In Spain, including the Canary Islands, Social Security allows workers to retire up to four years before the official retirement age, depending on whether they opt for voluntary or forced early retirement. However, certain professions have the unique opportunity to retire much earlier, even as young as 52, and still receive 100% of their pension.
This privilege is reserved for workers in sectors deemed to involve high risk or particularly demanding conditions. While not all professions qualify for this benefit, several groups, such as the National Police and the Guardia Civil, have requested the right to access early retirement under these conditions.
Recently, the Spanish government reached an agreement with social agents, unions, and employers' associations to improve retirement conditions for workers in dangerous, toxic, or especially tough jobs. These workers can now apply for early retirement.
The following sectors are eligible for early retirement, with the right to receive 100% of the pension, if they meet the required criteria, based on their regulatory base salary:
- Local Police officers: Age 52.
- Maritime workers: Age 52.
- Pilots: Age 52.
- Mine workers: Age 52.
- Railway workers: Age 52.
- Matadors: Age 55 (bullfighting).
- Firefighters: Age 59.
- Artists: Age 60 (singers, dancers and trapeze artists).
This special provision aims to ensure that workers in physically or mentally taxing roles can retire early without financial penalties, reflecting the unique challenges they face in their careers.
