New pension regulations come into effect in 2013 after being published in the Official Gazette (BOP). These include a measure agreed by the previous Zapatero government with businesses and unions to raise the qualification period from 15 to 25 years and raising the retirement age to 67 years.
The qualification period for pensions will rise gradually, to 20 years by 2017 and then quite likely to 25 years at some as yet unspecified time thereafter.
The changes mean that those born after 1948 will be the first to be affected and anyone born in 1960 or later will not be able to retire until age 67 years.