Pension in Portugal for Ukrainians: translating documents for Segurança Social

15 years of contributions to Segurança Social - and you’re entitled to a Portuguese pension. If you’ve built up part of your employment history in Ukraine, that counts too, because there’s been a bilateral social security agreement between Ukraine and Portugal since 2012. The catch? Without properly translated documents, Segurança Social won’t even look at your application. Let’s break down how it all works, what you need to translate, and how much you can actually expect to receive.

How Portugal’s pension system works¶

Segurança Social (the social security service) is Portugal’s main pension system. It runs on a pay-as-you-go principle: people currently working and paying contributions fund the pensions of today’s retirees.

There are two types of pensions that might apply to you:

The retirement age in 2026 is 66 years and 9 months. It gets adjusted every year based on life expectancy, and will reach 67 by 2029.

There’s an early retirement option: from age 55, if you’ve got 30+ years of contributions. But for every extra year before the normal retirement age, your payment drops by 0.5% per month. Early exit = smaller pension.

What they actually pay: pension amounts in 2026¶

Here are the concrete numbers so you know what to expect:

If you don’t have enough contribution years or your income is very low (below 40% of IAS for a single person, or 60% for a couple), you can apply for the social pension - €537.13 per month in 2026. IAS (Indexante dos Apoios Sociais) is the base social support index that all benefits are calculated from. In 2026, it’s set at those same €537.13.

On top of the pension, there’s CSI (Complemento Solidário para Idosos) - an additional benefit for elderly people with low income. It’s basically a top-up that brings total income to an acceptable level.

One Ukrainian woman in Lisbon shared on a forum: “My husband gets a proportional pension from Portugal for 8 years of work here, plus from Ukraine for 20 years of service. Together it’s decent, but we had to apply separately for each, and the Portuguese part took 4 months to process.”

The Ukraine-Portugal agreement: how your work history counts¶

This is the key point for Ukrainians. Since March 1, 2012, there’s been a bilateral Social Security Agreement between Ukraine and Portugal. It works on a proportional principle:

• Work history in Ukraine - credited by the Ukrainian side, pension paid by the Pension Fund of Ukraine
• Work history in Portugal - credited by Segurança Social, pension paid by Portugal
• Both periods are combined to determine your eligibility, but each country only pays for its own portion

Example: you worked 20 years in Ukraine and 10 years in Portugal. Total history - 30 years. Portugal’s pension requires a minimum of 15 years, and you only have 10 Portuguese years. But thanks to the agreement, your 20 Ukrainian years get added to the total. Segurança Social sees 30 years and recognizes your right to a pension - but only pays for the 10 Portuguese years proportionally.

How to apply¶

If you’re living in Portugal - submit your application directly to Segurança Social (nearest office or online through Segurança Social Direta). The Portuguese side then contacts the Pension Fund of Ukraine through special liaison forms to verify your Ukrainian work history.

If you’re living in Ukraine - submit your application to the Pension Fund of Ukraine, which coordinates with Portuguese Segurança Social.

Documents you’ll need to confirm your work history:

• NISS (social security number) and NIF (tax identification number)
• Employment record book (trudova knyzhka) or its certified copy
• Reference letters from Ukrainian employers with exact company names and addresses
• Certificate from the Pension Fund of Ukraine confirming your insurance record

Which documents need translation and how¶

Here’s the full list of documents for claiming a pension through Segurança Social and translation requirements:

Tradução certificada - what it is and where to get one¶

Tradução certificada (certified translation) is a translation done by a translator officially recognized by the Portuguese system. Don’t confuse it with notarized translation in Ukraine - they’re different things. Portugal doesn’t have a “sworn translator” system like Germany. Here, translations are certified by a notário (notary) or advogado (lawyer) who confirms the translation’s accuracy.

Prices for tradução certificada in 2026:

The employment record book is the most expensive document to translate because it can run 10-20 pages with all the hire and dismissal entries. At €25-50 per page, that’s €250-1000 just for translation. One Ukrainian on a forum wrote: “Paid €400 for translation of my employment record into Portuguese at a bureau in Lisbon. 12 pages. But they accepted it on the first try with no complaints.”

How to cut translation costs¶

Before taking your entire employment record for translation, check with Segurança Social whether they need the whole book or just a certificate of service from the Pension Fund. Often the PFU certificate (1-2 pages) replaces a 15-page employment record - and costs a fraction of the price to translate.

ChatsControl can prepare a preliminary translation of your documents from Ukrainian to Portuguese. This helps you review the content before ordering the official tradução certificada and avoid costly mistakes.

