The Italian Senate has approved the pension agreement with Albania with 129 votes in favor and none against, according to ATA agency.

This agreement benefits both Albanian citizens living in Italy and Italian citizens residing in Albania.

Approximately 500,000 Albanians working and living in Italy and around 4,000 Italians with residence permits in Albania will benefit from the agreement.

Under the terms of the agreement, Albanians in Italy and Italians in Albania will be entitled to:

• General Mandatory Insurance for disability, old-age, and survivor pensions

• Special benefits for self-employed workers, including artisans, traders, and farmers

• Health benefits, including coverage for illnesses, tuberculosis, maternity leave, and unemployment insurance

Once the agreement comes into effect, individuals approaching retirement age will need to apply to the respective social security institution (Albanians in Italy with INPS and Italians in Albania with ISSH) to receive pensions from both countries, depending on their years of contributions.

Additionally, Albanians who retired before 2024 may also apply to benefit from this agreement.

This agreement ensures that no citizen loses a single day of contributions, regardless of where they have worked, thus establishing the legal conditions for pension eligibility in both countries.