You need to have lived or worked in the UK for at least 3 years to be eligible to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions – but read on...
A: LIVING: If you lived in the UK for 3 years and then worked or were officially unemployed for just a short time immediately before leaving the UK, you may be eligible. Call the International Pension Centre on +44 191 218 7777 to check your eligibility.
If you’re eligible, then use XtraPension’s service to apply to pay voluntary contributions in order to get your UK State Pension.
Note: Time spent living in Europe may also be counted towards the 3 years of living in the UK at HMRC’s discretion but you will need to provide evidence of this Non-UK residency.
B: WORKING: For 99% of people however, proving you paid 3 years in a row of National / Social Insurance is the key eligibility factor used by HMRC to determine if you can pay voluntary National Insurance contributions, which you need in order to maximise your UK StatePension.
Note: You are also eligible if you paid just 1 full year of National Insurance in the UK followed immediately by work - where you paid social insurance - in any European country to bring you over the 3 year threshold.
If you are unsure of the National Insurance you have paid, we recommend that you check your National Insurance record
