Czech Social Security Payments by Expats

Many expats are concerned that, unless they accrue 35 years of contribution to the Czech social security system, they will not qualify for a pension here in the Czech Republic, through the Czech Social Security Administration (ČSSZ). 

However, the Czech Republic has social security agreements with several countries that allow for the aggregation of insurance periods. This means that contributions paid in these countries can be considered when determining eligibility for a Czech State Pension.

Here are some countries with which the Czech Republic has such agreements: 

• European Union (EU) Countries: As a member of the EU, the Czech Republic has agreements with all EU member states. This includes countries like Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and many others. EU regulations allow for the aggregation of social security contributions across member states for pension purposes. 

• European Economic Area (EEA) Countries: This includes members of the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. 

• Switzerland: Although not in the EU or EEA, Switzerland has a bilateral agreement with the Czech Republic for social security coordination. 

• Non-EU Countries with Bilateral Agreements: 

• • Canada 

• • USA (totalization agreement) 

• • Australia 

• • Japan 

• • South Korea 

• • Serbia 

• • Croatia (prior to its EU accession) 

• • Bosnia and Herzegovina 

• • Montenegro 

• • North Macedonia 

• • Albania 

• • Turkey 

• • Ukraine (though specifics might depend on the nature of the agreement at the time) 

• • Israel 

• • India (specific provisions) 

• Counting periods of insurance in both countries to meet the minimum contribution periods required for a pension. 

• Avoiding double contributions (paying social security in only one country at a time for work). 

• Coordinating benefits where one might receive pensions from multiple countries if contributions have been made in those places. 

However, the exact nature of how these contributions is counted can vary. For instance: 

• In some cases, you might receive a partial pension from each country based on the time you worked there. 

• In others, the pension might be calculated as if all contributions were made in one country, then pro-rated based on actual contributions. 

For precise details on how contributions from specific countries integrate with the Czech pension system, one would need to look into the specific terms of the bilateral agreements or EU regulations, as conditions can change or be specific to certain types of pensions or conditions.  

Please note, the list above might not be exhaustive, as new agreements could be signed or existing ones amended. Always check with the Czech Social Security Administration (ČSSZ) or consult the latest information from official sources for the most current and detailed information. 

Also, consult your home state for information about how many years you have accrued while working there. 

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