Iraqi Kurdistan lowers retirement age from 63 to 60 years

ERBIL,— The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has announced a reduction in the retirement age from 63 to 60 years and a change in the required years of service for government employees. The new rule also raises the retirement age for voluntary retirees and alters the timeline for their pension eligibility.

The decision, confirmed by Kurdistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in a statement on Thursday, means that employees in the region will now need to retire at 60, rather than 63, if they meet the required service conditions. Additionally, the years of service necessary for retirement eligibility have been increased from 15 years to 25 years.

Under the new policy, employees wishing to retire voluntarily must now be at least 50 years old, up from the previous threshold of 45 years.

“Employees must now complete 25 years of service before they can apply for retirement, reflecting a significant adjustment from the former 15 years,” the statement noted.

However, some exceptions will apply under the new rules. The following individuals will remain eligible for retirement at 63 years:

University professors and assistant professors in the field of academic law
Judicial doctors, practitioners, and internal medicine specialists
Researchers and assistant researchers in the Kurdistan Regional Council
Civil aviation workers, those involved in aviation work, and those with an active work permit

However, some exceptions will apply under the new rules. University professors, judicial doctors, and civil aviation workers, along with specific other professionals, will be exempt from the new retirement age and can continue working until 63 years of age.

According to the KRG, employees who have reached the age of 60 must begin the retirement process immediately. Additionally, the new rules also align with Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court decision, which outlines a unified retirement law across the country.

The KRG’s decision, stemming from a directive by the Council of Ministers, is set to be implemented in accordance with Iraq’s retirement laws and will affect both current and future government employees.

The law also clarifies that certain groups, such as those involved in the Anfal campaigns, and political prisoners, will continue to be eligible for retirement at 65 years under different regulations.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi parliament is considering increasing the national retirement age from 60 to 63 years, a proposal that contrasts with the Kurdistan Region’s decision.

The government has also outlined that individuals who had their service extended prior to January 1, 2025, under previous retirement laws will continue to work until the end of their extension period before transitioning to retirement status.

(With files from Rudaw | NRT TV)