Have you worked in two, three, or four countries? Your years of work abroad do not have to be lost. In the European Union, insurance periods are summed up through EU coordination, and outside the EU, Poland has a network of 13 active bilateral social security agreements (including a separate agreement with Quebec). This guide serves as a map of the entire system: which countries Poland has agreements with and since when, what such an agreement provides, what happens when there is no agreement, and which ZUS branch will handle your case.
Three different systems of rules. (1) EU, EEA, and Switzerland: EU coordination based on regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009 (applicable since May 1, 2010), not bilateral agreements. Details in a separate guide: Benefits and Pensions in the EU. (2) United Kingdom: Persons covered by the withdrawal agreement retain existing rules, and situations from January 1, 2021, are governed by the protocol on social security coordination in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (in force since May 1, 2021). (3) The rest of the world: bilateral agreements described below or no agreement.
Which system applies to your country
The scheme will help determine under which rules your years of work abroad are counted.
How are your years of work abroad counted?
Where did you work outside Poland?
If you worked in several countries, go through the scheme separately for each of them.
EU coordination applies
Insurance periods are summed based on regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009. While residing in the EU or EFTA, you can request to receive your Polish pension in your country of residence. See a separate guide on EU coordination.
Coordination based on the EU agreements with the United Kingdom
Periods of work before 2021 are protected by the withdrawal agreement, and later periods are governed by the protocol to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which includes pensions and family benefits. Cases are handled by ZUS in Gdańsk or Częstochowa.
Bilateral agreement: periods are summed
Years from both countries complement the required service period for benefits, and each country pays for its own periods. If the agreement provides for transfer, you will receive your pension from ZUS upon request to an account in the other country. The scope of agreements varies, so check the section "What bilateral agreements provide" and the ZUS page for your country.
Agreement signed, but not yet in effect
Poland has ratified agreements with Albania and Japan, but neither has come into effect by October 23, 2026. Until then, the rules apply as for a country without an agreement. The date of entry into force will be announced in the Journal of Laws, and details are in the section "New agreements: Albania and Japan".
Country without an agreement: no summation and no transfer
Years abroad do not count towards Polish service (and vice versa), and double contributions are possible. You retain the right to a Polish pension, but ZUS will only pay it to an account in Poland or to an authorized person in Poland. See the section "Country without an agreement: what you risk and what you do not".
Map of Poland's bilateral agreements (as of October 2026)
The official list is maintained by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy, and ZUS publishes a table with dates and Journal of Laws numbers. Currently, there are agreements with the following countries:
| Country | Signed | In effect since | Journal of Laws |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro (agreement with the former Yugoslavia) | 01/16/1958 | 01/01/1959 | Dz.U. 1959 no. 19 item 114 |
| North Macedonia | 04/06/2006 | 07/01/2007 | Dz.U. 2007 no. 229 item 1686 |
| USA | 04/02/2008 | 03/01/2009 | Dz.U. 2009 no. 46 item 374 |
| Canada | 04/02/2008 | 10/01/2009 | Dz.U. 2009 no. 133 item 1095 |
| South Korea | 02/25/2009 | 03/01/2010 | Dz.U. 2010 no. 35 item 192 |
| Australia | 10/07/2009 | 10/01/2010 | Dz.U. 2010 no. 172 item 1160 |
| Ukraine | 05/18/2012 | 01/01/2014 | Dz.U. 2013 item 1373 |
| Moldova | 09/09/2013 | 12/01/2014 | Dz.U. 2014 item 1460 |
| Quebec (agreement) | 06/03/2015 | 09/01/2018 | Dz.U. 2018 item 1511 |
| Mongolia | 01/24/2018 | 07/01/2019 | Dz.U. 2019 item 1189 |
| Israel | 11/22/2016 | 05/01/2021 | Dz.U. 2021 item 505 |
| Turkey | 10/17/2017 | 06/01/2021 | Dz.U. 2021 item 770 |
| Belarus | 02/13/2019 | 04/01/2022 | Dz.U. 2022 item 575 |
Canada and Quebec are two separate acts: for the Quebec pension system, there is an agreement with the government of Quebec.
