Where do I apply for a pension from a country I no longer live in?

In several of the systems we research, through the institution of the country where you live now. They send a non resident to the institution of the country of residence, and Slovenia states the rule in full: The application goes in one country only, normally the country of residence or of last employment, and must name every country you were insured in (Source: zpiz.si, read 4 October 2026). Luxembourg: Nothing is automatic: CNAP states that the award of a pension is not automatic and an application is required, and non residents normally lodge it in the country where they live (Source: cnap.public.lu, guichet.public.lu, secu.lu, read 4 October 2026). Where no such arrangement covers you, each country's own route from abroad applies, and our country hubs name it with its source.

Which countries point me to my country of residence?

• Portugal. The guide also sends a non resident to the social security institution of the country of residence, not to the Centro Nacional de Pensoes, and states an average of 120 days (Source: seg-social.pt, read 4 October 2026).
• Luxembourg, the lead time. Guichet.lu sets out two to six months ahead for a Luxembourg only career, and at least six months where other countries are involved (Source: cnap.public.lu, guichet.public.lu, secu.lu, read 4 October 2026).
• Ireland. The Department states there is a legal onus on you to apply, on its own form, and it recommends applying six months before you want payment to start if you worked in another EU or agreement country (Source: gov.ie and welfare.ie, read 3 October 2026).

Where do the online routes stop for people abroad?

• United States. Even with an account working, SSA's own application page sends an overseas applicant off the website (Source: ssa.gov, read 3 October 2026).
• New Zealand. On the pension side Work and Income states you can apply online through MyMSD unless you live overseas (Source: ird.govt.nz, workandincome.govt.nz, read 4 October 2026).
• Israel. Bituach Leumi's online old age application is confined to an insured person resident in Israel or in a convention country, Canada excepted (Source: gov.il, btl.gov.il, read 4 October 2026).
• Philippines. Totalisation cases cannot be filed online at all (Source: sss.gov.ph, read 4 October 2026).
• Malaysia. The EPF pays only on an application, and the Leaving Country route lists its channels as self-service terminals and EPF offices in Malaysia, with no online submission through i-Akaun for this type (Source: kwsp.gov.my, read 3 October 2026).

What do the authorities tell us in writing?

We write to most pension authorities in the countries we cover, stay in contact with them and update our facts as they answer. Read their written answers. The country hubs for the examples above: Slovenia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Ireland, United States, New Zealand, Israel, Philippines and Malaysia.

Our free pension checker and our free map start from your own work history. Our pension questions pages answer single country questions, our authority answers publish what national pension institutions told us in writing, and our monthly data release publishes our agreement routes and deadline rows as CSV, each with its source and read date.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to apply separately in each country? Not always. Where Slovenia's rule applies, one application names every country you were insured in. Elsewhere each institution has its own route, which our country hubs name.

Can I apply online from abroad? It depends on the institution. The rows above show online routes that stop for people abroad, and our pension portals directory records what each portal asks for.

Does PensionHunter apply for me? No. We identify and research. Our reports name the scheme, who holds the record today and how to reach them; the application stays with you.

Sources

• Slovenia, pension portals directory entry, citing zpiz.si, read 4 October 2026.
• Luxembourg, pension portals directory entry, citing cnap.public.lu, guichet.public.lu, secu.lu, read 4 October 2026.
• Portugal, pension portals directory entry, citing seg-social.pt, read 4 October 2026.
• Ireland, pension portals directory entry, citing gov.ie and welfare.ie, read 3 October 2026.
• Philippines, pension portals directory entry, citing sss.gov.ph, read 4 October 2026.
• Israel, pension portals directory entry, citing gov.il, btl.gov.il, read 4 October 2026.
• United States, pension portals directory entry, citing ssa.gov, read 3 October 2026.
• New Zealand, pension portals directory entry, citing ird.govt.nz, workandincome.govt.nz, read 4 October 2026.
• Malaysia, pension portals directory entry, citing kwsp.gov.my, read 3 October 2026.