International social security · SPD Advocacia

Worked in Italy and Brazil? The periods from both countries can be added up

The agreement between Brazil and Italy lets you add up insurance periods for disability, old age and death. The firm reviews both records, prepares the claim with Brazil's social security institute, INSS, and follows the exchange of information with the Italian institution.

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How does the Brazil-Italy agreement count your time?

Social security between Brazil and Italy follows the 1960 Migration Agreement, enacted by Decree 57,759/1966, and the 1974 Additional Protocol, enacted by Decree 80,138/1977 and in force since August 5, 1977. The protocol is the part that matters for retirement. It requires adding up the insurance periods completed in both countries for disability, old-age and death benefits. It applies to Brazilian or Italian workers who contributed to both systems (art. 7).

After the sum, each country separately calculates the benefit the person would be entitled to under its own law. It then pays the share of time completed under its legislation (art. 9). If the two shares together do not reach the minimum of the country where the beneficiary lives, that country pays the difference (art. 11). Each institution pays in its own country's currency (art. 15). So anyone who worked in both places can receive two benefits.

The text of the protocol speaks of disability, old age and death and does not mention retirement by length of service or contribution. This calls for care in planning. A claim filed with the institution of one country takes effect as if it had been filed in the other (art. 18). In Brazil, the liaison body is the INSS international agreements office in Belo Horizonte, and the claim uses form IT-BR-01. According to INSS, the agreement with Italy does not provide for temporary posting of self-employed workers.

What the law says

The points that matter most

Adding up periods

Periods from both countries are added up for disability, old age and death (art. 7 of the Protocol).

Proportional calculation

Each country pays the share of time completed under its law (art. 9).

Minimum amount

If the total falls below the minimum of the country of residence, that country pays the difference (art. 11).

Claim in one country

A claim filed with one country's institution takes effect in the other (art. 18).

Source: Decree 57,759/1966 (Brazil-Italy Migration Agreement), arts. 37 to 43; Decree 80,138/1977 (Additional Protocol), arts. 1, 7, 9, 11, 15 and 18; INSS, page on the agreement with Italy and general information on international agreements. Content reviewed on October 23, 2026.

What is your case?

Situations the firm handles

Time in both countries

Worked in Italy and Brazil

We add up the periods for retirement by age.

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Living in Italy

Want to claim your INSS benefit

A claim filed with the Italian institution takes effect in Brazil.

Decree 80,138/1977, art. 18

Survivor's pension

Family of someone who worked in both countries

The survivor's pension is among the benefits of the protocol.

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Disability

Inability to work with time in Italy

The agreement has its own medical report form.

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Planning

Want to know when and how much you will receive

We simulate the scenarios before the claim.

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Power of attorney

Handle matters in Brazil without traveling

We advise on the power of attorney for INSS and for court proceedings.

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This page provides general information, does not replace an analysis of the case and there is no guarantee of results.

Step by step

How the firm works

Review. We pull your CNIS (Brazil's contribution record) and your contribution statement in Italy.
Count. We simulate the sum of periods and each country's share.
Claim. We prepare the application and the agreement forms, such as IT-BR-01.
Follow-up. We follow the exchange between INSS and the Italian institution, with updates on WhatsApp.

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Case review

Let's look at your case

Answer the questions, one at a time. At the end you can attach documents, which go straight to a folder in the firm's Drive, and send the summary via WhatsApp. Everything is protected by attorney-client confidentiality.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Does time in Italy count toward retirement by length of contribution?

The protocol deals with disability, old age and death and does not mention length of service. That is why each case needs an analysis before the claim.

Do I need Italian citizenship to use the agreement?

The protocol applies to Brazilian or Italian workers who have insurance periods in both countries (art. 7). What matters is where the contributions were made.

Will I receive two benefits?

It can happen. Each country pays the share proportional to the time completed there (art. 9). If the total falls below the minimum of the country where you live, that country makes up the difference (art. 11).

Can I file the claim from Italy?

Yes. A claim filed with the Italian institution takes effect as if it had been filed in Brazil (art. 18). The INSS liaison body for Italy is in Belo Horizonte.

I will work in Italy as a self-employed person. Is there a posting certificate?

According to INSS, the agreement with Italy does not provide for temporary posting of self-employed workers. For employees sent by their company, the agreement has its own rule and an INSS form, and the firm checks whether it applies to your case.

How much does it cost?

After the analysis, the firm sends a written fee proposal before any engagement.