--- title: "Pension Without Visiting the PFU: How Ukrainians Can Apply Online in Six Steps" description: "The Pension Fund of Ukraine, starting August 31, 2026, allows citizens to apply for a pension entirely online via the portal portal.pfu.gov.ua. The application is submitted in six steps using an electronic signature, and the status is tracked in the personal account." date: 2026-10-18T03:34:18.045Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/pension-online-instruction-pfu-2026 tags: [ukraine, pension, pfu, online-services, social-benefits] author: "Darya Fomina" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Pension Without Visiting the PFU: How Ukrainians Can Apply Online in Six Steps ![A female employee at a service center counter checks an elderly man's passport](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/18/pensija-onlain-instrukciya-pfu-2026/pensija-onlain-instrukciya-pfu-2026-1.webp) ## Key Points - The pension application can be submitted online via portal.pfu.gov.ua without visiting a PFU service center - Electronic identification is required: QES, BankID, or Diia.Pidpys - The procedure includes six steps: from authorization to signing and submitting the application - When calculating the pension, up to 60 months with a low salary can be excluded (no more than 10% of the record) - Deferring the pension application provides a 0.5% bonus for each month, up to 54% after six years Ukrainian citizens now have the opportunity to apply for a pension entirely in electronic format, without visiting a service center of the Pension Fund of Ukraine. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the official instructions of the Pension Fund dated August 31, 2026. The pension application can now be submitted through the electronic services web portal of the PFU using electronic identification. To submit an application, you must have a qualified electronic signature (QES), BankID, or Diia.Pidpys, as well as documents confirming identity and insurance record. ### Six Steps from Portal Login to Application Submission The application procedure is structured and includes six consecutive stages. In the first step, the applicant opens the website portal.pfu.gov.ua and logs in via an available electronic identification service. Next, in the personal account, you need to go to the "Pension Provision" section and select "Pension Application". The application form specifies the type of pension (for example, old-age), personal, address, and contact details. The fourth stage is filling out a questionnaire about employment history and other circumstances, which helps the system determine which exact documents will be needed in a particular case. In the fifth step, scanned copies of documents are uploaded, and it is important to ensure that all pages are clearly readable and the information matches the originals. The final sixth step is checking the entered data, correcting possible errors, signing the application in an available way, and sending it to the Pension Fund. ### Which Documents to Prepare and Why the List is Not Universal The list of required documents depends on the type of pension, the data already contained in state registers, and the applicant's specific situation. The Pension Fund emphasizes that there is no single universal list: the final set is determined by the requirements of the electronic form and the agency's clarifications. Before submitting the application, it is recommended to check whether the information on the insurance record is correctly reflected and whether there are discrepancies in personal data. If certain periods of work are not confirmed or information about them is missing in the registers, additional documentary confirmation may be required. ### How to Track Status and What Happens After Submission After submitting the application, its status can be tracked in your personal account on the portal. To do this, you need to enter the "My Requests" section, find your application, and see which stage it is at. The Pension Fund also sends a notification with the decision made. If the agency reports the need for additional documents, they should be submitted in the prescribed manner. It is important to understand that submitting the application does not mean automatic assignment of the pension — a decision is made only after reviewing the documents and verifying the person's right to the payment. ### Deferral of Processing and Exclusion of Months with Low Salary Ukrainian pension legislation provides two important mechanisms that you should know about before submitting an application. First, when calculating a pension, months with a low salary can be excluded: up to 60 consecutive calendar months of service can be excluded, provided they do not exceed 10% of the total insurance record. Second, citizens who already have the right to an old-age pension can postpone its processing and receive a bonus: for each full month of deferral, the payment increases by 0.5%, and after six years of waiting — by 54%. If you encounter difficulties when filling out the application or uploading documents, the Pension Fund recommends using the explanations on the web portal or contacting a service center. You can still apply in person by preparing documents and visiting a service center personally. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Оформить пенсию можно без визита в ПФУ: инструкция с 6 шагов](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/oformiti-pensiyu-mozhna-vizitu-pfu-instruktsiya-1792069510.html) - Primary source. Contains the complete 6-step instruction, a list of conditions, information on deferral and exclusion of months. Link to the PFU instruction dated 31.08.2026. - [Пенсия без присутствия пенсионера: как законно получить выплаты по доверенности](https://www.unian.net/society/chi-mozhna-otrimati-pensiyu-za-doruchennyam-yak-pravilno-jiji-oformiti-13456920.html) - Peripheral source on the topic of receiving a pension. Contains no discrepancies with the main text, but is not used in the article as the topic of power of attorney is not the subject of this news. ## FAQ ### Which electronic identification services are suitable for submitting a pension application? A qualified electronic signature (QES), BankID, or Diia.Pidpys are suitable. The choice depends on which service is available to the applicant. ### Can I apply for a pension in person rather than online? Yes, in-person submission remains available. To do this, you need to prepare documents and contact a Pension Fund service center. ### What should I do if the Pension Fund requests additional documents? You need to submit them in the prescribed manner. A notification regarding the need for additional documents is sent by the Pension Fund after reviewing the application. ### How many months with a low salary can be excluded when calculating the pension? It is permitted to exclude up to 60 consecutive calendar months of service, provided they do not exceed 10% of the total insurance record. ### What bonus is provided when deferring the pension application? For each full month of deferral, the payment increases by 0.5%. After six years of waiting, the bonus is 54%.