Be cautious with dates from the internet. There is often a gap of several years between signing and coming into effect. The agreement with Israel signed in 2016 has been in effect since 2021, with Turkey (signed in 2017) since 2021, and with Belarus (signed in 2019) since 2022. The date of entry into force matters, as the agreement only operates from that date.
With EU countries, bilateral agreements have been replaced by EU law since May 1, 2004. However, selected favorable provisions have been retained in relations with Austria (Article 33(3) of the 1998 agreement) and Germany (the 1975 agreement on pension and accident insurance under the conditions of the 1990 agreement and several provisions of the 1990 agreement). Separately, since June 1, 2015, the agreement with Germany on the export of specific benefits has been in effect (Dz.U. 2015 item 714): German pensions and pensions for work in the ghetto are transferred to persons residing in Poland. The granting of these benefits is decided solely by the German side (Deutsche Rentenversicherung).
New agreements: Albania and Japan
The network of agreements is expanding, but the two newest ones are not yet in effect.
- Albania. The agreement was signed in Warsaw on February 23, 2026. The government bill for ratification was submitted to the Sejm on June 9, 2026 (print no. 2667), and the law from July 17, 2026, was announced on August 18, 2026 (Dz.U. 2026 item 1100). On the Polish side, the agreement will cover pensions, disability pensions, family pensions, accident benefits, sick leave, and maternity benefits, but not health benefits. It provides for the summation of periods and the transfer of benefits to Albania.
- Japan. The agreement was signed in Tokyo on April 15, 2026. The ratification law from September 18, 2026, was published on October 13, 2026 (Dz.U. 2026 item 1326). The agreement aims to allow the summation of Polish and Japanese periods and the transfer of Polish benefits to Japan.
Ratification by Poland is not the same as coming into effect. By October 23, 2026, no government statement on the entry into force of either agreement has been published in the Journal of Laws, and both do not appear on the lists of active agreements of MRPiPS and ZUS. Until then, Albania and Japan are treated as countries without an agreement for ZUS. Reports of negotiations with other countries could not be confirmed from government sources.
What bilateral agreements provide
Polish agreements are based on four principles: equal treatment, application of one legislation, summation of insurance periods, and preservation of acquired rights, meaning the payment of benefits abroad.
Summation of insurance periods
If you have too few years in one country to qualify for benefits, periods from the second country can complete the service. Each country then pays proportionally for its periods, no one pays for another's years.
Payment of benefits abroad
A pension earned in one country of the agreement is paid even if you reside in the other, to an account there. This is the main difference compared to countries without an agreement.
One legislation, no double contributions
You generally pay contributions in one country. A posted worker receives a certificate of insurance coverage in the sending country and remains in their system.
One application for two institutions
In the agreement with the USA, an application submitted in the country of residence initiates proceedings in both countries, and the date of submission to ZUS also counts for the American institution. For other countries, check the rules on the ZUS page under the description of the specific agreement.
The scope of agreements varies. According to MRPiPS, they usually cover pensions, disability pensions, family pensions, benefits for work-related accidents and occupational diseases, and sick leave benefits. Health benefits, family allowances, and unemployment benefits are included in the agreement only if both countries agree. EU coordination covers more, including healthcare and family benefits.
Country without an agreement: what you risk and what you do not
Poland does not have agreements with most countries in the world, including popular destinations such as the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Brazil, or South Africa. Until the new agreements come into effect, this also applies to Albania and Japan.
| Issue | Country with an agreement | Country without an agreement |
|---|---|---|
| Summation of periods | Yes | No, years abroad do not count towards Polish service and vice versa |
| Double contributions | Generally excluded | Possible, depending on local law |
| Right to Polish pension | Yes | Yes. Living abroad does not take away the right to a pension from ZUS |
| Transfer of Polish pension to an account abroad | Yes, if the agreement provides for transfer | No, only to an account in Poland |
Article 132 of the Act on Pensions and Benefits from the Social Insurance Fund. A retiree residing abroad receives their benefit non-cash to their payment account maintained in Poland (or a payment instrument issued in Poland), and upon request to the account of an authorized person residing in Poland, "unless international agreements provide otherwise." Payment in the country of residence, to a local account, is available upon request to residents of the EU, EFTA countries, and countries with which Poland has an agreement providing for the transfer of pensions or benefits. A retiree in Dubai or Buenos Aires has the right to a Polish pension, but ZUS will not transfer it to a local account. In practice, this means keeping a Polish account with a card or having an authorized person in Poland.
