Retire in Turkey from Denmark (2026)

Denmark and Turkey have had a bilateral social security convention since 1976 (given effect in Danish law via a 1978 circular, with current administrative guidance from Udbetaling Danmark last updated in 2014 and provisions described as being in force from 1 November 2003). This convention is the specific reason a Turkey move is even possible for folkepension: outside the EU/EEA/Nordic area or a country with such an agreement, Denmark generally does not pay folkepension abroad at all. Under the convention, the basic amount (grundbeløb) of folkepension can be paid to you as a Turkish resident, and the convention separately gives Turkish citizens who have lived in Denmark for at least 5 years after age 15 (and before pension age) a parallel right to Danish folkepension under the same rules as Danish citizens.

This is the critical exception, similar in spirit to how Sweden's garantipension does not travel outside its social security convention's protections. Pensionstillæg (the pension supplement) — along with several related add-ons calculated on top of the basic amount, and the equivalent supplements for førtidspension (early-retirement/disability pension) and seniorpension — is, as a general rule, only paid to pensioners resident in the EU/EEA or Nordic countries; it is not payable to someone resident in Turkey, whether Danish or Turkish. A narrow band of personal supplements, and assistance/care allowances, can still be paid to Danish citizens (but not Turkish citizens) resident in Turkey. If pensionstillæg makes up part of your expected folkepension, that portion will generally stop once you move permanently to Turkey — confirm your own entitlement breakdown directly with Udbetaling Danmark, International Pension, before budgeting around a total figure.

ATP is a funded, contribution-based scheme rather than a residence-based welfare benefit, and the Denmark-Turkey convention explicitly covers ATP alongside folkepension. ATP Livslang Pension can be paid to you as a Turkey resident, but because Turkey sits outside the EU/EEA, payment typically needs to go to a Danish bank account (transfers to a foreign account carry a small per-payment fee), and you cannot start drawing ATP before Danish folkepension age regardless of where you live. You must actively request payment to start when you move abroad, and return the annual proof-of-life certificate (leveattest) each year. Confirm your specific account and payment setup directly with ATP.

Occupational pension (arbejdsmarkedspension, typically through a labour-market pension provider such as PFA, Danica, PenSam, or Sampension) and private pension savings (pensionsopsparing) are contractual, funded arrangements rather than government welfare benefits, so they generally continue to be paid wherever you live, Turkey included. Correct tax treatment, however, runs through the Denmark-Turkey double taxation agreement (in force since 20 June 1993) and Denmark's own rules for pension paid to people with limited Danish tax liability, which can differ meaningfully from how folkepension and ATP are handled. Confirm the exact process, any required forms, and current withholding with your pension provider and with Skattestyrelsen before you move.