27/05/2026
If you're a British expat and you've seen the headlines about voluntary National Insurance getting five times more expensive from April 2026 — it's worth pausing before assuming that applies to your situation.
For most expats already topping up their UK State Pension from abroad, the cost change in the headlines isn't the part that matters. The part that does: new applicants now need ten years of UK NI history to qualify, not three. For long-term expats who hadn't yet started, that's the change that could close the door entirely.
We've written a plain-English breakdown of what changed, who it affects, and what we'd recommend depending on where you stand — whether you're already contributing, were on Class 2, or haven't started yet.
If you have a friend or family member living abroad who's been putting off looking at their State Pension, this might be worth sharing with them. The transitional window for some of these changes won't stay open indefinitely.
Read the full article at pwa-intl.com — link in the comments below.