Retirement
In Switzerland, the retirement age for men and women is 65.
You will receive an old-age pension if:
- you have made contributions to the AHV and IV for at least 12 months
- you have lived in Switzerland and your working spouse has paid at least twice the minimum contribution
- you can be credited with education or care credits for at least one year
You will receive the old-age pension on the 1st day of the month in which you reach retirement age. The entitlement to the old-age pension expires at the end of the month in which the person entitled to the pension dies.
It is recommended that you register 3-4 months before reaching retirement age. This also applies to an early withdrawal.
You can register online: Application form for retirement pension
Registration for old-age pension
Explainer film in other languages
The calculation of the ordinary old-age pension is based on:
- the contribution years
- your earned income
- the care and education credits
An uninterrupted contribution period leads to a full AHV pension. This full pension means a monthly amount of at least CHF 1225 and a maximum of CHF 2450. The amount depends on your average income.
The contribution period is considered to be complete if contribution periods can be credited continuously from 1 January after the 20th birthday until the time of pension entitlement.
How much will your AHV pension be?
For insured persons residing in Switzerland and abroad
Calculation of old-age pension (2024)
An explanatory film by the AHV/IV Information Centre
You can draw the old-age pension flexibly, for example:
- you can receive the old-age pension 1-2 years earlier. You will then receive a reduced old-age pension for the duration of the entire pension.
- can also postpone the old-age pension by 1-5 years. You will then receive an increased old-age pension for the duration of the entire pension.
Further information can be found here: Fact sheet on flexible pension receipt
Flexible retirement pension (2024)
An explanatory film by the AHV/IV Information Centre
Unlike wage payments, the old-age pension is always paid in advance.
SVA St.Gallen always transfers the monthly benefits on the 4th working day of the month. The amount should be credited to your post office or bank account the following day.
If you have children, you will receive parenting credits. If you are entitled to a pension, you are entitled to children's pensions for your sons and daughters:
- until they have reached the age of 18
- until they have completed their first educational path
- but at the latest until the age of 25
During the early withdrawal of the old-age pension, there is no entitlement to children's pensions.
The entitlement to children's pensions also applies to foster children.
You will not receive any children's pensions for foster children whom you have taken into care after retirement. The children of the spouse are an exception.
Pro Senectute
Pro Senectute advises senior citizens and their caregivers.
The Pro Senectute specialist offices provide advice on topics such as finances, pensions, health, lifestyle, housing and care. The counselling sessions are free of charge and confidential.
Health guide "Getting older in Switzerland"
This health guide is intended for older migrants and their relatives. They will find information on how to prepare for retirement and for the time afterwards.
- Të jesh i moshuar në Zvicër (albanisch)
- Ostariti u Švicarskoj (bosnisch kroatisch serbisch)
- Älter werden in der Schweiz (deutsch)
- Vieillir en Suisse (französisch)
- Invecchiare in Svizzera (italienisch)
- A Terceira Idade na Suíça (portugiesisch)
- Envejecer en Suiza (spanisch)
- İsviçre’de yaşlanmak (türkisch)
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