The retirement age will change again in Spain starting on January 1, 2027. From that date, workers who want to access normal retirement at 65 years old will have to prove a minimum of 38 years and six months of contributions to the Social Security system. Those who do not reach that period will have to wait until they reach 67 years old.
The change is part of the progressive schedule established by the 2011 pension reform, which gradually raised the standard retirement age from 65 to 67 years. The transition will conclude in 2027, when the two final timeframes will be set.
According to the Social Security system, the contribution requirement for retiring at 65 increases compared to 2026, when 38 years and three months are required. Therefore, those who do not reach that new threshold in 2027 will have to wait two more months than in 2026 to access normal retirement.
What age will you be able to retire at in 2027?
The standard age will depend on the years of contributions during working life. The regulations establish two options:
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At 65 years old: for those who prove 38 years and six months of contributions or more.
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At 67 years old: for those who have contributed less than 38 years and six months.
This requirement applies to contributory normal retirement and should not be confused with early or partial retirement modalities, which have specific conditions.
What happens if you don’t reach 38 years and six months?
Workers who do not meet the required period may access normal retirement at 67 years old, provided they also meet the minimum contribution requirements.
To be entitled to a contributory retirement pension, it is necessary to have contributed at least 15 years to the Social Security system. Of that period, at least two years must be included within the 15 immediately preceding the time of requesting the benefit.
Therefore, it is not enough to meet the standard age: it is also necessary to prove the minimum contribution period that gives access to the pension.
The final step in the retirement delay schedule
The 2027 change completes the progressive increase in the standard retirement age that began in 2013. Over these years, the contribution period required to retire at 65 has been increasing, while the age required for those who did not reach that threshold has also been raised.
In 2026, for example, they can retire at age 65 if they have contributed for at least 38 years and three months. For the rest, the ordinary age is set at 66 years and ten months. Starting in 2027, the system will be stabilized in the two brackets of 65 and 67 years, depending on each worker’s contribution record.
The ordinary age also does not by itself determine the amount of the pension: the years contributed and the contribution bases play a role in calculating the amount that is ultimately recognized.