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The short answer
Since 1 January 2026, employees in Ireland aged 23 to 60 who earn €20,000 or more and have no payroll pension are enrolled in My Future Fund, whatever their nationality. In 2026 you pay 1.5% of gross pay, your employer matches it, and the State adds €1 for every €3 you pay.
What auto-enrolment is
Ireland's auto-enrolment retirement savings scheme, branded My Future Fund (also written MyFutureFund), began on 1 January 2026. The CCPC says it is run by the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority, overseen by the Pensions Authority. The Irish Times reported that almost 770,000 workers were enrolled on 1 January.
If you came to Ireland from Nigeria and work for an employer who does not deduct a company pension from your pay, there is a good chance you are in it already. Check your payslip for a deduction labelled auto-enrolment or My Future Fund.
Who is enrolled
- Employees aged 23 to 60.
- Earning €20,000 or more a year.
- Not already paying into a workplace pension through payroll.
The rules are about employment and earnings, not nationality. A Nigerian on a Stamp 1, Stamp 1G or Stamp 4 who meets the age and earnings tests is treated the same as an Irish colleague. If you have two jobs, ask each payroll department how they apply the threshold.
What goes in
The Irish Times (1 June 2026) set out the contribution structure: you pay 1.5% of gross pay, your employer pays a matching amount, and the State adds €1 for every €3 you pay. Rates rise in steps in early 2029, 2032 and 2035, reaching 6% of wages from 2035. The CCPC confirms that you, your employer and the Government all contribute, and that your pot moves with you between employers.
Worked example
| Example: gross salary €36,000 | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| You (1.5%) | €540 | €45 |
| Your employer (1.5%) | €540 | €45 |
| State (€1 per €3 you pay) | €180 | €15 |
| Total into your pot | €1,260 | €105 |
Example only, at 2026 rates. €540 divided by 3 is €180, and €540 + €540 + €180 = €1,260. In this example your own €540 attracts €720 from others.
Opting out, and what you lose
You cannot opt out straight away. The CCPC says there is a minimum participation period, usually six months. The Irish Times reported that for people enrolled in January, the first two-month opt-out window opened on 1 July and closed at the end of August 2026, with later windows following each contribution increase. If you opt out:
- Your own contributions are refunded.
- Employer and State contributions already made stay in your pot and remain invested.
- You have 48 hours to change your mind, according to the Irish Times.
- You are re-enrolled after two years if you still qualify.
You can also suspend contributions at any time, the Irish Times reported, which keeps the pot but stops new money. With the employer and State adding more than you put in, opting out is usually a cost unless you need every euro of take-home pay or are already saving into another pension through payroll.
Situations Nigerian workers often ask about
- Student on Stamp 2
- Part-time pay under €20,000 a year falls below the threshold, so you would not be enrolled on those earnings.
- Earnings near €20,000
- Overtime or a pay rise can bring you over the line; ask payroll how they assess it during the year.
- Already in a company pension
- If you and your employer pay into a workplace pension through payroll, you are not enrolled.
- Over 60 when you start
- You are outside the age range, so you would not be enrolled.
How it compares with the Nigerian RSA you may have left
Many readers worked in Nigeria under the Contributory Pension Scheme before moving. PenCom's 2023 FAQ sets a minimum of 18% of monthly emoluments, 10% from the employer and 8% from the employee, which is far higher than auto-enrolment's starting rate. The Irish scheme starts low and rises over a decade; the extra money comes from your employer and the State. If you expect to retire in Ireland, it is likely to be the larger of the two over time; if you expect to retire in Nigeria, think about how you would access an Irish pot from there.
If you plan to move back to Nigeria
Neither the CCPC page nor the Irish Times report says what happens to a pot when a member leaves Ireland. The CCPC says savings are accessible at the scheme's retirement age, which will follow State Pension rules. Assume the money stays invested until then and ask the authority how you would claim from abroad. Keep your PPS number and MyGovID, which you will need for that and for the Irish State Pension.
If you also hold a Nigerian RSA, the two do not interact; see voluntary RSA contributions from Ireland. To check the deduction on your pay, our guide to your first Irish payslip explains the other lines.
Where Pryme fits
Auto-enrolment is a long-term euro saving. For money you send home each month, a Pryme Personal Account holds euro and naira and Send pays Nigerian accounts with the rate and fee shown before you approve. Outside Nigeria, Pryme works through regulated partners.
Questions people ask
Am I automatically enrolled in My Future Fund as a Nigerian worker?
If you are 23 to 60, earn €20,000 or more and have no payroll pension, yes. Nationality does not matter.
How much does auto-enrolment take from my salary?
1.5% of gross pay in 2026, matched by your employer, with the State adding €1 for every €3 you pay.
Can I opt out of auto-enrolment in Ireland?
After a minimum period, usually six months, in set windows. Your own contributions are refunded; employer and State money stays in your pot.
What happens to my My Future Fund if I move back to Nigeria?
The official pages we read do not say. Savings are accessible at the scheme's retirement age; ask the authority how to claim from abroad.
Sources
- CCPC: Auto-enrolment (2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Irish Times: Workers can opt out of auto-enrolment pension scheme from next month (Dominic Coyle, 1 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- PenCom: Frequently asked questions (2023 edition) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.