Retirement pension abroad - for you born in 1962 or earlier

Have worked abroad

If you have worked in an EU/EEA country and were a member of a state occupational pension scheme in that country, this time can count towards your membership time with us. We do not have access to information about your foreign employment. It is therefore important that you inform us of this so that you do not miss out on a possible pension.

Earning time in a state occupational pension scheme in an EU/EEA country can count towards the minimum requirement of three years of earning time in The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund for you born in 1962 or earlier. You must have a minimum of one year's earnings if you were born in 1963 or later and only have earnings after 1 January 2020.

If you have been a member of a state occupational pension scheme in other EU/EEA countries, you may also be entitled to a pension there. In accordance with the regulations, we must notify the scheme when you have applied for a pension from us. When the foreign scheme receives notification of your application for a pension from SPK, it will be considered an application for a pension with them.

If you have worked abroad for a long time, it is a good idea to check your pension accrual in the National Insurance Scheme. See www.nav.no for more information. You should also investigate whether you have pension accrual in the national insurance in the country or countries where you have worked.

Work abroad

If you work abroad for more than 12 months, you usually lose your membership in the National Insurance Scheme (folketrygden). This is a rule that has some exceptions, and it is important that you familiarize yourself with what applies in your situation. Read more at www.nav.no for more information..

If you have previously been a member of SPK, but are not entitled to an old-age pension from the Norwegian national insurance scheme, your earned old-age pension will first be paid from the age limit for your position (which for many is 70).

Earning period in SPK

If you have accrued time in a state occupational pension scheme in an EU/EEA country, this time can count towards the assessment of whether you are entitled to a pension with us. We do not have access to information about your foreign employment. It is therefore important that you inform us of this so that you do not miss out on a possible pension.

If you were born in 1962 or earlier, you must have at least three years of membership in SPK to be entitled to a pension from us. If you were born in 1963 or later, you must have at least one year membership if you only have pension accrual after 1 January 2020.

Live abroad

If you live abroad and work in a position that grants you membership in SPK, you are accruing an occupational pension with us. You are usually not a member of the National Insurance Scheme if you live outside Norway for more than 12 months. You can compensate for this by paying a special rate to SPK of 7.5 percent of your income in addition to the two percent which is the usual cost for membership with us. This special rate is what makes it possible to continue to be a member with us even without membership in the National Insurance Scheme.

From 1 January 2023, several groups have been exempted from the requirement to pay the special rate of 7.5 percent. If you are wondering what applies to you, contact your employer.

If you have accrued time in a state occupational pension scheme in other EU/EEA countries, you may also be entitled to a pension from there. In accordance with the regulations, we must notify the scheme when you have applied for a pension from us. When the foreign scheme receives notification of your application for a pension from us, it will be considered an application for a pension with them.

If there is uncertainty related to your membership in the National Insurance Scheme, it is Nav that decides that question.

Contractual pension (AFP)

Losing your membership in the National Insurance Scheme may have consequences for rights that you would normally have. For example, you will lose the right to receive contractual pension (AFP) from the National Insurance Scheme between the ages of 62 and 65. If you continue in a position with compulsory membership with us until you are 65 years of age, you can apply for contractual pension (AFP) from us.

Unfortunately, you cannot use our pension calculator.