Italy
Worked in Italy? 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 67, with early access from 64. On totalization, Italy has bilateral totalization agreements, so the years you worked here may combine with other countries you've worked in. Below is Italy's system at a glance and what expats should check.
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Overview
Italy operates a predominantly public, pay-as-you-go pension system administered by INPS (Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale).
The system is built around a Notional Defined Contribution (NDC) framework introduced by the Dini Reform of 1995, though a transitional mixed DB/NDC calculation still applies to workers with contributions before 1996. As of 2025, more than 90% of new pensioners have their pensions calculated based on NDC rules for more than half of their careers, with full NDC application expected for all new pensioners from around 2040. Public pension expenditure stands at approximately 16% of GDP — second only to Greece in the OECD — with at least one-quarter not financed by pension contributions. The statutory retirement age is 67 for 2026, with the life-expectancy link to retirement ages restored from 2027 under the 2026 Budget Law (Law No. 199/2025): the qualifying age rises to 67 years and 1 month in 2027 and 67 years and 3 months in 2028. The main early retirement pathways are: contribution-only early retirement (42 years 10 months for men, 41 years 10 months for women in 2026, rising by 1 month in 2027 and 3 months total from 2028), and flexible early retirement at 64 with 25 years of contributions (NDC-only calculation, rising to 30 years from 2030). Quota 103 (age 62 + 41 years) and Opzione Donna were both phased out by the 2026 Budget Law. APE Sociale (the social hardship bridge allowance) was extended for 2026. Mothers benefit from a reduction of the statutory retirement age by 4 months per child, up to 12 months, if they forgo the pension bonus for having children.
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The supplementary pension system (previdenza complementare) consists of occupational closed funds (fondi negoziali), open pension funds, and individual insurance-based plans (PIP). Participation is voluntary but incentivised through tax deductions of up to EUR 5,164.57 per year on contributions. A major structural reform under the 2026 Budget Law introduced automatic enrolment of new private-sector hires into supplementary pension funds from 1 July 2026, with a 60-day opt-out window (reduced from the previous 6-month window). Supplementary pension assets totalled EUR 262 billion at end-2025, with 10.5 million members — still under 40% of the workforce. COVIP (Commissione di Vigilanza sui Fondi Pensione) regulates the supplementary pension sector.
Italy has an extensive network of international social security agreements, including EU coordination under EC 883/2004 and bilateral totalization treaties with over 20 non-EU countries, including Albania (effective July 1, 2025). Pensions are paid abroad via Citibank N.A., with an annual proof-of-life verification requirement (2026 first phase: March–July 2026 for Americas, Asia, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe). Italy offers a notable 7% flat tax regime for foreign pensioners relocating to qualifying southern municipalities (population threshold raised to 30,000 as of April 7, 2026 under Law No. 34/2026), valid for up to 10 years.
≥70% for average earner (OECD Pensions at a Glance 2025; Italy among highest in OECD for mandatory schemes)
Pillar 1: INPS mandatory public pension (NDC/mixed DB-NDC, PAYG); Pillar 2: Fondi Pensione Negoziali/Chiusi (occupational DC, auto-enrolment from July 2026 for new hires); Pillar 3: Fondi Aperti + PIP (individual/open DC, voluntary)
NDC (Notional Defined Contribution) PAYG + transitional mixed DB/NDC + voluntary supplementary (DC)
Employee
9.19% (standard private sector; 10.19% on earnings above EUR 55,448 ceiling for executives)
Employer
~23.81% (standard private sector pension component; total employer social security 27–32% including non-pension contributions; varies by sector and company size)
Self-Employed
24% (artisans/craftsmen and traders); 26.07% (professionals without other pension coverage in Gestione Separata, FY2026); 24% (professionals with other mandatory coverage in Gestione Separata); 33.72–35.03% (co.co.co. collaborators and company directors)
Notes
Total pension contribution rate for employees under AGO (compulsory general insurance) is approximately 33% of gross salary (employee + employer combined). For FY2026, the Gestione Separata income cap is EUR 122,295; the minimum income threshold for contribution credit is EUR 18,808. Above the cap, only minor contributions (~1%) are due by the employer only. TFR (severance pay) accrues at ~7.407% of annual salary (1/13.5 of annual salary) and is paid as a lump sum on termination or can be redirected to a supplementary pension fund. From 1 July 2026, new private-sector hires are auto-enrolled in supplementary funds unless they opt out within 60 days.
Common questions
What is the retirement age in Italy?
The full state pension age in Italy is 67. Early retirement may be possible from 64. Deferring can raise your pension up to age 71.
Can I claim a Italy pension if I live abroad?
Yes. A pension you've earned in Italy 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 Italy's pension authority.
Do totalization agreements affect my Italy pension?
Italy has bilateral social-security (totalization) agreements. These can let you combine the years you worked in Italy with years in partner countries to meet a minimum qualifying period, so short stints aren't wasted. Which partners and rules apply depends on your own work history.
How is the pension system structured in Italy?
NDC (Notional Defined Contribution) PAYG + transitional mixed DB/NDC + voluntary supplementary (DC) Pillar 1: INPS mandatory public pension (NDC/mixed DB-NDC, PAYG); Pillar 2: Fondi Pensione Negoziali/Chiusi (occupational DC, auto-enrolment from July 2026 for new hires); Pillar 3: Fondi Aperti + PIP (individual/open DC, voluntary) It includes 10 schemes in our directory.
How do I get a copy of my Italy pension record?
Ask INPS — Fascicolo Previdenziale del Cittadino for your Estratto conto contributivo (the Contribution statement). It's free and you can request it yourself — our step-by-step guide on this page walks through the portal, what to have ready, and what to do if the login fails.