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Pension question, Portugal

How many years do I need for a Portuguese pension?

Portugal pays an old age pension, the pensao de velhice, only to people with 15 calendar years of registered earnings; voluntary insurance needs 144 months. Where Portuguese years alone fall short, Portugal pays a pro rata share: theoretical pension times Portuguese years divided by total years.

  • Source: seg-social.pt, read 4 October 2026

What to do next

  1. Count your years with registered earnings in Portugal and in every other country.
  2. Find your Portuguese social security number (NISS) on old payslips.
  3. Run our free check to see which countries may hold a pension in your name.

Check your own working life for free

Tell us where you worked. The free check shows which countries may hold a pension for you, and which can be ruled out and why. No sign in, no charge.

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Questions people also ask

What is the pension age in 2026?

Pension age in 2026 is 66 years and nine months.

  • Source: seg-social.pt, read 4 October 2026

Do you give advice on what to do?

No. We identify where a pension is likely held and the official route to it, and we name each source with the date we read it. We do not give financial, tax or legal advice.