Expat Pension Calculator

Yes. UK citizens living abroad can receive UK State Pension at state pension age, paid in local currency or to a UK bank account. The pension is not means-tested.

Only if you live in the EU/EEA, Switzerland, or a country with a reciprocal agreement. In other countries, your pension is frozen at the level when you first left or when you started claiming.

Check your NI record via the government gateway (gov.uk). You can see qualifying years, gaps, and the cost to fill them voluntarily.

Yes. Expats can pay Class 2 contributions (if working abroad) at £3.45/week (2025/26), or Class 3 voluntary contributions at £17.45/week. Class 2 is much cheaper.

Generally worth paying if you need more qualifying years for a full state pension (you need 35 years). The ROI is excellent — Class 2 costs ~£179/year but adds £6.32/week (£329/year) for life.

QROPS (Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes) allow transferring UK pensions to overseas schemes. They can be useful for long-term expats but have complex tax implications. Always take regulated advice.

UK residents and those with relevant UK earnings can contribute to a SIPP. Non-residents with no UK earnings cannot get tax relief on SIPP contributions. Check your residency position.

Leaving the UK doesn't affect existing pension pots. Defined contribution pots continue to grow. Defined benefit deferred pensions remain payable at retirement age.

Transfers to foreign pension schemes may incur a 25% overseas transfer charge unless the destination is in the EEA or the member is resident in the same country as the receiving scheme.

Contact the International Pension Centre (DWP) at least 2 months before your State Pension age. They will send a claim form and arrange overseas payment.

No. Only years with UK NI contributions or certain UK benefits count as qualifying years. Years working abroad (without paying UK voluntary NI) do not count.

Under social security coordination rules, EU working periods may count towards your UK State Pension via aggregation of contributions — though Brexit has reduced these rights for new periods.