The Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) has issued an explanation stating that Ukrainian citizens staying abroad have the right to voluntarily pay pension contributions and thereby accumulate insurance record for a future pension. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the official statement of the fund. The mechanism operates regardless of the insured person's place of work and residence: the opportunity is available to both those employed in Ukraine and those working abroad or without official earnings.
Two Conditions for Participating in the Program
To voluntarily join pension insurance, a person must meet two mandatory conditions: their personal data must be entered into the Register of Insured Persons, and they must not already be receiving a pension. If these conditions are met, a citizen can conclude an electronic agreement with the PFU, after which they receive the right to make contributions in a convenient mode. The fund has published a video instruction explaining step-by-step how to draw up the agreement and start paying.
The Amount and Frequency of Contributions Are Determined by the Insured Person
A key feature of voluntary pension insurance is flexibility. A person independently determines the amount of each payment and its frequency depending on their own financial capabilities. However, there is a minimum threshold: to credit one full month of insurance record, one must pay at least the minimum insurance contribution, calculated as 22% of the minimum wage. In 2026, the minimum wage is 8,647 hryvnias, which means the minimum insurance contribution is 1,902.34 hryvnias (approximately 37 euros). If the payment amount is below this threshold, a full month of record will not be credited. For comparison: in 2024, the minimum contribution was 1,760 hryvnias, and the cost of one year of record was about 21,480 hryvnias, as Ukrainian media noted.
Contributions Can Be Paid for Another Person
The PFU emphasizes that voluntary pension contributions do not necessarily have to be made exclusively to one's own account. An insured person can pay contributions in favor of another individual. In practice, this means that children can accumulate insurance record for their parents, or a spouse for their partner. Such a mechanism is especially relevant for families where one member is abroad and working for a foreign employer, while the second remains in Ukraine.
Payment from Abroad: Online Through Any Bank
For Ukrainians residing abroad, the PFU has provided the opportunity for remote payment of contributions. Payment can be made online using a card from any bank by choosing the Portmone service. This eliminates the need for a personal visit to a fund branch or the use of specialized Ukrainian bank cards. Thus, geographical distance is not an obstacle to building up a pension record.
Important Nuances for Pensioners
Separately, the PFU reminds that current pensioners are obliged to inform the fund within 10 days about changes in their status: employment, registration as an individual entrepreneur, change of surname, or departure from Ukraine. In case of non-compliance with this requirement, the pension may be recalculated in full, but part of the funds will subsequently have to be returned. These rules do not apply to individuals who have not yet retired and are only building up insurance record through voluntary contributions.
