Your UK State Pension when you move abroad
For UK people moving to Spain, Portugal, France, the US, Canada, Australia or elsewhere. Where your State Pension rises each year and where it is frozen, the April 2026 change to voluntary National Insurance from abroad, and how to claim, get paid and handle tax.
You can get your UK State Pension anywhere in the world. Where you live decides whether it goes up each year. In the EEA, Switzerland, Gibraltar, the US and a few other countries, it rises every April. In Canada, Australia, New Zealand and every country not on DWP’s list, it stays at the same weekly amount. The rules for topping up your record from abroad also tightened on 6 April 2026. This guide covers both, plus claiming, payment and tax.
How much the State Pension is
The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week in the 2026 to 2027 tax year. It applies to men born on or after 6 April 1951 and women born on or after 6 April 1953. People born earlier get the basic State Pension instead, with a full rate of £184.90 a week in 2026 to 2027.
Your amount depends on your National Insurance record:
- 10 qualifying years is the usual minimum for any new State Pension.
- 35 qualifying years gets the full rate if your record started after April 2016.
- More than 35 years is usually needed if you were “contracted out” before 2016.
Contributions in the EEA, Switzerland or a country with a UK social security agreement can count towards the 10-year minimum. Your UK pension is still paid only on your UK qualifying years.
Where your pension rises each year, and where it is frozen
In the UK, the new State Pension rises each year by the highest of average wage growth, price inflation (CPI) or 2.5%. Abroad, you get that rise only in certain countries.
| Your pension rises each year | Your pension is frozen |
|---|---|
| Every EEA country, including Spain, Portugal, France, Ireland, Italy and Germany | Canada and New Zealand, despite their social security agreements with the UK |
| Switzerland | Australia |
| Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man | Any country not in the left-hand column, for example Mexico, Thailand, Japan and the UAE |
| The United States | |
| Barbados, Bermuda, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Israel, Jamaica, Kosovo, Mauritius, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Serbia and Turkey |
In the right-hand column, your weekly amount does not go up while you live there. For example, the full new State Pension rose from £230.25 to £241.30 a week in April 2026. Someone already getting it in Canada or Australia did not get that rise. If you move back to the UK, your pension goes up to the current rate.
Check your forecast and your gaps
Two free GOV.UK services show where you stand:
- Check your State Pension forecast shows how much you could get, when, and whether you can increase it. It is also in the HMRC app. It is not available once you get or defer your pension.
- Check your National Insurance record shows any gaps, what filling them costs and whether paying would help.
Voluntary contributions do not always increase your pension. Check your forecast before you pay anything.
Voluntary National Insurance from abroad: what changed in April 2026
The change was announced at Budget 2025 and took effect on 6 April 2026. It applies to time abroad from the 2026 to 2027 tax year onwards. Earlier tax years keep the old rules.
Class 2 has ended for time abroad. Two groups keep access:
- self-employed people treated as self-employed in the UK under a social security agreement
- volunteer development workers
Class 3 is still open, with stricter conditions. To make a new application for time abroad from 6 April 2026, you need either:
- 10 years in a row living in the UK, or
- 10 years of qualifying National Insurance contributions in total
Before, the test was 3 years. Voluntary contributions paid for other periods abroad do not count towards the 10 years, and neither do National Insurance credits. Contributions paid under a social security agreement and by volunteer development workers do count.
What it costs. For 2026 to 2027, Class 3 is £18.40 a week and Class 2 is £3.65 a week. HMRC estimates Class 3 costs £767 more a year than Class 2 at these rates.
Who keeps the old 3-year rule. People already paying Class 3 for time abroad carry on without reapplying. You can also use the 3-year rule for 2026 to 2027 if all of these are true:
- you applied to pay Class 2 or Class 3 for the 2024 to 2025 or 2025 to 2026 tax year on or before 5 April 2026
- you pay the contributions you applied for on or before 5 April 2027
- you apply to pay Class 3 for 2026 to 2027 on or before 5 April 2027
These transitional rules stop applying once you return to live or work in the UK.
Paying voluntary contributions while abroad
- Check your record and forecast.
- Apply online with form CF83. You need photo ID and a phone with a working camera.
- Wait for HMRC’s acceptance letter. It gives the amount and your payment reference. Do not pay before it arrives.
- Pay by Direct Debit, bank transfer (HMRC publishes details for overseas accounts) or a UK cheque.
You can usually pay for the past 6 tax years. The deadline is 5 April each year. For example, gaps in 2025 to 2026 can be filled until 5 April 2032. If you are within 6 months of State Pension age, or over it, contact the International Pension Centre (IPC) instead of applying.
Claiming your pension from abroad
Your State Pension is not paid automatically. You must claim it. You can claim from abroad once you are within 4 months of your State Pension age. To claim, either:
- phone the IPC on +44 (0) 191 218 7777, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
- send the international claim form to the IPC (form IPCBR1NSP if you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016)
If you split the year between countries, you must choose one country for payment.
Getting paid into a foreign bank account
Your pension can go into a bank in the country you live in, or a UK bank or building society. For an overseas account, you give your IBAN, BIC or local bank code, using the IPC1394 form for that country.
- Currency. The payment is usually converted into local currency, with a 0.39% conversion charge.
- Frequency. You choose every 4 weeks or every 13 weeks. Under £5 a week is paid once a year, in December.
- Delays. A US company processes payments, so a US federal holiday can make one a day late. Local public holidays can also delay them.
- Life certificates. DWP may send you a form to confirm you are still eligible. If you do not return it, your payments may be suspended.
Report changes, such as a new address or bank, to the IPC by phone or in writing. Do not use email for changes.
Tax on your State Pension abroad
Where you pay tax depends on where you are tax resident.
- Non-UK residents do not usually pay UK tax on the State Pension. The country you live in may tax it.
- UK residents living abroad may pay UK tax on it.
- A double taxation agreement, if your country has one with the UK, means you pay tax on your pension only once. Each agreement decides whether that is in the UK or where you live. If you are taxed twice, you can usually claim relief.
Check the UK’s tax treaty with your new country. See Your money when you move abroad for banking and transfers, and After Brexit: moving to the EU from the UK for visas.
This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm your position with GOV.UK, HMRC or the International Pension Centre before you act.