Singapore
Worked in Singapore? Any pension you built up here is yours to keep and can usually be paid to you abroad — but you have to claim it; it won't start automatically. The full state pension age is 63, with early access from 55. On totalization, your Singapore contributions generally stand on their own. Below is Singapore's system at a glance and what expats should check.
Overview is open to everyone. Create a free account to unlock schemes, eligibility, tax and claiming for all 47 countries.
Overview
Singapore's retirement income system is built around the Central Provident Fund (CPF), a mandatory defined-contribution scheme covering citizens and permanent residents.
Members contribute to three accounts: Ordinary Account (OA, for housing/investment/education), MediSave Account (MA, for healthcare), and Special Account (SA, for retirement — closed for members aged 55+ from January 2025). At age 55, OA and SA savings are consolidated into a Retirement Account (RA) up to the Full Retirement Sum (FRS); any SA surplus transfers to OA. CPF LIFE, Singapore's national longevity insurance annuity, provides lifelong monthly payouts from age 65 (deferrable to 70). As of January 2026, the CPF Ordinary Wage ceiling rose to SGD 8,000/month, and contribution rates for workers aged 55–65 were further increased as part of a multi-year reform to strengthen retirement adequacy for older workers.
Show full overviewShow less
The Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) provides a voluntary, tax-advantaged savings layer. Contributions are capped at SGD 15,300/year for citizens and PRs, and SGD 35,700/year for foreigners. SRS contributions are tax-deductible; only 50% of withdrawals made at or after the statutory retirement age (currently 63, rising to 64 from July 2026) are taxable. CPF LIFE payouts are tax-exempt in Singapore. The government has extended the 4% interest rate floor on Special, MediSave, and Retirement Account savings through 31 December 2026.
Singapore does not operate a traditional social insurance pension system and has no bilateral totalization agreements with other countries. CPF is an individual account-based DC system; portability for PRs is achieved by full lump-sum withdrawal upon renouncing PR status. Singapore citizens cannot withdraw CPF solely due to overseas relocation — standard withdrawal rules apply regardless of residency. The system is complemented by government support schemes including the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme (MRSS), Workfare Income Supplement, and Silver Support Scheme for lower-income seniors.
~37% (CPF mandatory only, OECD 2024 estimate for average earner; rises significantly with housing monetisation and SRS)
Pillar 1: CPF (mandatory DC provident fund with OA, MA, and RA accounts; CPF LIFE annuity from age 65); Pillar 2: None (no mandatory occupational DB scheme); Pillar 3: SRS (voluntary, tax-advantaged individual savings)
Mandatory defined-contribution provident fund (CPF) + voluntary supplementary savings (SRS)
Employee
20% (age ≤55); 17% (55–60); 11.5% (60–65); 7.5% (65–70); 5% (>70)
Employer
17% (age ≤55); 15.5% (55–60); 12% (60–65); 9% (65–70); 7.5% (>70)
Self-Employed
MediSave contributions mandatory (amount varies by income); voluntary contributions to OA/RA permitted up to annual CPF limit of SGD 37,740
Notes
Rates above apply to wages >SGD 750/month for Singapore citizens and PRs from 3rd year of PR status. OW ceiling: SGD 7,400/month (2025), SGD 8,000/month (from Jan 2026). Annual wage ceiling: SGD 102,000. From Jan 2026, rates for age 55–65 increase by 1.5% (0.5% employer + 1% employee). Foreigners on work passes are exempt from CPF.
Common questions
What is the retirement age in Singapore?
The full state pension age in Singapore is 63. Early retirement may be possible from 55. Deferring can raise your pension up to age 70.
Can I claim a Singapore pension if I live abroad?
Yes. A pension you've earned in Singapore stays yours wherever you retire, and can usually be paid into an overseas account once you reach pension age. It won't start automatically, though — you need to claim it, typically a few months in advance, through Singapore's pension authority.
Do totalization agreements affect my Singapore pension?
Our records show Singapore has limited or no bilateral totalization agreements, so your Singapore contributions generally can't be combined with other countries' to qualify. Confirm the latest position with the official authority.
How is the pension system structured in Singapore?
Mandatory defined-contribution provident fund (CPF) + voluntary supplementary savings (SRS) Pillar 1: CPF (mandatory DC provident fund with OA, MA, and RA accounts; CPF LIFE annuity from age 65); Pillar 2: None (no mandatory occupational DB scheme); Pillar 3: SRS (voluntary, tax-advantaged individual savings) It includes 3 schemes in our directory.