Have you worked outside Brazil? That time may count.

When there is an agreement, the time worked in each country can be added together to meet the minimum period required for a benefit, such as an old-age pension. This is called totalization.

Each country then pays only the share that corresponds to the time contributed there. For example: someone with 10 years in Brazil and 5 years in Portugal can count 15 years in total; INSS pays the share for the 10 years, and Portuguese Social Security pays the share for the 5 years.

Each country applies its own age and calculation rules. Some agreements require a minimum contribution period in each country before it pays its share, which is why the specific agreement needs to be reviewed.

Yes. Brazilians living abroad can contribute to INSS as voluntary contributors (segurado facultativo), keeping their insured status and continuing to build up time towards a Brazilian pension.

Contributions are paid with a payment slip (GPS), which can be generated online and paid through a Brazilian bank account.

For people who work remotely while moving between countries, the key question is: where should I contribute? As a general rule, the obligation follows the country where the work is carried out, but residence, the type of contract and the agreements between countries can change the answer.

People temporarily posted by a Brazilian employer to a country with an agreement can request a Certificate of Temporary Posting. With it, they keep contributing in Brazil and are generally exempt from contributing in the other country for the period set out in the agreement.

In countries without an agreement, double contributions may occur. Planning helps you decide whether to keep contributing in Brazil as a voluntary contributor.