International social security · SPD Advocacia
Worked in Portugal and Brazil? Both periods can count toward your retirement
The agreement between Brazil and Portugal lets you add up the contribution periods of both countries. The firm reviews your record, prepares the claim with Brazil's social security institute, INSS, and follows the exchange of information with Portugal's Segurança Social.
How does the Brazil-Portugal agreement add up your time?
Brazil and Portugal have a social security agreement signed in 1991 and enacted in Brazil by Decree 1,457/1995. It was updated by an additional agreement, enacted by Decree 7,999/2013, in force since May 2013. In practice, anyone who contributed in both countries can add up the insurance periods to meet the minimum time the law requires. This applies to disability, old-age and death benefits, unless the person already meets the rule with the time of one country alone (art. 9 of the agreement).
Under the additional agreement, contribution time in Brazil can also be added to Portuguese time for retirement by length of contribution, as long as the periods in Portugal correspond to actual work there (art. 9, § 2). Since the 2019 reform, this type of retirement exists only under the transition rules, for people who were already insured by INSS before the reform (Constitutional Amendment 103/2019, arts. 15 to 17 and 20). Each country calculates its benefit under its own law, using the periods completed there (art. 11). If the two amounts together fall below the minimum of the country where the person lives, that country pays the difference (art. 12).
The claim can start in either country. A claim filed with the Portuguese institution counts as filed on time with INSS (art. 21), and documents exchanged between the institutions do not need consular legalization (art. 19). In Brazil, the liaison body is the INSS international agreements office in São Paulo; in Portugal, it is the Centro Nacional de Pensões (National Pensions Center). Both countries also apply the Ibero-American Multilateral Convention on Social Security (Decree 8,358/2014), and the rule most favorable to the beneficiary prevails (art. 8 of the Convention).
What the law says
The points that matter most
Insurance periods from both countries are added up for disability, old age and death (art. 9).
The additional agreement allows Portuguese time to count toward retirement by length of contribution, now under the transition rules, if there was actual work in Portugal.
Each institution calculates the benefit under its own law, using the periods completed there (art. 11).
Anyone entitled to the benefit keeps it when moving to the other country (art. 6).
Source: Decree 1,457/1995 (Brazil-Portugal Social Security Agreement), arts. 6, 9, 11, 12, 19 and 21; Decree 7,999/2013 (Additional Agreement), arts. 9, § 2, and 12-A; Decree 8,358/2014 (Ibero-American Multilateral Convention), art. 8; Constitutional Amendment 103/2019, arts. 15 to 17 and 20; INSS, page on the agreement with Portugal. Content reviewed on October 23, 2026.
What is your case?
Situations the firm handles
Contributed in Portugal and Brazil
We add up the periods to reach the minimum time the law requires.
See pageWant to claim your INSS pension
The claim can start at the Centro Nacional de Pensões or on Meu INSS.
See pageTransition rules with Portuguese time
The additional agreement allows Portuguese time to count toward this retirement.
Decree 7,999/2013Family of someone who worked in both countries
The survivor's pension is also covered by the adding up of periods.
See pageHandle everything without traveling to Brazil
We advise on the right power of attorney for INSS and for court proceedings.
See pageStep by step
How the firm works
- Review. We pull your CNIS (Brazil's contribution record) and your contribution history in Portugal.
- Count. We simulate the sum of periods and the amount each country should pay.
- Claim. We prepare the application and the agreement forms, such as BR/PT 7.
- Follow-up. We follow the exchange between INSS and Segurança Social, with updates on WhatsApp.
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
Do I need to go back to Brazil to apply?
No. The claim can be filed on Meu INSS or with the Portuguese institution, and a claim filed in Portugal is valid before INSS (art. 21 of the agreement).
Will I receive just one pension?
Each country calculates and pays its own benefit based on the time completed there. That is why many insured people receive two amounts, one from INSS and one from Portugal.
Does time in Portugal count toward retirement by length of contribution?
It can. The additional agreement allows this time to be added, as long as it corresponds to actual work in Portugal (art. 9, § 2). Since the 2019 reform, this applies to people who fit the transition rules.
If I move to Portugal, will INSS keep paying?
Yes. The agreement provides that the right to the benefit is kept when moving to the other country (art. 6). Payment into a Portuguese bank depends on a transfer request to INSS.
What about the Ibero-American Convention?
Brazil and Portugal also apply the Ibero-American Multilateral Convention on Social Security. When it is more favorable than the bilateral agreement, the more advantageous rule applies (art. 8 of the Convention).
How much does it cost?
After the analysis, the firm sends a written fee proposal before any engagement.