Can I get my State Pension if I live abroad?

How State Pension abroad works

You can get your UK State Pension in any country in the world. What changes is how you claim, how you are paid, and whether your pension goes up each year.

Will your pension go up each year?

This is the biggest thing to check before you move. Your State Pension only rises each April if you live in:

• the European Economic Area (EEA)
• Switzerland
• Gibraltar
• a country with a social security agreement with the UK that includes increases

The countries with yearly increases include all EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, plus Barbados, Bermuda, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Gibraltar, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Israel, Jamaica, Jersey, Kosovo, Mauritius, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Serbia, Turkey and the USA.

You do not get yearly increases in Canada or New Zealand, or anywhere not on the list, such as Australia. Your pension stays at the same weekly amount and does not go up. This is often called a frozen pension.

Worked example

The full new State Pension rose from £230.25 a week in 2025/26 to £241.30 a week in 2026/27.

The frozen pension is £11.05 a week less, or £574.60 a year, and the gap grows each year.

If you come back to live in the UK, your pension goes up to the current rate.

How to claim

1. You can claim once you are within 4 months of your State Pension age.
2. Contact the International Pension Centre, or fill in the international claim form and post it to them.
3. International Pension Centre (State Pension): +44 (0) 191 218 7777, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm UK time.

How you are paid

• Every 4 weeks or every 13 weeks. You choose.
• If your pension is under £5 a week, it is paid once a year in December.
• Into a bank account in the country where you live, or a UK account.
• Payments to an account abroad have a conversion charge of 0.39%. On a 4 weekly payment of £965.20 (4 x £241.30), that is about £3.76.
• You must pick one country to be paid in. You cannot be paid in one country for part of the year and another for the rest.

Things to know

• Your pension may still be taxed. Check the tax rules for the UK and the country you live in.
• Tell the International Pension Centre if you move country, change bank or your circumstances change.
• Payments can be a day late around some bank holidays.
• If you are already retired and thinking of moving, the International Pension Centre can tell you how your pension would be affected.

Related guides

• How do I claim my State Pension?
• How much is the State Pension?
• What happens if I delay my State Pension?
• How much are voluntary National Insurance contributions?
• Do I pay tax on my pension?

Where these figures come from

• State Pension if you retire abroad (GOV.UK)
• How your pension is affected (GOV.UK)
• Countries where we pay an annual increase in the State Pension (DWP)
• International Pension Centre (GOV.UK)
• Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (DWP)