Will you get a Spanish pension after only a few working years?

Key rules

• Minimum record: You need at least 15 years of contributions, with at least 2 of them in the 15 years before you retire.
• Short record: If you fall short, you get no contributory pension, though other routes may exist.
• Leaving Spain: Your contributions are not refunded, but they stay on record for later use.
• Other countries: Years paid in other EU/EEA or treaty countries can be added to your Spanish years.

The minimum record

You need at least 15 years of contributions, with at least 2 of them in the 15 years before you retire. That is the test for the ordinary contributory retirement pension. If you do not meet it, you get no contributory pension from Spain, however many years you did work.

The 15 years means 5,475 days of actual contributions. Only days you really paid in count.

The recent-years test

The 2 recent years must fall in the 15 years just before you retire, or before you stopped contributing. If you left the system, the 15-year window is measured back from your last contribution. Special rules apply in some situations and in special regimes, so ask the Seguridad Social about your own case.

A few years of work in Spain early on will therefore not meet the test on their own.

If you leave Spain with a short record

Spain does not refund your contributions when you leave without a pension. They stay on your record. You can use them later for a Spanish pension or combine them with years from other countries. The only refunds are for contributions paid wrongly or in excess.

If you fall short

Falling short means no contributory pension, but other routes may exist. The choices are in the decision box below. In short:

• Other countries: Years in other EU/EEA countries, Switzerland or treaty countries can be added to your Spanish years. Each country then pays its own share of the pension.
• Non-contributory pension: From age 65 you may qualify for a pensión no contributiva. You need 10 years of legal residence in Spain between age 16 and the claim date, 2 of them just before claiming, and income below a limit. The limits are set yearly. Ask the regional body that handles it where you live (IMSERSO in Ceuta and Melilla).
• Voluntary contributions: If you are eligible to keep contributing, you can pay through a convenio especial with the Seguridad Social.
• Work longer: Keep working and contributing past the ordinary retirement age.
• Supplements: A means-tested supplement at 65 or minimum-pension supplements may apply in some cases.

Check your record and your options with the Seguridad Social before you leave Spain or stop working.

Choosing between options

What can you do if your record is too short for a contributory pension?

• Add years from other countries: You also worked in another EU/EEA country, Switzerland or a country with a treaty with Spain.

• Claim a non-contributory pension: You are 65 or older, have 10 years of legal residence in Spain after age 16 (2 of them right before claiming) and have low income.

• Keep working past the ordinary age: You can still work and want to add contribution years.

• Ask about supplements: You are 65 or older on a low income and may qualify for the age-65 supplement or a minimum-pension supplement.

Start with the option that uses what you already have: other-country years first, then residence and income for the non-contributory pension. Voluntary contributions or more work only help if you can still reach the minimum record.

What to watch out for

• No refund of contributions if you leave: If you leave Spain without a pension, your social security contributions are not paid back. They stay on your record. Keep proof of your Spanish work years, since they can count later for a Spanish pension or be added to years in other countries. If you paid too much by mistake, ask for that excess back.

Frequently asked questions

Do I lose my Spanish contributions if I leave Spain without a pension?

No, your contributions stay on your record, and Spain does not refund them when you leave. They can count later for a Spanish pension, or be added to periods in other EU/EEA or treaty countries. The only exception is money paid wrongly or in excess, which you can reclaim.

Can my years in another EU country count towards the Spanish minimum?

Yes, years in other EU/EEA countries, Switzerland or treaty countries can be added to your Spanish years to reach the minimum. Each country then pays its own share of the pension, in proportion to the time you spent there.

Can I get a Spanish pension without contributions?

Yes, a non-contributory pension exists from age 65 if you have 10 years of legal residence in Spain between age 16 and your claim, 2 of them just before claiming, and low income. Income limits are set yearly, so ask the regional social services office.

Can I pay voluntary contributions to reach the minimum record?

Yes, if you are eligible to keep contributing, you can pay voluntary contributions through a special agreement (convenio especial) with the Seguridad Social. Working and contributing past the ordinary retirement age also adds years to your record.