--- title: "Ukrainians Abroad Can Voluntarily Purchase Pension Insurance Record: How to Make Contributions in 2026" description: "The Pension Fund of Ukraine explained how citizens abroad can voluntarily pay contributions and accumulate insurance record. The minimum payment in 2026 is UAH 1,902.34, and payment is available online via Portmone." date: 2026-11-10T11:56:11.710Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukrainians-abroad-purchase-pension-insurance-record-2026 tags: [ukraine, pension-fund, insurance-seniority, overseas-ukrainians, voluntary-contributions, portmone] author: "Andrey Kosynko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Ukrainians Abroad Can Voluntarily Purchase Pension Insurance Record: How to Make Contributions in 2026 ![A woman in glasses sits at a table and works on a laptop at home](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/10/ukraincy-za-granicey-mogut-dokupit-strahovoy-stazh-dlya-pensii/ukraincy-za-granicey-mogut-dokupit-strahovoy-stazh-dlya-pensii-1.webp) ## Key Points - Ukrainians abroad can voluntarily pay contributions to the PFU and accumulate insurance record if their data is in the Register of Insured Persons and they do not receive a current pension - The minimum insurance contribution in 2026 is UAH 1,902.34 (22% of the minimum wage of UAH 8,647); below this threshold, a month of record is not credited - Contributions can be paid for another person, such as children for parents - Payment from abroad is possible online via the Portmone service using a card from any bank 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. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Украинцы за границей могут докупить страховой стаж: как это сделать](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ukrayintsi-kordonom-mozhut-dokupiti-strahoviy-1794310758.html) - Primary source. Contains a full PFU explanation: participation conditions, minimum contribution amount in 2026 (UAH 1,902.34), payment mechanism via Portmone, possibility of paying for another person. - [Как "купить" стаж для пенсии: сколько стоит 1 год стажа](https://24tv.ua/economy/ru/skolko-stoit-dokupit-1-god-stazha-k-pensii-kak-dokupit-stazh-v-ukraine-jekonomika_n2594920) - Confirms the general mechanism of voluntary contributions. Provides data for 2024 (minimum contribution UAH 1,760, year of record — UAH 21,480), which is consistent with the growth of the minimum wage by 2026. - [Украинцы могут "купить" себе пенсию: как и сколько это будет стоить в 2026 году](https://www.obozrevatel.com/ekonomika-glavnaya/fea/ukraintsyi-mogut-kupit-sebe-pensiyu-kak-i-skolko-eto-budet-stoit-v-2026-godu.htm) - Confirms the relevance of the topic for 2026 and the possibility of purchasing record for parents. - [Пенсия в 2026 году: как купить стаж и когда это невыгодно](https://minfin.com.ua/2026/09/21/182055682/) - Confirms that in 2026 the mechanism for voluntarily purchasing record remains, and points to cases when it is economically disadvantageous. ## FAQ ### Who can voluntarily pay pension contributions from abroad? Any citizen of Ukraine whose data is entered into the Register of Insured Persons and who does not yet receive a pension. The place of work and residence does not matter. ### What is the minimum insurance contribution in 2026? 1,902.34 hryvnias (22% of the minimum wage of 8,647 UAH). If you pay less, a full month of insurance record will not be credited. ### Can contributions be paid for another person? Yes. For example, children can make contributions for their parents, or a spouse for their partner. To do this, it is enough to conclude an electronic agreement with the PFU. ### How to make a payment while being abroad? Online, using a card from any bank, through the Portmone service. A personal visit to a PFU branch is not required. ### What needs to be done to start paying contributions? Conclude an electronic agreement with the Pension Fund of Ukraine. The fund has published a video instruction with a step-by-step description of the procedure.