Will you receive a pension with regard to your foreign career

You have worked in Belgium as salaried worker/self-employed person

1. And you have equally worked in another Member State of the European Economic Area (EEA)

You are currently resident in Belgium
Please inquire at the Federal Pensions Service (SFPD) whether there exists the possibility to take into account the periods of the different jobs you have carried out in the EEA when calculating your Belgian pension.
You are currently resident in another Member State of the EEA
You can apply for your pension in the country where you are resident or where you have carried out your last job.

2. And you have moreover also worked outside the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland or the United Kingdom

Have you paid contributions to the Overseas Social Security (OSS) during your period of employment outside the EEA, Switzerland or the United Kingdom ?
- With regard to your period of employment in Belgium or in a Member State of the EEA, you will have to apply for your pension concerning this period at the SFPD (Federal Pension Service) or at the institution you have paid contributions to.
- For your period of employment outside the EEA, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, you will have to apply for your pension at the OSS.
- Consequently you will benefit from two distinct pensions paid by two mutually independent institutions.
Have you paid no contributions to the Overseas Social Security system during your period of employment outside the EEA, Switzerland or the United Kingdom ?
- You can check with the administration of the country where you have been employed whether you have built up pension rights in that country.
- In order to benefit from a pension of the OSS, you can regularize this period by paying a flat-rate contribution (one-off premium).

Please note that a request for granting the retirement pension has to be filed at every institution (OSS, SFPD, ..).

You must apply for your pension as an employee/self-employed person/official in Belgium with the Federal Pension Office.
After a career outside the EEA, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, you must apply for your pension with the OSS.

Please note that there is no automatic granting or automatic assessment of the right to the pension by the OSS. A pension application must always be submitted 4 months prior to the desired start date of the pension.

You have worked exclusively outside the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland or the United Kingdom

Have you paid contributions to the Overseas Social Security (OSS) during your period of employment outside the EEA, Switzerland or the United Kingdom ?
- With regard to your period of employment outside the EEA, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, you will have to apply for your pension at the OSS.
Have you paid no contributions to the Overseas Social Security system during your period of employment outside the EEA, Switzerland or the United Kingdom ?
- You can check with the administration of the country where you have been employed whether you have built up pension rights in that country.
- In order to benefit from a pension of the OSS, you can regularize this period by paying a flat-rate contribution (one-off premium).

Would you like to share your travel experiences?

Are you an expat or do you know someone with an inspiring experience abroad? Please don't hesitate to contact us at overseas-expat@onssrszlss.fgov.be. And who knows, you might inspire future expats with your story.