State pension

If you have worked for at least one year in Spain and a combined total of 15 years in Spain and any other EEA country (e.g. the UK) you may be able to apply for a Spanish State Pension. Note however, that two of these 15 years must be within the last 15 years.

Scenario – State Pension

Mr Anderson worked for 26 years in the UK before moving to Spain. He has been running his own business in Spain and paying National Insurance contributions (NICs) as an autónomo into the Spanish system for the last seven years. He now wants to apply for his State Pension.

When and where can Mr Anderson apply for his UK State Pension?

As he is currently resident in Spain and has been working here, Mr Anderson should apply for his UK State Pension four months before his 65th birthday at his local INSS office in Spain. 65 is the current State Pension age for men in the UK. To find out when you reach State Pension age please use the State Pension Age Calculator.

Is Mr Anderson entitled to a State Pension from Spain?

Mr Anderson has a combined total of 33 years of NICs in the UK and Spain and has paid two years worth of NICs in the last 15 years. Therefore Mr Anderson meets the Spanish criteria for a State Pension. He should apply for his Spanish State Pension at his local INSS office in Spain once he has turned 65.