British Abroad can help you secure a full UK State Pension from overseas.
Read more about backdating years, getting refunds on overpaid Class 3 National Insurance, or claiming if you have enough contributions.
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We help expats increase their UK State Pension
If you have gaps in your National Insurance record, you may be able to fill missing qualifying years by paying voluntary National Insurance contributions.
We specialise in the parts most people get stuck on. We check what you can pay, whether you qualify for Class 2 National Insurance (the lower-cost route) or if you need Class 3, and what years make sense to fill.
We do the paperwork, keep things moving with HMRC, and guide you through payment so you can boost your State Pension income from abroad easily.
We can also help with refunds of overpaid NI contributions (if you qualified for the lower costs), and claiming your pension:
- Refund service: if you paid Class 3 but later qualify for Class 2, we help you pursue a refund of overpaid amounts where possible.
- Claim service: if you are at, or past, State Pension age, we help you claim from overseas and deal with follow-ups.
We work with expats worldwide and offer a free consultation call.
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UK State Pension FAQ for British Expats
The new UK State Pension is a guaranteed retirement income for those who have paid between 10 and 35 ‘Qualifying Years‘ of National Insurance contributions. Eligible retirees, including expats and non-residents, can get a maximum of £230.25/week (2025/26).
- £230.25/week (~£11,976/year).
- Your State Pension will continue to rise with inflation until it is claimed at retirement age in most cases. It will then be frozen if you live in most countries outside the UK.
It depends on your National Insurance (NI) record.
- You need a minimum of 10 Qualifying Years to get anything.
- With a maximum of 35 Qualifying Years, you get the full State Pension.
- Otherwise, you’ll receive a proportional amount eg. 20 Qualifying Years = 20/35ths
Bottom Line: Less years = Less pension
Yes, you can apply to backdate up to 6 years with voluntary NI contributions at either £180/year or £900/year (Class 2 vs. Class 3 rates). We’ve written a full guide here.
Contact us now to get advice and determine your eligibilty for lower costs. Our Class 2 top-up service can save you thousands of pounds.
- A tax year in which you paid, or were credited with, enough National Insurance contributions. For example:
“James worked for a company in the UK for 7 years and then moved abroad, giving him 7 Qualifying Years.
He continued to contribute voluntarily for another 10 years as a working expat, giving him 17 Qualifying Years.
James plans to continue paying until he has 35 Qualifying Years, so he gets the maximum State Pension income at age 66.”
Yes:
- As long as you’ve got 10+ qualifying NI years, you can claim it.
- Contact us for adviice, or call the International Pension Centre to check specifics.
- It’s paid into your overseas bank in local currency.
Yes, but tax depends on where you live and where your pension is paid to, but generally speaking, tax depends on the UK’s tax treaty with your country. You might owe tax there or here – sometimes both, sometimes neither.
- Currently 66 for both men and women.
- Rising to 67 by April 2028, and eventually 68 between 2044–2046.
- We are tracking UK parliament discussions on this topic, so consider subscribing to our newsletter for important updates.