Retirement age and old-age pension in Austria in 2026

Austria’s old-age pension (Alterspension) is not paid automatically. You must reach the statutory retirement age, have the required insurance period and submit an application. The retirement age for women is currently increasing gradually, so your date of birth is decisive.

Key points

• The regular retirement age (Regelpensionsalter) for men is 65.
• For women, it was 60 until 2024, is 61.5 in 2026 and will reach 65 by 2033.
• The general requirement is at least 180 insurance months (15 years), including at least 84 months (7 years) from gainful employment.
• You must apply for the pension no later than the end of the month before the pension start date.
• The procedure is free of charge.

Who is eligible for an old-age pension?

Two conditions must be met at the same time: you must reach the regular retirement age and complete the minimum required insurance period. The rules that apply depend on your date of birth and when you first acquired an insurance period.

There are three groups:

• people born before 1 January 1955;
• people born on or after 1 January 1955 who also had an insurance period before 2005;
• people who first acquired an insurance period from 1 January 2005 onwards.

The General Pension Act (Allgemeines Pensionsgesetz, APG) applies in full to the last group.

What is the retirement age for women and men?

For men, the retirement age is uniformly 65. For women, the retirement age increases by half a year on 1 January of each year from 1 January 2024 to 2033. This affects women born from January 1964 onwards.

Regular retirement age for women

• Born 1 January 1964–30 June 1964: 60.5 years
• Born 1 July 1964–31 December 1964: 61 years
• Born 1 January 1965–30 June 1965: 61.5 years
• Born 1 July 1965–31 December 1965: 62 years
• Born 1 January 1966–30 June 1966: 62.5 years
• Born 1 July 1966–31 December 1966: 63 years
• Born 1 January 1967–30 June 1967: 63.5 years
• Born 1 July 1967–31 December 1967: 64 years
• Born 1 January 1968–30 June 1968: 64.5 years
• Born after 30 June 1968: 65 years

For people who first became insured from 2005 onwards, the retirement age is 65 for both men and women.

How much insurance time is required?

For people born from 1955 onwards who also had an insurance period before 2005, the waiting period (Wartezeit) can be fulfilled in several ways:

• 180 insurance months (15 years) within the last 360 calendar months (30 years);
• 180 contribution months (15 years) from compulsory or voluntary insurance, with no time limit;
• 300 insurance months (25 years) by the reference date (Stichtag);
• a minimum insurance period of 180 months, including at least 84 months from gainful employment.

For people who first became insured from 2005 onwards, only the fourth rule—the minimum insurance period (Mindestversicherungszeit)—applies.

Gainful employment can include, among other things, caring for a child with a disability, caring for a close relative from care level 3, family hospice leave (Familienhospizkarenz) and the period during which proportional care leave allowance (Pflegekarenzgeld) is paid in the case of care-related part-time work. Under the APG, there are only insurance periods; there is no separate distinction between contribution periods and substitute periods.

Can you retire earlier?

The early old-age pension after a long insurance period was replaced by the corridor pension (Korridorpension) under the 2005 pension harmonisation. From 2026, its entry age will gradually increase from 62 to 63. For the time being, this is relevant only for men because women’s old-age retirement age will not exceed 63 until 2030.

After a very long period of gainful employment, the long-term insured persons’ rule (Langzeitversichertenregelung), commonly known as the Hacklerregelung, still allows earlier retirement. The early old-age pension is paid until the regular retirement age and then changes into a regular old-age pension without changing the amount. If you acquire additional compulsory contribution months during this period, an increased increment amount (Steigerungsbetrag) is payable.

Where and when should you apply?

The responsible pension insurance institution (Pensionsversicherungsträger) is the institution with which you had the most insurance months under ASVG, GSVG or BSVG during the last 15 years before the reference date. Under so-called portable insurance (Wanderversicherung), months acquired with other insurance institutions are also taken into account.

It is advisable to submit the application two to three months before the pension starts, but no later than the end of the month before the pension start date. You can apply:

• electronically using an ID Austria login; for people starting their careers, this is possible only through the PVA;
• in writing, including by an informal letter; the official form must be submitted later;
• in person. Documents may include a birth certificate, the children’s birth certificates, proof of registered address (Meldezettel), a marriage certificate where applicable and an identity card.

The procedure is free of charge.

What if you disagree with the decision?

The insurance institution decides by issuing a formal decision (Bescheid). You can file an action with the competent Labour and Social Court (Arbeits- und Sozialgericht) within three months of delivery. You can also contact the pension insurance institution’s ombudsman’s office (Ombudsstelle).

Frequently asked questions

What is the retirement age for women in Austria in 2026?

It is 61.5 years in 2026. The individual retirement age depends on the exact date of birth.

Will I automatically receive my pension when I reach retirement age?

No. You must always apply for the pension, no later than the end of the month before the pension starts.

Is a simple letter sufficient as an application?

Yes. An informal written application is accepted, but the official form must be submitted afterwards.

Does applying for a pension cost money?

No. The procedure is free of charge.

Practical steps

1. Check your exact retirement age based on your date of birth.
2. Review whether you meet the applicable insurance-period requirement.
3. Identify the responsible Pensionsversicherungsträger under ASVG, GSVG or BSVG.
4. Prepare the required documents, including your identity card and, where applicable, certificates and your Meldezettel.
5. Submit your application two to three months before retirement, and no later than the end of the preceding month.
6. If you disagree with the Bescheid, remember the three-month deadline for filing an action with the Arbeits- und Sozialgericht.

Note: This article is based on information available online and does not constitute advice. Use of this information is at your own risk. For professional advice, contact a lawyer, legal professional, healthcare professional, employment-law or labour-market specialist, or another relevant expert.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at