluntarily pay AHV contributions for retirement.
• The Swiss Compensation Office administers the voluntary AHV/IV.

Key Facts

• What: Social security agreements between Switzerland and other countries.
• When: Since 2001, people with Swiss passports residing abroad can no longer pay AHV contributions.
• Where: Countries outside the EU/EFTA area.
• Who: Swiss Abroad.
• Amount: 50% of voluntarily insured persons paid only the minimum amount of CHF 378 per year.

According to a statement made in June 2025, Switzerland has signed social security agreements with more and more countries outside the EU/EFTA area. Tunisia is a recent example. The Confederation now has agreements with 21 countries. The aim of the social security agreements is to ensure, as far as possible, equal treatment between the citizens of the two countries.

For Swiss nationals living abroad in one of these 21 countries outside the EU/EFTA area, the agreements allow them to join the voluntary Old-Age and Survivors' Insurance / Disability Insurance (AHV/IV) in order to receive an AHV pension from Switzerland upon retirement.

This is not the case for all Swiss nationals living abroad: since 2001, anyone living in an EU country can no longer voluntarily pay AHV contributions. Once you reach retirement age, you receive partial pensions from all EU countries in which you have paid contributions for at least one year. The same has been true since 2006 for all those who reside in EFTA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein).

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Operational details

Procedure for joining the voluntary AHV/IV

To join the voluntary AHV/IV, certain requirements must be met. The first is to be a Swiss national or a citizen of an EU/EFTA state. The second requirement is to have been insured with the AHV for at least five consecutive years immediately before leaving the mandatory AHV/IV. The third requirement is to submit an application for membership no later than 12 months after leaving the mandatory AHV/IV.

Steps to Joining

1. Check requirements: Make sure you meet all the requirements mentioned above. 2. Submission of the application: Fill in and submit the application for voluntary AHV/IV membership within 12 months of leaving the mandatory AHV/IV. 3. Payment of contributions: Once your application has been accepted, you start paying voluntary AHV/IV contributions.

Benefits of Membership

Joining the voluntary AHV/IV allows you to withdraw an AHV pension from Switzerland upon retirement. This is particularly useful for those who have lived abroad for long periods and want to secure a retirement pension.

Comparisons with the previous situation

Before 2001, people with Swiss passports living abroad could still join the voluntary AHV/IV at an advanced age, even if they had never paid contributions to the AHV before or if they had left the country when they were very young. However, due to the large deficit in the voluntary AHV/IV, this generosity is now only a memory.

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Key points

Procedure for joining the voluntary AHV/IV

To join the voluntary AHV/IV, certain requirements must be met. The first is to be a Swiss national or a citizen of an EU/EFTA state. The second requirement is to have been insured with the AHV for at least five consecutive years immediately before leaving the mandatory AHV/IV. The third requirement is to submit an application for membership no later than 12 months after leaving the mandatory AHV/IV.

Steps to Joining

1. Check requirements: Make sure you meet all the requirements mentioned above. 2. Submission of the application: Fill in and submit the application for voluntary AHV/IV membership within 12 months of leaving the mandatory AHV/IV. 3. Payment of contributions: Once your application has been accepted, you start paying voluntary AHV/IV contributions.

Benefits of Membership

Joining the voluntary AHV/IV allows you to withdraw an AHV pension from Switzerland upon retirement. This is particularly useful for those who have lived abroad for long periods and want to secure a retirement pension.

Comparisons with the previous situation

Before 2001, people with Swiss passports living abroad could still join the voluntary AHV/IV at an advanced age, even if they had never paid contributions to the AHV before or if they had left the country when they were very young. However, due to the large deficit in the voluntary AHV/IV, this generosity is now only a memory.

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