How to confirm work experience abroad?

Employment outside Ukraine in the context of confirming work record is an issue that interests a great many people. If you would like to learn more up-to-date information on this topic, the following details will be useful to you. We will also explain how the services of lawyers from the law firm “Prіkhodko and Partners”, who work at the intersection of labor and migration law, can be helpful.

What should you know about legislative regulation?

The legislative grounds for counting periods of employment outside Ukraine are set out in Articles 24-1 and 26-1 of the Law of Ukraine “On Compulsory State Pension Insurance.” If we speak about the general principles of counting work record in another country, they are as follows:

• If an international agreement has been concluded between Ukraine and the country where the applicant worked, the work record is counted in accordance with the terms of such an agreement.
• If it concerns persons who worked in other countries and who do not have the required length of service stipulated by Article 26 of the above-mentioned law, when applying for a pension they must provide documents confirming the work record acquired abroad. These may include certificates, extracts, and other documentation confirming the acquisition of work record.

On May 16, 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted Resolution № 562 “Certain Issues of Calculating Insurance Record.” This resolution approved the Procedure for confirming the non-payment of pension benefits by another state to persons residing in Ukraine for periods of employment before January 1, 1992, outside Ukraine in the republics of the former USSR, for the purpose of counting such periods toward insurance record.

The above-mentioned regulatory act establishes a legal mechanism according to which the non-payment of pension benefits by another state to persons residing in Ukraine for periods of their employment before January 1, 1992, outside Ukraine in the republics of the former USSR is confirmed. This confirmation is required so that the specified periods of work record may be counted toward a person’s insurance record, including on preferential terms.

Another important regulatory act is the Procedure for confirming and counting periods of a person’s work in another state toward insurance record (work record) for determining the right to an old-age pension. This Procedure defines the mechanism for confirming and counting periods of work in another state in order to determine the right to the assignment of an old-age pension in accordance with the provisions of the Law “On Compulsory State Pension Insurance.” This applies to cases where the required length of service specified in parts 1–3 of Article 26 of this law is absent.

What does this legal mechanism look like in practice?

If a person has work experience abroad, first of all they must obtain information from the country where they worked confirming that no pension benefits were received there. Only once documentary proof of this fact is obtained can the person apply to the Pension Fund for such work record to be counted in Ukraine.

The complexity of such cases lies in the fact that, in addition to national legislation, they are regulated by international treaties. Therefore, it is important to understand which specific regulatory acts should be relied upon in a particular situation. The algorithm of actions and the possibilities of obtaining documents are considered by specialists on an individual basis during a consultation.

How can we be useful to you?

In such cases, when you turn to the lawyers of the law firm “Prіkhodko and Partners”, we know how to help in a truly effective and result-oriented way. Our team has established experience in confirming work record obtained abroad. Therefore, you may contact us to order the following categories of services:

Consulting assistance. We are familiar with the specifics of such cases and clearly understand which circumstances and documents should be analyzed first. Such a thorough analysis makes it possible to determine the legal prospects of your case. Only after understanding what result can be achieved does it make sense to plan further steps in the legal field.

Legal support. For example, this may include assistance in obtaining the necessary documents, as well as representation in interactions with the Pension Fund. At the same time, much at this stage depends on the representatives of the Pension Fund themselves. It often happens that they do not side with the pensioner even in cases where their position is properly documented.

Representation in court. Quite often, judicial protection of a violated right is the most effective option for the client. We can also assist with support in monitoring the enforcement of a court decision.

To order the services of our specialists, please fill out the feedback form on our website. After that, a lawyer with the relevant expertise will contact you to conduct an initial consultation.