Reciprocal Agreements with other countries

This page will tell you more about the Reciprocal Agreements we have with other countries.

Please contact the Policy Section for more details or advice.

You may also find the information on Benefits abroad useful.

What are Reciprocal Agreements?

Since the introduction of social security benefits the UK Government has been negotiating agreements, providing for reciprocity in matters of social security with other nations around the world.

These agreements have been reached with a view to protecting the interests of workers abroad so that they are able, subject to the conditions of the agreements, to avoid paying contributions in both countries at the same time, or are able to aggregate contributions paid in different countries in order to obtain benefit in certain circumstances.

The Isle of Man, for whose international affairs the UK is responsible, has, for the purposes of the agreement, been included in the definition of the United Kingdom.

Which countries do we have two way reciprocal agreements with?

Two way reciprocal agreements have been negotiated with the following countries:

*Indicates those countries which are members of the European Union, or the European Economic Area.
#Indicates those countries where the agreement is contributions only.
~Indicates those countries where the agreement contains only limited benefit provisions.

Australia - the agreement with Australia terminated with effect from 1 March 2001. However, any person with periods of residence in Australia before 6 April 2001 will have those periods protected, even though the agreement has been terminated, and used in the eventual calculation of their Retirement Pension entitlement, or a claim to Bereavement Benefits in the event of claiming whilst resident in the Isle of Man or UK.

What is our relationship with the European Union?

Unlike the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man is not a member of the European Union, or the European Economic Area (which also includes Liechtenstein).

As a consequence, any employer who posts a worker, whether he is a UK national or not, who resides in the Isle of Man to an EU country will not be subject to EU regulations. The worker will, however, be entitled to benefits in accordance with the reciprocal agreement negotiated with that country.

In all cases it is advisable that Social Security be contacted before a worker leaves the country: