You must have lived in Canada for 10 to 20 years since turning 18 to qualify for Old Age Security (OAS).
However, there are some exceptions. Living in a country that has a social security agreement with Canada or working for a Canadian employer abroad may help you qualify, even if you don’t meet the minimum residency requirements.
Old Age Pension Residency Requirements
Living in Canada: To collect OAS, you must be at least 65 years or older and a citizen or legal resident at the time your application is approved. You must also have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since turning 18.
Living outside Canada: You can qualify for old age pension while residing outside Canada, if you were a citizen or legal resident of Canada on the day before leaving the country.
Pensioners staying abroad must have resided in Canada for at least 20 years since turning 18.
You may still qualify for OAS benefits if you don’t meet these residency conditions.
For example, Canadians who work outside Canada for Canadian employers may be able to count the time spent abroad as residence in Canada.
For this scenario, you must meet certain conditions, such as returning to Canada within 6 months of ending your employment.
Also, if you live in a country that has a social security agreement with Canada, you may qualify for old age pension.
How Long You Can Stay Outside Canada Without Losing Benefits
You can receive your OAS pension indefinitely while living outside Canada if you have lived in Canada for at least 20 years as an adult (i.e. after your 18th birthday).
Otherwise, your old age pension stops if you are out of the country for longer than 6 months.
Depending on your country of residence, your pension payments can be made in the local currency. If you provide a Canadian address, your payments will continue to be issued in Canadian dollars.
If you qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement, payments stop if you are outside Canada for more than 6 months. This occurs regardless of your residency status.
When you return to Canada, you can contact the OAS to restart your payments.
CPP Payments While Abroad
Unlike OAS, CPP is funded by your contributions and belongs to you, whether or not you continue to reside in Canada.
You will continue to receive CPP cheques or direct deposits while abroad.
A 25% non-resident tax is deducted from your pension unless it is reduced or exempted due to a tax treaty between Canada and your country of residence.
How Much is the Old Age Pension?
OAS is adjusted for inflation in January, April, July, and October.
For the September to December 2023 quarter, the maximum monthly payment is $707.68 for ages 65 to 74 and $778.45 for ages 75 and older.
OAS is fully clawed back if your net world income exceeds $142,609 (age 65 to 74).
To receive the full OAS pension, you must have lived in Canada for at least 40 years after age 18. Otherwise, you receive a pro-rated amount based on the number of years you have lived in the country.
Do You Have To Apply For Your Old Age Pension?
You must be automatically enrolled for the Old Age Security pension. If you don’t get a letter in the mail after turning 64, contact them directly to ask if you need to apply.
The earliest you can collect OAS is at age 65. You can delay OAS for up to 60 months, until age 70, in exchange for higher payments.
You can contact old age pension by phone at 1-800-277-9914 (Canada and the U.S.) or 1-613-957-1954 (call collect – international).
Alternatively, you can visit a Service Canada office location in your area.
FAQs
If you overpaid CPP, you can claim a refund of the CPP contribution overpayment on your tax return. However, you cannot claim a refund of CPP simply because you are leaving Canada permanently.
Yes, you can get the old age pension while living abroad if you meet the residency requirements.
OAS starts at age 65, not age 67. The plan to increase the age of eligibility to 67 was scrapped.
You can be out of Canada permanently and continue getting CPP benefits.
Canada has social security agreements with over 50 countries, including the United States, France, China, Austria, Brazil, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Morocco, Mexico, the Philippines, Romania, Spain, Sweden, etc.
