The Ibero-American Multilateral Agreement on Social Security of Spain, published in the BOEguarantees the social protection of workers who move between the signatory countries, guaranteeing the main social contingencies such as retirement, disability and survival (widowhood and orphanhood), among others.
The agreement does not unify, but rather coordinates the Social Security systems to allow the portability of worker rights. The countries that have ratified it are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, El Salvador, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Portugal.
In relation to its application, certain doubts about retirements which the immigration lawyer, Pau Ventura, clarifies: “There is a false belief regarding retirements.”
Reach the minimum contribution
Pau has shared several explanatory videos about this pact on social networks: “Once I commented that you could import what you worked in your country of origin if it has an agreement with Spain and be able to use them to retire”, but he wanted to clarify in a more recent publication: “This does not mean that those contributions, if for example you worked for 15 years in Colombia or Peru, you import them and they appear in your working life added up.” What it means is that it helps you meet the requirements in Spain or in another case, it helps you receive a higher amount.
He supports his arguments with the following example: “If you have worked 20 years in Honduras or Venezuela and in Spain you have only contributed one, then in Spain to be able to collect it is 15 and you will only have one.” These 20 can be used to meet the requirements when applying for the benefit, but they will not appear in working life.
What are the retirement requirements
In Spain, to be entitled to the non-contributory pension, you must have contributed for the indicated years and, at least, 2 of those years must be within the last 15 years prior to the application.
The person who has done more than what is stipulated will be able to retire at 65 years of age and for those who do not reach the level, the ordinary age is 66 or more. The amount also depends on the contribution bases and the number of additional years. If the minimum conditions for the contributory pension are not met, a non-contributory pension may be requested.