How can an Albanian benefit from a pension from Italy? The new agreement that unites years of work
Albanian citizens who have lived and worked in Italy for a certain period of time can now benefit from a pension from the Italian state, based on a bilateral agreement between Albania and Italy that entered into force on July 1, 2025. This agreement brings an important innovation for all those who have contributed to the social security systems of both countries, putting an end to a legal gap that has penalized many immigrants for years. in Albania, can benefit from a pension from both countries, even though they have not reached the minimum age limit in either country separately. Thanks to the agreement, these years are figuratively combined to meet the criteria required by the law of each country, without the need for a financial transfer of contributions from one system to the other.
To benefit from the Italian pension, the citizen must have been regularly employed, have paid contributions to the Italian National Social Security Institute and have reached the legal retirement age, which in Italy is currently 67 years old. Meanwhile, in Albania the retirement age is 65 years old for men and around 61 years and 10 months for women, for the year 2025. The minimum years required to benefit from the pension are 20 for Italy and 15 for Albania, but thanks to the agreement, even those who do not meet these limits in a single country can do so by totalizing the insurance periods.
The application process is relatively simple and can be done both in Italy and in Albania. Citizens living in Italy can contact the Institute or the patronages that offer free assistance for pension procedures. Meanwhile, those living in Albania can apply to the offices of the Italian Union of Emigrants in Tirana, Durrës, Vlorë or Shkodër, which have direct access to the Italian system and cooperate closely with the Albanian Social Security Institute.
The purpose of these offices is to help citizens prepare the necessary documentation and verify years of work in both countries, so that no contribution is lost.
The documents required for application include an identity document, personal social security number in Italy and Albania, proof of employment such as work contracts, payslips or contribution certificates, as well as the bank account where the pension will be paid. In cases where the citizen is outside Italy and receives a pension from this country, a life certificate is periodically required, which certifies that he is alive and continues to be entitled to payment.
The pension calculation is done by each country independently, according to the contributions paid in the respective territory. This means that part of the pension will come from Italy and another part from Albania. The amount that each citizen is entitled to will depend on the number of years of work and the salary on which the contributions were paid.
The processing time for applications varies. The Social Security Institute in Albania generally processes an application within 45 working days, while the Italian authorities may require up to three months, especially for cases involving the private sector. However, if the documentation is complete and the application is prepared in advance
The agreement allows the merging of years of work completed in Albania and Italy, for the purposes of calculating pension entitlement. In practice, this means that a citizen who has, for example, ten years of contributions in Italy and sixteen years
Be careful, answers may come even faster.
The benefit of this pension is not conditioned by residence. A citizen can live in Albania and receive a pension from Italy, and vice versa.
In essence, this agreement is not just an administrative solution, but a fair recognition of the work and contribution of thousands of Albanians who have given their time in both countries over the years. It guarantees that no one loses their right to a dignified life in old age. For this reason, citizens who are close to retirement age or who have a divided work history between the two countries should act in time, be informed and take the necessary steps to secure what is rightfully theirs.
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