---
title: "Pension reform in Romania: how and when the retirement age will change"
description: "🇷🇴 In Romania, a gradual increase in the retirement age for women is beginning: from July 2026, the threshold will rise, and by 2035 it will become unified for everyone — 65 years. Find out how the retirement schedule will change and what benefits will be preserved for large families. 👵👴📉"
date: 2026-06-26T17:11:10.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/pension-reform-in-romania-changes-to-retirement-age
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Pension reform in Romania: how and when the retirement age will change

![Seniors reviewing pension documents against Romanian flag — illustrating pension reform](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/26/pensionnaya-reforma-v-rumynii-izmeneniya-vozrasta/pensionnaya-reforma-v-rumynii-izmeneniya-vozrasta-1.webp)

A new stage of a large-scale pension reform is coming into force in Romania, aimed at synchronizing the retirement age for men and women. According to Law No. 360/2023, the process of gradually raising the age threshold for women will begin in July 2026. The final goal of the reform is to establish a unified retirement age of 65 years by 2035.

### Transition mechanism and change schedule

The implementation of changes is carried out by the National Public Pensions Case (CNPP) as part of its obligations to the European Commission under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). Currently, there are about 4.6 million pensioners in the country, and new rules depending on the year and month of birth are being introduced for them.

The situation is changing as follows:

- **Current status:** For men, the basic retirement age is 65 years with 35 years of service. For women in the first half of 2026, this figure is 62 years and 6 months.

- **Start of reform:** From July 2026, the right to a pension will be granted to women who have reached 62 years and 7 months (for example, those born in December 1963).

- **Dynamics:** In the future, the age will increase in steps of one to two months annually.

- **End of the process:** Full synchronization of ages will be completed in 2035.

It is important to note that the minimum mandatory insurance period for the right to a state pension is fixed at 15 years, while the full service required to retire without penalty coefficients is 35 years.

### Benefits and conditions for early retirement

Legislation maintains a differentiated approach, taking into account demographic factors and the complexity of work. For women raising children, there is a possibility of reducing the retirement age. For each child raised to the age of 16, the retirement age is reduced by 6 months. However, the total reduction cannot exceed 3.5 years.

The rules for early retirement are also being tightened. You can apply for a pension a maximum of 5 years before reaching the standard age, but only if you have an insurance record exceeding the norm (35 years) by at least 5 years. That is, at least 40 years of service is required for early retirement. Otherwise, reducing coefficients are applied to payments.

### Working after retirement

New norms provide for the possibility of continuing employment. Persons who have reached retirement age may, by mutual agreement with the employer, work until the age of 70 without interrupting the receipt of pension payments. This decision is aimed at maintaining the financial stability of the solidarity system in the context of an aging population and general European demographic trends.