The Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) has set the final deadline for the annual physical identification of certain categories of pension and insurance payment recipients as December 31, 2026, inclusive. According to the agency, missing this requirement may result in the suspension of payments. At the same time, the fund has provided several channels for completing the procedure, including fully remote ones that allow beneficiaries to avoid a personal visit to the institution. We explain who exactly needs to verify their identity, what methods are available, and how to check that the procedure was completed correctly.
Two categories for which identification is mandatory annually
According to PFU clarifications, legislation defines two categories of pension and insurance payment recipients who are required to undergo physical identification every calendar year. These include individuals living in temporarily occupied territories, as well as those who have moved from occupied territory to territory controlled by Ukraine or abroad. For both categories, identity verification is an annual requirement, and in 2026 the procedure must be completed by December 31 inclusive. At the same time, the fund highlighted an important exception: if a person moved from a temporarily occupied territory to a controlled one and transferred their payment to a new place of residence, annual physical identification is not required for them.
The fastest way is electronic signature in Diia
One of the most convenient ways to verify your identity is to use the electronic signature in the Diia app. In this case, a visit to the Pension Fund office is not necessary. The procedure is performed through the PFU electronic services web portal or the "Pension Fund of Ukraine" mobile application. After successful authorization in your personal account using Diia.Signature, physical identification is considered completed automatically, and there is no need to submit a separate application again. This is precisely the scenario demonstrated in the collage, where an elderly woman scans a QR code on a laptop screen using a smartphone with the Diia app.
Video identification: how to submit an application and what to expect
If using Diia.Signature is impossible, the fund offers to verify identity during a video call with a PFU employee. To do this, you must first submit an application for video identification through the web portal or mobile application. The application form specifies the last name, first name, patronymic, passport data, contact phone number, and email; you also need to choose a convenient video communication app and attach scanned copies of your passport and taxpayer registration number. After registration of the application, a PFU employee contacts the applicant by phone or email to agree on the date and time of the video conference. According to the fund, the session is held within 10 to 30 calendar days after submitting the application. During the video call, you must show your face and the original identity document, as well as answer the specialist's questions. Permitted messengers and platforms include Google Meet, Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, or Zoom. The decision based on the results of video identification is made within 10 days.
Personal visit: service centers and authorized banks
The third option is to apply to any service center of the Pension Fund of Ukraine, regardless of the pensioner's place of registration. During the visit, you must present an identity document and undergo the prescribed verification procedure. The fourth way is available to those who receive their pension or insurance payment through an authorized bank and have the opportunity to personally visit its branch: in this case, identification is carried out at the bank, after which the institution transmits the relevant information to the PFU as part of information exchange. The procedure and its availability at a specific bank should be clarified in advance.
For Ukrainians abroad and how to check the result
Ukrainians temporarily residing abroad can, in addition to online services and video calls, contact a foreign diplomatic institution of Ukraine — a consulate or embassy. There, they can obtain a document confirming the fact that the person is alive, which, along with the necessary materials, is transmitted to the Pension Fund. After completing any of the procedures, the pensioner should make sure that information about it is displayed in the PFU system. You can check the result through the "My Identification" service in your personal account on the PFU portal or in the mobile application, where the date of the last physical identification and information about its completion are visible.
