logo-Centrelink

Australia's International Social Security Agreements:

Australia has formal social security agreements with particular countries to make sure you continue to get social security protection when you move between the agreement countries.

 

What countries does Australia have agreements with?

Australia has agreements with 19 countries to share the responsibility for social security coverage. These agreements are with:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Denmark
  • Germany
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Malta
  • The Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Portugal
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Switzerland
  • USA

You can view Australia's International Social Security Agreements Factsheets, with specific information on each country, in the Publications section of the website. There is also more information about International Agreements on the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website.

Agreements with other countries have also been signed:

  • An agreement on Social Security between Australia and the Republic of Korea was signed on the 6th of December 2006. This agreement is expected to commence some time in 2008.
  • An agreement on Social Security between Australia and Japan was signed on the 27th of February 2007. This agreement is expected to commence some time in 2009.
  • An agreement on Social Security between Australia and Greece was signed on the 23rd of May 2007.

Negotiations for other new agreements are under way with a number of other countries.

[ return to top ]

Agreement with Greece

A social security agreement between Australia and Greece was signed in the presence of the Prime Ministers of both countries on 23 May 2007.

Under the terms of the Agreement, Australian residents and former residents of Australia now in Greece will be able to claim Australian Age Pension. People in Australia or Greece with some pension contributions in Greece will be able to claim Greek old-age pension.

For more information visit the New International Social Security Agreements page on the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website.

[ return to top ]

Agreement with the United Kingdom

The agreement with the United Kingdom ended on 1 March 2001. If you were getting benefits under the agreement on 1 March 2001, you will continue to get those payments.

If you are an Australian resident who migrated to Australia on or before 1 March 2000, the date on which Australia served notice of termination of the agreement on the UK, you will continue to have your UK contributions recognised for grants of Australian Age Pension.

For information on claiming UK pensions, paying voluntary contributions or on other matters relating to United Kingdom social security, go to the following UK Government websites:

[ return to top ]

Who do agreements help?

Agreements help if you have lived in Australia and in an agreement country and have been covered by that other country's social insurance scheme. They only cover pensions, e.g. Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment (adult), Carer Payment (child) and Parenting Payment (Single) and payments covered vary with different agreements.

[ return to top ]

How do agreements help?

Agreements can help by:

  • adding together your periods of social insurance in an agreement country and your periods of Australian residence to meet the minimum qualifying residence periods for an Australian pension or a pension from the agreement country.
  • overcoming payment restrictions by the agreement country based on citizenship or country of residence.
  • enabling you to lodge a claim in any agreement country apart from New Zealand and Denmark:
    • the agreement with Denmark requires you to be either in Australia or Denmark to lodge a claim for Australian Age Pension or Australian Disability Support Pension and a claim for Australian Parenting Payment (Single) under the Danish Agreement may only be lodged in Australia.
    • the Agreement with New Zealand will only allow claims to be lodged in either Australia or New Zealand.

[ return to top ]

How much pension do I get paid under an agreement?

Each country usually pays you a part pension. Foreign pension rates are usually proportional to the length of your social insurance period. Australian pensions are usually paid at a proportional rate abroad, and as top up pension inside Australia. For the Australian pension, some foreign welfare supplement payments are not treated as income.

[ return to top ]

How do I claim a foreign pension while in Australia?

You can get a claim form for a foreign pension from any agreement country posted to you in Australia by contacting Centrelink International Services on 13 1673 or by visiting any Centrelink Customer Service Centre.

You can only get a claim form for a foreign pension from a non-agreement country by contacting the social security authority in that country. You can get contact details for many countries, or help with your claim by visiting any Centrelink Customer Service Centre or Telephoning Centrelink.

Note: To claim an Australian Age Pension, you must take steps to get a pension from the country you lived in, or provide a reason why a claim would be unsuccessful.

[ return to top ]

How do I claim an Australian pension while outside Australia?

If you are living in an Agreement country, you can claim an Australian pension by:

You cannot claim an Australian pension unless you are residing in Australia OR an Agreement country.

Note: To claim an Australian Age Pension, you must take steps to get a pension from the country you lived in, or provide a reason why a claim would be unsuccessful.

[ return to top ]

Did you find what you were looking for? You can also try the A-Z list, quick links, search, site help or send us feedback on how to make this a better website.

Return to Top