About 3,300 Moldovans living abroad receive pensions under international social security agreements

About 3,300 Moldovans currently living abroad are receiving pensions under International Social Security Agreements signed by the Republic of Moldova and other countries. National Social Insurance House (CNAS) provided the data.

CNAS Head of International Relations Iulia Saenco said that as of 1 January 2025, the majority of pension beneficiaries under Social Security Agreements are from Germany - 1,054 citizens, Romania - 551, Bulgaria - 168, Belarus - 127, Czech Republic - 134 and Lithuania - 90.


"People can receive pensions for retirement age, disability pensions due to general health conditions, pensions and allowances for disability following work-related accidents or occupational diseases, and survivor pensions or other benefits, depending on the provisions of each agreement," stated Iulia Saenco.


She emphasized that Moldovans who have legally worked in a state with which the Republic of Moldova has signed a Social Security Agreement can apply for pensions under the legislation of the country of residence, as well as based on the legal framework of the Republic of Moldova. Pension payments are to be made monthly or quarterly, depending on the provisions of the agreement, in the country where the individual currently resides.


"Thanks to these agreements, a framework of social guarantees is created for individuals who work or have worked legally in either of the two states. Social benefits are granted based on the principle of proportionality. Thus, the competent institution of each state calculates and pays benefits proportionally to the contribution period completed on its territory. Additionally, if the insured person has not met a minimum contribution period (for example, 15 years for the Republic of Moldova), the procedure of totalizing the contribution period can be applied to grant the pension right to the applicant," stated Iulia Saenco.


To date, the Republic of Moldova has signed Social Security Agreements with 19 countries, 18 of which have entered into force and are applicable. These are social security agreements signed between the Republic of Moldova and Romania, Bulgaria, Portugal, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Austria, Estonia, the Czech Republic, the Kingdom of Belgium, Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Germany, Turkey, Belarus, Italy, Greece, Spain and Latvia.

On 10 March, an Agreement was signed between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of the French Republic in the social security, and agreements are currently being negotiated with Canada, the Swiss Confederation, Ukraine and Slovakia.

The first round of negotiations on the Social Security Agreement with Albania is planned for May. Negotiations with Slovenia and Croatia are expected to begin in the near future.