Spain’s Retirement Age Gradually Increasing to 67
Under the pension system reform promoted by the Spanish government, the legal retirement age will continue to increase gradually. This adjustment aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of the public pension system and adapt to demographic changes in society.
New Retirement Age from 2026
The specific reform timeline shows that from January 1, 2026, individuals applying for retirement in Spain must be at least 66 years and 10 months old. This age threshold will continue to rise until the target legal retirement age of 67 is fully reached in 2027. At that point, 67 will become the standard age to receive a full state pension in Spain.
Three Basic Conditions for Claiming a Pension
To successfully claim a retirement pension, in addition to reaching the legal age, applicants must also meet the following two core requirements regarding Social Security contributions:
- Minimum Contribution Period: Throughout their lifetime, an individual must have contributed to Social Security for a minimum of 15 years. This period is cumulative and does not require the contribution record to be uninterrupted.
- Recent Contribution Record: Within the 15 years immediately preceding the retirement application, there must be at least 2 years of Social Security contribution records.
Contribution Period Calculation and Early Retirement
When calculating the 15-year minimum contribution period, contributions from both full-time and part-time work are counted towards the qualifying period. This means that the Social Security records of individuals in part-time or temporary jobs also help them meet the retirement eligibility.
Furthermore, although the legal retirement age is increasing, the current legal framework still allows workers who meet specific conditions to apply for early retirement.
