After leaving Ireland

Your pension after leaving Ireland

The free official route for Ireland is MyWelfare. State pension contribution record and welfare entitlements. 6 months maximum backdating on the State Pension (Contributory).

Source: mywelfare.ie, read 6 September 2026
Source: gov.ie, read 16 September 2026

PensionHunter is independent and not affiliated with the institutions named here.

There is no official Irish pension-tracing service, and EU contributions can combine with Irish PRSI for a pro-rata State Pension (minimum 52 Irish reckonable contributions).

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Full refund if we find nothing material.

Verified country facts

Every line below comes from our country research. Where we have not found a published source, we say so rather than fill the gap.

Time-critical dates

SPC backdating: 6 months maximum backdating on the State Pension (Contributory)Official source, checked 16 September 2026
Voluntary PRSI window: 60-month (5-year) application window from the end of the last compulsory-contribution year (high rate 6.6%, min €500/yr)Official source, checked 16 September 2026

How records are reached

Getting your own record: MyGovID (the personal PRSI record / MyWelfare)

There is no official Irish pension-tracing service, the EIOPA IORP register lists trustees and schemes of 12+ members but does not map employer to scheme, and Ireland is the only-tracing-route market in our fleet for the pre-2026 era. The depth here is on the state side: EU contributions can combine with as little as 52 Irish reckonable PRSI contributions for a pro-rata State Pension.

Cross-border

EU pro-rata (52-Irish-week floor); Ireland↔UK CTA convention preserves reciprocal rights; bilateral agreements (AU, CA, US).

Primary sources: register.eiopa.europa.eu · gov.ie / citizensinformation.ie · pensionsauthority.ie

Everything above is drawn from the verified Ireland dossier. The Ireland country page sets out what we identify, what it costs and who it is for.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still draw my Ireland pension if I live abroad?

No part of Irish pension tracing gets easier or harder by being abroad, the absence of a tracing service applies equally everywhere, and the work is the same.

What happens to a Ireland pension if I do nothing?

A preserved DB benefit revalues at the lesser of CPI/4%; there is no statutory forfeiture of a preserved occupational pension nobody has applied for, but every month of State Pension nobody applies for past entitlement age is forfeited (limited backdating).

Do you give financial advice on what to do with a Ireland pension?

No. We identify the scheme and access route. We do not advise on transfer, consolidation, drawdown, or taxation, those decisions belong with a regulated adviser in your country of residence.

What if you find nothing?

Full refund. Our report is a fixed $99 fee, paid up front. If we find nothing material, we refund you in full.