Can Employment in Turkey Be Counted Towards a Pension in Ukraine?

Applying for a pension can involve a number of difficulties, particularly where a person has worked not only in Ukraine but also abroad. In such cases, whether periods of employment or insurance accumulated in another country can be taken into account for pension purposes generally depends on the applicable international social security agreements between Ukraine and that country.

Many Ukrainians have worked not only in neighbouring countries but also in Turkey. As a result, an important question arises for those returning to Ukraine: can periods of employment and social insurance accumulated in Turkey be counted towards the insurance record required for a Ukrainian pension?

The recognition of employment and insurance periods accumulated in Turkey depends on the international social security framework applicable between Ukraine and Turkey. In the absence of an agreement providing for the aggregation or mutual recognition of insurance periods, employment in Turkey is not automatically counted towards the insurance record required for a pension in Ukraine.

Ukraine and Turkey have taken steps towards developing cooperation in the field of social security. On 10 July 2020, Presidential Decree of Ukraine No. 270/2020 established an official Ukrainian delegation for negotiations with the Republic of Turkey concerning the conclusion of a bilateral social security agreement.

The purpose of such an international agreement is to establish mechanisms for coordinating the social security systems of the two countries. In particular, such arrangements may regulate the recognition or aggregation of insurance periods accumulated in Ukraine and Turkey and determine how pension rights acquired in each country are protected.

Therefore, Ukrainians who have worked in Turkey and intend to apply for a pension in Ukraine should determine which international rules are in force at the time of their pension application. They should also retain documents confirming their employment, insurance contributions and participation in the Turkish social security system, as these documents may be important for establishing pension rights.