Apostille: the right order of steps¶

For pension documents, here’s the correct sequence:

1. Get the document in Ukraine (PFU certificate, copy of employment record, employer references)
2. Get an apostille on the original in Ukraine (through the Ministry of Justice or regional offices)
3. Get the tradução certificada into Portuguese here in Portugal
4. Get an apostille or notarial certification on the translation too (depends on the specific Segurança Social office requirements)

Important: the apostille goes on BEFORE the translation, on the original document. Apostille first, then translation - not the other way around. This is a common mistake that costs extra money and time.

Segurança Social Direta: how to apply online¶

Segurança Social Direta (SSD) is an online portal where you can apply for a pension from home. To access it you need:

• NISS (social security number)
• Registration on the seg-social.pt portal
• Your account password

Through SSD you can:

• Submit an application for pensão de velhice or pensão social
• Track your application status
• Upload documents electronically
• Check your contribution history

If you don’t have a NISS yet - you’ll need to get one. For Ukrainians with temporary protection, NISS is issued automatically through AIMA. For others - visit a Segurança Social office with your passport, NIF, and residence permit.

Types of pensions that may apply to you¶

Pensão de velhice (old-age pension)¶

The main pension for those who’ve reached retirement age (66 years 9 months in 2026) with at least 15 years of contributions. The amount depends on total contributions and number of years.

Pensão social de velhice (social pension)¶

For those who’ve reached retirement age but don’t have 15 years of contributions or have very low income. No contribution history required, but you must be living in Portugal. Amount in 2026 - €537.13/month.

Pensão de invalidez (disability pension)¶

If you’ve lost your ability to work before reaching retirement age. For total disability (100%), you need at least 3 years of contributions. For partial disability (66.7%+) - at least 5 years.

Pensão de sobrevivência (survivor’s pension)¶

For the spouse or children of someone who was entitled to or already receiving a pension. You’ll need translated marriage and death certificates - with apostille and tradução certificada.

Segurança Social contributions: what you pay¶

If you’re working in Portugal, contributions break down like this:

For self-employed workers (trabalhador independente), the rate is different - 21.4% of declared income. Your first year as self-employed is contribution-free, then you pay quarterly.

There’s no earnings cap - contributions are calculated on your entire salary with no ceiling. This sets Portugal apart from many other EU countries.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them¶

Not confirming your Ukrainian work history in advance. Coordination between the Pension Fund of Ukraine and Segurança Social can take 6-12 months. Start collecting certificates from PFU a year before you reach retirement age.

Submitting documents without an apostille. Segurança Social won’t accept a PFU certificate without an apostille, even if it’s translated. The apostille goes on the original in Ukraine, and only then do you get it translated.

Translating everything yourself through Google Translate. Official documents require tradução certificada. Segurança Social won’t accept a regular translation for pension cases.

Not keeping your employment contract and payslips. Even if your NISS is set up and contributions are being paid - keep copies of contracts and payslips (recibo de vencimento). If there’s an error in the Segurança Social database, you’ll be able to prove your record.

Confusing NIF and NISS. NIF is your tax number for Finanças. NISS is your number for Segurança Social. For pensions, you need NISS specifically.

FAQ¶

How many years do you need to work in Portugal to get a pension?¶

A minimum of 15 years (180 months) of contributions to Segurança Social. But if you have work history in Ukraine, it gets combined with your Portuguese record to determine eligibility - thanks to the bilateral social security agreement from 2012. Each country pays proportionally to the time you worked there.

What’s the pension amount in Portugal in 2026?¶

The minimum contributory pension ranges from €341 (under 15 years of contributions) to €493 (31+ years). The social pension for those without enough contribution history is €537.13/month. The actual contributory pension amount depends on how much you’ve paid in and how many years you’ve worked.

Does Ukrainian work history count toward a Portuguese pension?¶

Yes. Ukraine and Portugal have a bilateral Social Security Agreement (effective since March 1, 2012). Work periods are combined to determine eligibility, but each country only pays for its own portion. To confirm your Ukrainian history, you’ll need a certificate from the Pension Fund of Ukraine with translation and apostille.

Which documents need to be translated for a pension application in Portugal?¶

The main documents for translation: employment record book (trudova knyzhka), insurance record certificate from PFU, and employer reference letters. The translation must be tradução certificada (certified) - regular translations won’t be accepted. Originals need an apostille from Ukraine.

Can you receive pensions from both countries at the same time?¶

Yes. That’s the whole point of the bilateral agreement - Ukraine pays for Ukrainian work history, Portugal pays for Portuguese. You receive two separate pensions proportional to your record in each country. You can apply from whichever country you’re living in - the institutions coordinate between themselves.