Key Takeaways
- • Ukrainians abroad can keep building insurance service toward a Ukrainian pension by voluntarily paying contributions to the Pension Fund of Ukraine, with no requirement to be employed in Ukraine.
- • One full month of insurance service in 2026 requires a contribution of at least 1,902.34 UAH, roughly 37 euros, equal to 22% of the 8,647 UAH minimum wage.
- • Contributions can be paid for oneself or for another eligible person, such as a parent paid by a child or a husband paid by a wife, provided the person is registered as insured and is not a pensioner.
- • The agreement with the Pension Fund can be concluded electronically via the Pension Fund's web portal, and payment can be made from abroad by bank card through Portmone.
Summary
Ukrainians living or working abroad can continue to accumulate insurance service for a future pension in Ukraine by voluntarily paying contributions to the Pension Fund of Ukraine, according to the Sudebno-yurydychna hazeta (Судово-юридична газета) article. The mechanism is presented as especially relevant for citizens approaching retirement age and for Ukrainians living in countries that do not have social security agreements with Ukraine.
To be eligible, a person must be included in the register of insured persons and must not already be a pensioner. The article states that employment status and place of work, in Ukraine or abroad, do not matter. Contributions may also be paid on behalf of another eligible person, for example by children for their parents or by a wife for her husband.
The amount and frequency of payments are chosen by the contributor according to financial capacity. To count one full month of insurance service, however, each payment must be at least the minimum insurance contribution, set at 22% of the minimum wage. For 2026, that equals 1,902.34 UAH (8,647 UAH x 22%), approximately 37 euros.
Enrolment in the voluntary system requires concluding an agreement with the Pension Fund of Ukraine in electronic form, which can be done through the Pension Fund's electronic services web portal without an in-person visit. The Pension Fund has published a video instruction explaining the procedure.
Payments can be made from outside Ukraine. According to the article, contributors can use a bank card from any bank and select the "Pay through Portmone" option in the relevant section of the service.
To be eligible, a person must be included in the register of insured persons and must not already be a pensioner. The article states that employment status and place of work, in Ukraine or abroad, do not matter. Contributions may also be paid on behalf of another eligible person, for example by children for their parents or by a wife for her husband.
The amount and frequency of payments are chosen by the contributor according to financial capacity. To count one full month of insurance service, however, each payment must be at least the minimum insurance contribution, set at 22% of the minimum wage. For 2026, that equals 1,902.34 UAH (8,647 UAH x 22%), approximately 37 euros.
Enrolment in the voluntary system requires concluding an agreement with the Pension Fund of Ukraine in electronic form, which can be done through the Pension Fund's electronic services web portal without an in-person visit. The Pension Fund has published a video instruction explaining the procedure.
Payments can be made from outside Ukraine. According to the article, contributors can use a bank card from any bank and select the "Pay through Portmone" option in the relevant section of the service.
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