Can I lose my Canadian pension if I live abroad?

Asked by: Dr. Kaia Welch  |  Last update: June 12, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (28 votes)

You generally will not lose your Canada Pension Plan (CPP) if you live abroad, but your Old Age Security (OAS) may be suspended if you have lived in Canada for less than 20 years after age 18 and reside outside Canada for more than 6 months. CPP is paid regardless of residency, while OAS/GIS may stop if you leave for extended periods.

How long can I stay out of Canada without losing my pension?

Leaving or returning to Canada

Your Old Age Security (and Guaranteed Income Supplement) may stop if you're away for more than 6 months and don't qualify for receiving your payments while outside Canada.

What happens to my Canadian pension if I move abroad?

Because CPP is a "member-contributed plan" it will always be yours, regardless of where you live in the world. If you paid in at least 1 CPP contribution, you are entitled to a benefit.

Can I get my CPP back if I am leaving Canada?

Because CPP is a ``member contributed plan'' it will always be yours, regardless of where you live in the world. If you paid in at least 1 CPP contribution, you are entitled to a benefit. The more you contribute the more you can expect in retirement.

Can I get my Canadian pension if I live in the US?

If you have Social Security credits in both the United States and Canada, you may be eligible for benefits from one or both countries. If you meet all the basic requirements under one country's system, you will get a regular benefit from that country.

Retiring Abroad | What Happens to CPP, OAS & GIS?

24 related questions found

How long can I stay overseas without losing my pension?

Services Australia outlines the following: If you're overseas for up to 6 weeks — Generally, your pension payments will continue as normal if you're travelling for less than 6 weeks. If you're overseas for more than 6 weeks — Once you reach 6 weeks, your pension supplement will drop to the basic rate.

Do I have to declare my Canada-Canada pension on my US taxes?

Canada will not withhold tax from your payments, and you won't need to file a Canadian tax return for these benefits. For U.S. tax purposes, your CPP and OAS are treated exactly like U.S. Social Security benefits. This means up to 85% of your payments may be taxable, depending on your total income and filing status.

What happens if a Canadian stays out of Canada for more than 6 months?

In actual fact, you can be absent from Canada as long as you want. The Canadian government recognizes that citizens may travel extensively, work or study abroad. You will always maintain your Canadian citizenship. What absentia may affect is your Canadian health care coverage and income tax.

What happens to my pension if I move abroad?

You'll need to contact the International Pension Centre to move your State Pension abroad. Also, if you're getting Pension Credit, it'll stop if you move abroad permanently. If you're moving abroad to receive medical treatment, you may still be able to receive this benefit for up to 26 weeks.

What happens to pension when you quit Canada?

If I quit my job, what happens to my pension plan or fund with my former employer? You have several options: Transfer the accumulated funds to a Locked-In Retirement Account (LIRA). When you retire, the funds can be transferred to a Life Income Fund (LIF) so you can make withdrawals.

Can a retired Canadian live outside Canada?

For Canadians retiring overseas, knowing how to access their Canada Pension Plan payments while living abroad is crucial. The CPP allows eligible retirees to receive payments in foreign countries, but you still need to ensure proper arrangements are made before leaving Canada.

Will I lose my pension if I move to another country?

If you have a final salary or defined benefit pension, it's best to speak to a regulated financial adviser about your pension options if you're planning to move to another country. Transferring one of these pensions to another country may result in you losing out on the guaranteed income that it offers.

What is the 6 month rule for Canadians?

There Is No “Six-Months-Per-Year Rule” for Canadians. Many Canadians mistakenly believe they may only spend six months each year in the United States. The truth: There is no U.S. rule limiting Canadians to six months total per year.

What can cause you to lose your pension?

Various factors can affect your pension benefits even after they've vested. Economic downturns, company bankruptcies, plan terminations, and even personal circumstances like divorce settlements can impact what you ultimately receive.

Do I have to live in Canada to get my pension?

If you do not meet the 10 or 20 year residence requirement, you may still be eligible for the OAS pension if you have lived or worked in a country with which Canada has a social security agreement. For more information about Canada's social security agreements, visit canada.ca/pension-international.

Can I live overseas and still get my pension?

You may be able to get Age Pension for the whole time you're outside Australia, even if you're leaving to live in another country. If you leave within 2 years of returning to Australia to live, your payment may stop if you: came back to Australia to live. started getting Age Pension after you returned.

Do you lose your pension if you leave?

No, you generally don't lose your vested pension if you quit, but what you keep depends on your plan's rules, vesting period, and your choices; you can often roll it over, leave it, or cash it out (with potential taxes/penalties), but if you leave before meeting the plan's vesting requirements, you might forfeit some or all of the employer's contributions. The key is being vested, meaning you've worked long enough to earn the benefit, and then deciding whether to leave it in the plan, roll it into an IRA, or take a payout. 

Can I collect my pension if I live in another country?

If you have lived or worked in Canada and in another country, or you are the survivor of someone who has lived or worked in Canada and in another country, you may be eligible for pensions and benefits from Canada and/or from the other country because of a social security agreement.

Do I need to inform the CRA if I leave Canada?

It's important that you tell the CRA the date you leave Canada. Generally, as a non-resident, you are not eligible to receive: the GST/HST credit. the Canada child benefit (CCB) (including those payments from certain related provincial or territorial programs)

Can I keep a Canadian bank account while living abroad?

Therefore, provided you have severed primary residential ties to Canada, it is possible to maintain certain secondary ties to Canada such as maintaining a bank account, investment account or credit card. The date you become a resident of the new country you are immigrating to.

How long can I stay abroad without losing my benefits in Canada?

To remain eligible for your Canadian provincial/territorial government health insurance, you cannot travel outside your province/territory of residence for a total of more than 7 months (212 days) within a year, or 6 months (183 days) if you live in Quebec, PEI or Nunavut. This includes travel within Canada.

What happens to my pension if I leave Canada?

What happens to your Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits when you become a non-resident? First off, it's important to know that CPP is based on contributions made during your working life in Canada. The good news is, your CPP benefits will travel with you if you move abroad.