In the Philippines, the compulsory retirement age for most government employees is 65.
Workers may opt for early (optional) retirement at 60 if they meet service and eligibility requirements (typically at least 15 years).
For uniformed services, the standard mandatory retirement age is 56, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) follows a 57 compulsory age under reforms adopted in 2023.
Several proposals aim to raise the PNP retirement age to 57, but these are not yet law as of September 2025.
What Is The Retirement Age For Government Employees?
Under the GSIS Act and Civil Service rules, compulsory retirement is at 65.
Optional retirement is allowed at 60 provided the employee has at least 15 years of government service and meets other GSIS conditions.
What Is The Retirement Age For Uniformed Services?
For most non-military uniformed services (e.g., police, fire, jail), the mandatory retirement age remains 56 unless changed by a new law.
AFP Update: 57 Since 2023
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) now has a compulsory retirement age of 57 (or upon meeting service-year limits for certain categories), following amendments signed in May 2023.
Bills To Adjust Police Retirement
Proposals have advanced in Congress to raise the PNP retirement age to 57 for alignment and continuity, but as of September 2025, these measures remain proposed and not yet enacted.
Quick Comparison
| Category | Compulsory Retirement Age | Optional/Early Rule | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government Employees (Civil Service) | 65 | 60 with ≥15 years of service (GSIS) | Extensions only in limited cases; standard GSIS benefits apply. |
| Uniformed Services (PNP/BFP/BJMP, etc.) | 56 | Service-based provisions may apply by rank/tenure | Bills to raise PNP to 57 are pending; not yet law. |
| Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) | 57 | Also subject to service-year limits under the AFP law | Change took effect in 2023 via amendments. |
(Table reflects the latest official positions as of September 2025.)
How Benefits And Service Rules Fit Together
- For civilian government employees, GSIS rules govern eligibility and pension. The common pathway is optional retirement at 60 with ≥15 years of service, or compulsory at 65.
- For uniformed personnel, age and years of service both matter. The PNP baseline is still 56 (with internal circulars reflecting that rule), while AFP follows 57 with tenure rules set out in the amended law.
What This Means If You’re Planning Ahead
- Government employees should track their GSIS service record to ensure they qualify for optional retirement at 60 or plan toward 65.
- Uniformed personnel should verify unit-specific tenure rules, especially in the AFP after the 2023 change, and monitor any new legislation that could affect PNP retirement ages.
The bottom line is simple: government employees retire compulsorily at 65 (with an option at 60 if they have enough years of service), while uniformed services generally follow 56—with the AFP already at 57 under the 2023 amendments.
If you’re nearing retirement, confirm your years of service, review your GSIS or agency-specific guidelines, and keep an eye on pending legislation that could nudge uniformed ages higher in the near future.
