Retirement pension abroad - for you born in 1963 or later

Previously worked abroad

If you have worked in an EU/EEA country and were a member of a state occupational pension scheme there, this period may count towards your pensionable service with SPK. We do not have access to information about your employment abroad, so it is important that you notify us in order to ensure that you do not miss out on any potential pension entitlements.

Pensionable service in a state occupational pension scheme in an EU/EEA country may count towards the minimum requirement of three years of pensionable service in SPK for those born in 1963 or later, for service up to and including 31 December 2019. If you only have pensionable service from 1 January 2020 onwards, you must have at least one year of service.

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 from those schemes. According to the regulations, we are required to notify the relevant pension scheme when you apply for a pension from SPK. When the foreign scheme is notified of your application to SPK, it will also be considered an application for pension from them.

If you have spent a long time working abroad, we recommend that you check your pension entitlements in the National Insurance Scheme (check this at www.nav.no). You should also investigate whether you have accrued pension rights in The National Insurance Schemes of the countries where you worked.

Currently working abroad

If you work abroad for more than 12 months, you will usually lose your membership in the National Insurance Scheme. There are some exceptions to this rule, and it is important that you familiarise yourself with the regulations that apply to your situation. Read more at Nav.no.

If you were previously a member of SPK but are not entitled to a retirement pension from the National Insurance Scheme, your accrued retirement pension will be paid from the retirement age associated with your position (which is 70 years for most).

Pensionable service in SPK

If you have pensionable service in a state occupational pension scheme in an EU/EEA country, this may be taken into account when assessing your entitlement to a pension from SPK. We do not have access to information about your employment abroad, so it is important that you notify us in order to ensure that you do not miss out on any potential pension entitlements.

Pensionable service in a state occupational pension scheme in an EU/EEA country may count towards the minimum requirement of three years of pensionable service in SPK for those born in 1963 or later, for service up to and including 31 December 2019. If you only have pensionable service from 1 January 2020 onwards, you must have at least one year of service.

Living abroad

If you live abroad and hold a position that qualifies for membership in SPK, you will continue to accrue pension rights with us. You are normally not a member of the National Insurance Scheme if you live outside Norway for more than 12 months. Read more at Nav.no.

If you work for an employer with a pension scheme in SPK, you may apply for voluntary membership, provided that you have previously been a member of the National Insurance Scheme through employment. If you have never been a member of The National Insurance Scheme, it is not possible to become a voluntary member of SPK.

If you have pensionable service in a state occupational pension scheme in other EU/EEA countries, you may also be entitled to a pension from those schemes. According to the regulations, we are required to notify the relevant pension scheme when you apply for a pension from SPK. When the foreign scheme is notified of your application to SPK, it will also be considered an application for pension from them.

If there is any uncertainty regarding your membership in the National Insurance Scheme, this is determined by Nav.

Contractual early retirement pension (AFP) for life

For members born in 1963 or later, changes have been made to the contractual early retirement pension (AFP). Certain conditions must be met at the age of 62 in order to qualify for AFP:

• You must have been employed by an organisation with a collective agreement involving the state as a party for at least seven of the last nine years.
• The period is calculated from your 53rd birthday until the day before you turn 62.
• The work must have been your main employment.
• Employment must have exceeded 20 per cent of a full-time position.
• Combined percentages of multiple positions are included.
• Only actual working time is considered.
• Pensionable income must exceed any other income.

There are also conditions that must be met at the time of AFP withdrawal:

• You must have been continuously employed and a genuine employee in a scheme that provides entitlement to AFP during the last three years prior to withdrawal.
• Your pensionable income, converted to an annual income, must exceed the National Insurance scheme basic amount (G) at the time of withdrawal.
• Your pensionable income must have exceeded the average basic amount in the year prior to taking out AFP for life.

Read more about lifelong AFP and the eligibility criteria here.