Czechia's new retirement age: What’s changing and how it affects foreigners

President Petr Pavel has signed a sweeping pension reform into law, raising the retirement age to 67 and introducing changes that will affect pensions for the next decade. Here’s what you need to know about how the reform will impact workers and retirees in Czechia.

The retirement age will increase by one month each year, reaching 67 for people born after 1988. This marks a two-year jump from the current retirement age of 65, which was set to be reached in the 2030s.

Starting in 2026, the calculation for new pensions will gradually decrease over the next decade. Currently, 100 percent of earnings up to the first income threshold are considered, but this will drop to 90 percent by 2035. Additionally, the percentage of earnings credited for years of service will decline from 1.5 percent to 1.45 percent.

The reform narrows the criteria for early retirement in demanding professions. While underground miners, paramedics, and company firefighters can retire early without reductions, the new law expands this to around 12,000 additional workers in the riskiest jobs. However, the pool is significantly smaller than the 125,000 workers initially proposed.

Employers in these high-risk professions will face increased levies: 5 percentage points higher for those eligible for early retirement and 4 percent of wages contributed to individual pension accounts for workers in slightly less risky jobs.

According to the government, these changes aim to stabilize the pension system for younger generations. Without reform, the system could face a deficit equivalent to 5 percent of GDP—roughly CZK 350 billion—by the middle of the century.

President Pavel defended the reform, stating that minor adjustments would ease the financial burden later. “If we tighten a little today, it can only help us in the future,” he said.

Opposition parties ANO and SPD have vowed to challenge parts of the reform if they gain power, labeling it a patchwork of changes rather than a proper overhaul. They argue the amendments could harm public finances and are pushing to reverse “anti-social” measures.

Expats in Czechia have the same pension rights as locals if they’ve reached retirement age and paid social insurance for at least 35 years, according to the Integration Center Prague. However, claims can be complex for those who’ve worked in multiple countries. In such cases, expats receive partial pensions from each country based on the time they are insured there.

The process depends on bilateral agreements between Czechia and other nations, determining whether foreign contributions count toward Czech pension benefits. Expats nearing retirement are advised to check these agreements to understand how their work abroad will impact their pension eligibility and benefits in Czechia.

For more information, see our explainer here.