Pensioners of the Social Security system residing abroad must complete an annual Proof of Life to continue receiving their pensions as stipulated by a regulation currently in effect.
“Portaria n.º 274/2025/1, of July 31, has regulated the Proof of Life process. This process is intended to confirm that old age, disability, and survivor pensioners under the General Social Security Scheme, residing abroad, maintain their pension rights,” explains the Instituto da Segurança Social (ISS) in a note published on its website.
What to do this year?
In 2025, the ISS states, “pensioners registered in the Social Security Information System living in Luxembourg and Switzerland who are aged 66 years and 7 months or older must complete the Proof of Life to retain their pension rights.”
Pensioners under the Social Security system residing abroad receiving disability, old age, and survivor pensions must present Proof of Life. Understand the implications.
“The Proof of Life must be completed by November 30, 2025. Failure to do so will result in the suspension of the pension starting January 2026. Payments will resume only after a valid Proof of Life is submitted,” it is further stated.
Additionally, the Social Security will “notify all pensioners required to provide Proof of Life this year.”
Pensioners living outside Portugal must now complete the Proof of Life annually. Those in Switzerland and Luxembourg will have to complete the process this year.
And in the coming years, what changes?
From 2026, the Proof of Life will be mandatory for Social Security pensioners registered in the Social Security Information System with an address in Switzerland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Cape Verde, and the United Kingdom, who are aged 66 years and 9 months or older.
Starting from 2027, “all pensioners residing abroad must complete the Proof of Life annually.”
How is Proof of Life conducted?
According to the ISS, the Proof of Life can be completed in three ways: digitally, documentarily, or in person, with the Social Security recommending digital Proof of Life for being faster, safer, and preventing unnecessary travel.
Digital Proof of Life can be done on the Social Security Portal through these steps: menu ‘Vou reformar-me ou sou reformado’ > ‘Prova de vida’ > ‘O que posso fazer online?’ > ‘Mostrar ações disponíveis’ > ‘Consultar e registar prova de vida’.
This Social Security video explains step-by-step:
