Not enough experience for a pension: how to buy it and what should be known

Press service of the State Tax Service of Ukraine, published 15 April 2026 at 15:30 Chapter: News

It is possible to buy additional years of service – this is a simple way to solve the problem if you don’t have enough years to qualify for a pension. In fact, the person pays single contribution to obligatory state social insurance for periods when the one was not officially employed, and therefore add them to the insurance years.

How to do this? There are two options:

One-time payment for the past periods

It is possible to immediately pay for months the one did not work. Minimum single contribution is 3 804.68 UAH for each month in 2026. Amount must be paid in full – within 10 days after conclusion of the contract.

Voluntary participation (monthly payment)

There is a possibility to sign contract for at least a year and pay monthly. Minimum single contribution is 1 902.34 UAH per month in 2026.

Where to go and what documents are needed

To conclude the contract, it is needed to contact the Tax Service at the person’s residence place with a corresponding application for concluding the contract (in the electronic or paper form).

Application must include:

- copy of the person’s identity document;

- copy of work record book (if available);

- certificate of insurance experience (form OK-5). 

Additionally:

If you are a member of the personal farm and are not a person subject to obligatory state social insurance, you will additionally need document confirming membership in the personal farm.

For a domestic worker – copy of the employment contract.

Important to know

At the time of signing the contract, the person must not be subject to obligatory state social insurance.

It is only possible to buy additional experience for periods when the person was not officially employed and did not conduct entrepreneurial activities.

If the person was insured but did not pay contributions (for example, due to benefits), such experience cannot be bought.

Citizens aged 16 and over can conclude the contract.

Failure to comply with the contract terms may lead to its unilateral termination, which, in turn, deprives right to conclude such contract in the future. 

What is insurance experience and why is it important

Insurance record is the social protection basis. It determines right to the pension, sick leave, unemployment benefits and other social benefits.

Where to check insurance experience

It is possible to check insurance experience online through the Pension Fund of Ukraine portal in personal account (using electronic signature). There it is possible to find information about:

insurance experience;

salary from which contributions were paid;

data from the electronic work book;

whether the employer pays contributions on time.