The Republic Pension and Disability Insurance Fund (PIO) disburses pensions and benefits for other rights under pension and disability insurance to around 64,500 recipients abroad, with the majority of them, over 50,000, residing in the countries of the former SFRY. Based on international social security agreements, the PIO Fund paid just over 117.6 million euros last year to individuals who accrued part of their work history in Serbia but now live abroad.
According to the latest data, Serbia has approximately 1.65 million pensioners. In addition to them, there are individuals whose pensions are paid under international agreements. These agreements provide administrative and legal assistance, ensuring that the insured person submits their request to the insurance authority in the country of their residence.
Serbia has social security agreements with 35 countries. In addition to the countries of the former SFRY, funds are also being sent to more distant destinations.
In the region, pensioners from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece, and Croatia have the right to Serbian pensions. Pensioners who spent their working life in the European Union, as well as in Germany, Sweden, Austria, Italy, France, Luxembourg, or Slovenia, are also entitled to receive payments in Serbia. Besides these countries, Serbia has international agreements with Australia, China, Canada, Russia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, Denmark, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Quebec, Cyprus, Panama, Tunisia, Turkey and others.
Most funds go to the region
In 2024, the PIO Fund disbursed pensions to 13,640 recipients in 30 countries worldwide, excluding the countries of the former SFRY.
More than half of these pensioners live in Germany—7,157 recipients—followed by Austria with 2,606, Hungary with 1,471, Sweden with 280, Switzerland with 246, France with 219, the Czech Republic with 160, and the United States with 154 recipients.
Data shows that the smallest number of recipients is in Mexico, where three pensions are sent. Four go to Greece, five to New Zealand, and eight to Turkey.
In 2024, over 2.9 billion dinars (24.76 million euros) were transferred under this program, with these entitlements being paid quarterly due to high administrative costs and relatively low amounts.
In the regional countries, 50,948 recipients receive pensions, with the following breakdown: Republika Srpska—13,143 recipients, Croatia—12,732, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina—8,956, Montenegro—6,964, North Macedonia—5,937, and Slovenia—3,215.
In 2024, approximately 92.9 million euros were transferred to the region, with these entitlements being paid monthly for the previous month.
How is the right to foreign pension payments established?
Once the total work history required for pension eligibility is confirmed, each country individually determines the pension amount and issues a decision based on earnings and work history in that country. Each contracting state decides on the right to a pension based on the national laws and international social security agreements.
If the insured person meets the conditions for a pension based on the work history accumulated in one contracting state, the pension is determined without considering the work history from another contracting state. If these conditions are not met, according to the international social security agreement, the work periods accumulated in the contracting states are added together, provided they do not overlap, and a proportional part of the pension is determined, as stated on the PIO Fund website.
A medical examination or assessment required for deciding on pension claims is conducted by the insurance authority in the country of the insured person’s residence.
