Old-age annuities abroad: what you need to know

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).

To join the voluntary AHV/IV – which is only possible if you live outside the EU/EFTA area – you must meet certain requirements. The first is to be a Swiss national or a national of an EU/EFTA state; the second is to have been insured with the AHV for at least five consecutive years immediately before leaving the compulsory AHV/IV; the third is to submit an application for membership no later than 12 months after leaving the mandatory AHV/IV.

Until 2001, people with a Swiss passport 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.

Due to the large deficit of the voluntary AHV/IV, this generosity is now only a memory. In fact, before 2000, the total costs of the voluntary AHV/IV reached 208 million francs, of which only 59 million were covered by the contributions of insured men. The deficit was therefore 149 million francs.

50% of those who were voluntarily insured paid only the minimum amount of 378 francs per year, a percentage that fell to 7% for those who were subject to the compulsory AHV. Many people, therefore, despite having paid little, later received respectable minimum pensions.

This was also possible because the Swiss Compensation Office (SCO) based in Geneva, which administers the voluntary AHV/IV, did not have sufficient tools to check the declared income. Insured persons declared an income

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.

Possible scenarios

• Case 1: A Swiss citizen who has lived abroad for 10 years and paid AHV contributions for 5 consecutive years before moving can join the voluntary AHV/IV and receive an AHV pension upon retirement.
• Case 2: A Swiss citizen who has lived abroad for 20 years and has never paid AHV contributions is not eligible to join the voluntary AHV/IV and will not receive an AHV pension from Switzerland.

Comparison Table

Helpful Resources

• Official website of the Confederation: Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)
• Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA): OSA

Practical advice

• Consult a tax advisor: To ensure that you meet all the requirements and follow the correct procedure.
• Check the deadlines: Make sure you submit your application for membership within 12 months of leaving the mandatory AHV/IV.
• Plan contributions: Arrange the payment of voluntary AHV/IV contributions to secure an AHV pension upon retirement.

Warnings

• Don't wait until the last minute: The application for membership must be submitted within 12 months of leaving the mandatory AHV/IV.
• Check the requirements: Make sure you meet all the requirements before submitting your request.
• Consult official resources: Use the official websites of the Confederation and the OSA to obtain accurate and up-to-date information.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I join the voluntary AHV/IV if I live in an EU country?: No, since 2001, anyone living in an EU country can no longer pay AHV contributions.
• What are the requirements for joining the voluntary AHV/IV?: You must be a Swiss national or an EU/EFTA country's national, have been insured with the AHV for at least five consecutive years immediately before leaving the mandatory AHV/IV and submit an application for membership within 12 months of leaving the mandatory AHV/IV.
• What happens if I don't apply for membership within 12 months?: You will not be able to join the voluntary AHV/IV and you will not receive an AHV pension from Switzerland.

Conclusion

Joining the voluntary AHV/IV is an important choice for those who live abroad and want to secure a retirement pension. Following the correct procedure and meeting all the requirements is essential to ensure that you receive an AHV pension upon retirement.

CTA

For more information and to plan your voluntary AHV/IV contributions, please see our calcolatore di pensioni.

Useful planning tools

To estimate your pension strategy, use the pension planner and the pillar 3 simulator.

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.

Possible scenarios

• Case 1: A Swiss citizen who has lived abroad for 10 years and paid AHV contributions for 5 consecutive years before moving can join the voluntary AHV/IV and receive an AHV pension upon retirement.
• Case 2: A Swiss citizen who has lived abroad for 20 years and has never paid AHV contributions is not eligible to join the voluntary AHV/IV and will not receive an AHV pension from Switzerland.

Comparison Table

Helpful Resources

• Official website of the Confederation: Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)
• Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA): OSA

Practical advice

• Consult a tax advisor: To ensure that you meet all the requirements and follow the correct procedure.
• Check the deadlines: Make sure you submit your application for membership within 12 months of leaving the mandatory AHV/IV.
• Plan contributions: Arrange the payment of voluntary AHV/IV contributions to secure an AHV pension upon retirement.

Warnings

• Don't wait until the last minute: The application for membership must be submitted within 12 months of leaving the mandatory AHV/IV.
• Check the requirements: Make sure you meet all the requirements before submitting your request.
• Consult official resources: Use the official websites of the Confederation and the OSA to obtain accurate and up-to-date information.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I join the voluntary AHV/IV if I live in an EU country?: No, since 2001, anyone living in an EU country can no longer pay AHV contributions.
• What are the requirements for joining the voluntary AHV/IV?: You must be a Swiss national or an EU/EFTA country's national, have been insured with the AHV for at least five consecutive years immediately before leaving the mandatory AHV/IV and submit an application for membership within 12 months of leaving the mandatory AHV/IV.
• What happens if I don't apply for membership within 12 months?: You will not be able to join the voluntary AHV/IV and you will not receive an AHV pension from Switzerland.

Conclusion

Joining the voluntary AHV/IV is an important choice for those who live abroad and want to secure a retirement pension. Following the correct procedure and meeting all the requirements is essential to ensure that you receive an AHV pension upon retirement.

CTA

For more information and to plan your voluntary AHV/IV contributions, please see our calcolatore di pensioni.

Source: swissinfo.ch