Which ZUS branch handles your case
Pension and disability cases with an international element are handled by the Departments of International Agreements in designated ZUS branches. Below is a list according to the ZUS website as of July 22, 2026. You can submit your application at any ZUS office, which will forward it. If in doubt, call 22 560 16 00.
| ZUS Office | Bilateral Agreements | EU, EFTA, United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Branch I in Warsaw | USA, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro | Bulgarian, Croatian, French, Luxembourg, Romanian |
| Branch I in Łódź | Canada, Quebec, South Korea, Israel, Turkey, Belarus | Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Malta, Portugal |
| Nowy Sącz | Australia | Czech Republic, Slovakia |
| Rzeszów | Ukraine, Moldova, Mongolia | none |
| Gdańsk and Częstochowa | none | United Kingdom |
| Chrzanów | none | Belgium, France |
| Szczecin | none | Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Sweden |
| Toruń (Inspectorate in Grudziądz) | none | Denmark, Switzerland, Hungary, Germany |
| Tarnów | none | Austria, Liechtenstein, Slovenia |
| Bydgoszcz | none | Italy |
| Kraków | none | Netherlands |
| Lublin | none | Ireland, Germany |
| Opole, Elbląg, Płock (Inspectorate in Ciechanów), Wałbrzych (Inspectorate in Lubań) | none | Germany |
German cases are handled by several branches. Confirm which one is appropriate for you with ZUS before sending documents.
Practice: what to remember when living abroad
Confirmation of entitlement to benefits. ZUS periodically sends retirees and disability pensioners living abroad the EMRG or EMRG-1 form ("Statement of a person residing abroad regarding the right to receive a Polish pension or benefit"). A handwritten signature must be certified by the appropriate authority or authorized person in the country of residence or by a Polish diplomatic or consular office. Without this confirmation, ZUS may suspend payments. What else the consul can do for you is described in the guide Consular Assistance Worldwide.
- Report changes immediately. ZUS requires information about changes in address, country of residence, account, or identity document. If you receive benefits before the statutory retirement age, also report income from work, including foreign work.
- Thirteenth pension. The law grants it to persons who are entitled to a pension or benefit on March 31 of the given year and does not require residence in Poland. You will not receive it if your entitlement was suspended on that date.
- Separate forms. For bilateral agreements, ZUS provides its own application templates, for example, for the USA forms PL/USA_4 and PL/USA_5 for persons residing in the USA and the auxiliary form WZ0-PL-01 for residents of Poland. You can find them on the ZUS website under the description of the agreement.
- Taxes are a separate issue. The social security agreement regulates contributions and benefits, but not taxes. Where you will pay tax on your pension is determined by the double taxation avoidance agreement with that country and national law.
- Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland do not need bilateral agreements: the first three belong to the EEA, and Switzerland coordinates based on the agreement with the EU.
Do you have periods of work in a country with an agreement? Discussions of individual agreements can be found in our country guides, including for the USA, Canada, and Australia, and for EU countries in the guide on EU coordination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the agreement with Albania already in effect?
No. The Polish ratification law was published on August 18, 2026, but by October 23, 2026, the entry into force of the agreement has not been announced. Until then, Albania is treated as a country without an agreement.
Will I lose my Polish pension if I move to a country without an agreement?
No. The right to a pension remains; only the method of payment changes: ZUS will transfer it to an account in Poland or to an authorized person residing in Poland.
Do years of work in the United Kingdom after Brexit count towards my pension?
Yes. Periods before 2021 are protected by the withdrawal agreement, and later periods are governed by the protocol to the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Cases are handled by ZUS in Gdańsk or Częstochowa.
Where should I submit an application if I worked in Poland and in a country with an agreement?
Usually in the institution of the country where you reside. If you live in Poland, you can submit it at any ZUS office, and ZUS will forward it to the appropriate branch for the specific agreement.
Sources
As of October 23, 2026. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Before submitting an application, confirm the current rules and the appropriate office at ZUS.
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