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Is pension fund insurance mandatory for me?

Which insurance policies are mandatory in Switzerland? Besides OASI, DI and health insurance, the pension fund (OPA) is also mandatory for most employees. Whether you must be insured in an occupational pension plan depends on criteria such as your age, salary and type of employment. We will show you clearly and simply what applies to you.

The quick check: Are you subject to mandatory insurance?

Find out with three short questions whether you meet the basic criteria for mandatory insurance in a pension fund (OPA):

  • Age & salary: Are you over 17 and earn more than CHF 22,680 per year from one employer (entry threshold 2025)?
  • Employment: Is your employment contract permanent or for a period of more than three months?
  • Main employment: Is this your main employment, for which you are not already insured elsewhere?

If you answer "Yes" to all questions, you are subject to mandatory pension fund insurance.


The basics of mandatory insurance

In Switzerland, a close-knit network of social insurance schemes forms the basis for your financial security. The best known are the Old-Age and Survivors’ Insurance (OASI), the Disability Insurance (DI) and health insurance. For employees, there is another important component: occupational pensions, better known as the pension fund or OPA. It is the second pillar of the Swiss pension system and provides for you in old age, as well as in the event of disability and death.


The criteria for the OPA obligation in detail

Whether you are subject to mandatory insurance in an occupational pension plan depends on several factors. Your employer is responsible for registering you with the pension fund if the following criteria are met:

  • Age: The insurance obligation begins in two steps:
    • From 1 January after your 17th birthday: You are insured for the risks of disability and death.
    • From 1 January after your 24th birthday: You also start saving for your old-age pension.
  • OASI-liable salary: Your annual salary from one employer exceeds the statutory entry threshold of CHF 22,680 (as of 2025).
  • Duration of employment: Your employment contract is permanent or concluded for a period of more than three months.
  • Main employment: You are not already mandatorily insured for another main employment.

TIP


Are you unsure whether previous pension fund assets have been fully transferred to your current pension institution? The Central Office for the 2nd Pillar can help you search for forgotten pension assets.


Special cases from practice: Part-time and multiple jobs

The situation is not always clear at first glance. Here are two typical examples:

  • Example 1: Part-time work
    Ms. Muster (32) works 50% and earns CHF 21,500 per year. As her salary is below the entry threshold of CHF 22,680, she is not mandatorily insured in the pension fund through this employer.
  • Example 2: Multiple employers
    Mr. Beispiel (45) has two part-time jobs. He earns CHF 16,000 from employer A and CHF 19,000 from employer B. As the salaries are not automatically added together for the OPA obligation, he is not mandatorily insured with either employer. However, he has the option of taking out voluntary insurance to avoid pension gaps.

Keep a simple overview of your pension

Changing jobs is part of professional life. It is important that your saved pension assets are transferred from your previous pension fund to the new one.

NOTE


With an online pension portal like ePlix, you can view your pension data at any time and in real time. This gives you a complete overview at all times. You can also find all the details of your personal pension situation in your insurance certificate. You can find out how to read this important document on our information page about the insurance certificate.


Do you have any further questions about your insurance obligation or your personal pension situation? We are here to help. Simply contact us.

Legal Notice: The content provided in this Knowledge center is intended solely for general informational purposes. It does not constitute binding information, does not replace legal, tax, financial or any other professional advice, and does not contain any recommendation to enter into, amend, or terminate contracts.

The information is prepared with due care and updated regularly. Nevertheless, the companies of the Tellco Group do not assume any guarantee for the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the content. The only authoritative sources are the applicable legal provisions, the relevant regulations, and the official product and contract documentation, including individual contracts and the pension plans of the respective responsible company.

Use of the content is at your own risk. To the extent permitted by law, the companies of the Tellco Group exclude any liability for direct or indirect damages arising from the use of or reliance on the content of the Knowledge Centre. Furthermore, the general legal notices on www.tellco.ch apply.