Pension in 2026: how many years of experience are needed to retire at 60, 63, and 65

Pension changes in Ukraine in 2026

According to ХВИЛЯ: In 2026, the right to a pension by age in Ukraine will depend on reaching 60 years and having insurance experience. Legislation allows for retirement at a later age with a shorter duration of experience. According to the requirements, to retire at the age of 60, one must have 33 years of minimum insurance experience.

• If a person reaches the age of 63, they can retire with at least 23 years of insurance experience.
• To retire at 65, at least 15 years of insurance experience is required.

The conditions for retirement are regulated by the Law of Ukraine 'On Mandatory State Pension Insurance'.

The Deputy Chair of the Board of the Pension Fund of Ukraine, Iryna Kovpashko, noted: 'If the insurance experience is insufficient to grant a pension by age at 60, then the pension can be granted after reaching the age of 63 or 65, when a shorter duration of insurance experience is required.'

Thus, Ukrainians have the opportunity to plan their retirement, taking into account their personal insurance experience.

The importance of accumulating insurance experience

Changes in pension legislation in Ukraine, which will come into effect in 2026, emphasize the need to accumulate insurance experience for pension entitlement. This may encourage citizens to plan their careers more actively and ensure an adequate level of insurance experience to receive pension payments. Importantly, the system provides alternative retirement options for those who have not reached the necessary experience by 60 years, which can reduce financial risks in old age.