Current International Social Security Agreements

Australia currently has 32 bilateral international social security agreements.

Austria | Belgium | Canada | Chile | Croatia | Cyprus | Czech |Denmark | Estonia | Finland | Germany | Greece | Hungary | India | Ireland | Italy | Japan | Korea | Latvia | Malta | Republic of North Macedonia | The Netherlands | New Zealand | Norway | Poland | Portugal | Serbia | Slovak | Slovenia | Spain | Switzerland | United States of America

All these agreements are based on the concept of shared responsibility. Shared responsibility agreements are reciprocal. Partner countries under each agreement make concessions against their social security qualification rules so that people covered by the agreement may access payments for which they might otherwise fail to qualify. In this way, responsibility for social security is shared between the countries where a person has lived during their working years and the person is able to unlock potential entitlements. Generally, a pension from one country can be accessed in the second country, although the paying country maintains some discretion in the currency and delivery mechanisms used.

Under these agreements, Australia equates social insurance periods/residence in those countries with periods of Australian residence in order to meet the minimum qualifying periods for Australian pensions. The other countries generally count periods of Australian working life residence as periods of social insurance in order to meet their minimum qualifying periods for payment. Usually, each country will pay a part pension to a person who has lived in both countries.

For more information on claim procedures and payments under an agreement:

For policy information, contact the Department of Social Services.

For more information on whether an agreement can assist seconded workers, contact the Australian Taxation Office.



Flag of Austria Austria


Flag of Austria Belgium


Flag of Austria Canada

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Flag of Austria Chile


Flag of Crotia Croatia


Flag of Cyprus Cyprus


Flag of Czech Czech


Flag of Denmark Denmark

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Flag of Estonia Estonia


Flag of Denmark Finland


Flag of Geramany Germany


Flag of Greece Greece




Flag of Hungary Hungary




Flag of India India


Flag of Ireland Ireland




Flag of Italy Italy


Japanese Flag Japan


Flag of Korea Korea


 Latvia


Flag of Macedonia, Republic of North Macedonia Macedonia, Republic of North Macedonia


Flag of Malta Malta


Flag of Netherlands The Netherlands


Flag of New Zealand New Zealand


Flag of Norway Norway

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Flag of Poland Poland

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Flag of Portugal Portugal


Flag of Serbia Serbia


Flag of Slovak Republic Slovak Republic


Flag of Slovenia Slovenia


Flag of Spain Spain


Flag of Switzerland Switzerland


Flag of USA United States of America

Acknowledgement: Flag images are from the Flags Of The World website.

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