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Pension question, Portugal

When should I apply for my Portuguese pension?

Portugal pays the old-age pension only from the application, never for the months before it. The application can be made when three months or less remain before the date on which the person wishes the pension to start.

What to do next

  1. Choose the date you want your Portuguese pension to start and mark the three months before it.
  2. Find your Portuguese social security number (NISS) on old payslips.
  3. Run our free check to see which other countries set a clock on your pension.

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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

Where does someone living abroad apply?

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

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.