How long you can stay outside Canada without losing benefits depends on the specific benefit, but for provincial health coverage, it's generally 6 to 7 months (183-212 days) within a 12-month or calendar year, with rules varying by province (e.g., 7 months for Ontario/BC, 6 for Quebec). For federal pensions like Old Age Security (OAS), you may lose payments if away for over 6 months, requiring you to contact Service Canada to arrange continued payments. Canada Child Benefit (CCB) usually continues if you file taxes.
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.
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.
Canada's 183-day rule is a key factor in determining tax residency: if you stay in Canada for 183 days or more in a calendar year, you're generally considered a resident for tax purposes for that entire year (a "deemed resident"), even if you don't have strong ties, subjecting your worldwide income to Canadian tax. However, this rule works alongside Canada's complex residency tests and tax treaties, meaning you might become a resident sooner with significant ties (like family or property) or avoid it if a treaty designates you a resident of another country.
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.
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.
Canadians travelling extensively, living or working abroad may still have to pay Canadian and provincial or territorial income taxes.
Immigration officers may ask you to demonstrate that you are a temporary visitor in the United States. The U.S. government strictly enforces immigration regulations. Remaining in the United States beyond your authorized period of stay can result in serious consequences such as detention or deportation.
As a Canadian expat living, working or traveling overseas, you will not have access to many government-funded healthcare services. Therefore, you need extra health care insurance to bridge the gap. A comprehensive global health plan can help you get access to these medical services.
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.
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.
Belize can be one of the cheapest places to retire in the world. The area around Ambergris Caye can be expensive, but the rest of the country is a bargain. Real estate and daily living prices here will enable you to enjoy the good life at a very affordable price.
If you're entitled to Universal Credit when you go abroad, you can continue to get it for up to 6 months.
Note: If you leave Canada while on maintained status, you lose the authorization to study (and work) until you receive a positive decision on your application (exception if you are eligible to work while waiting for a PGWP decision).
What snowbirds should do now
Yes, Americans can get healthcare in Canada, but it's not free; they must pay for services out-of-pocket or have private travel insurance, as Canada's public system (Medicare) only covers citizens and permanent residents. While emergency care is provided, visitors are billed, so purchasing travel health insurance before visiting is crucial to cover costs, which can be significant for non-residents.
A: Can I retire to Canada from the U.S.? Yes, a U.S. citizen can retire in Canada — even a U.S. citizen at retirement age! It's especially easy if you already have a family member who lives there — particularly a child or grandchild — but there are other ways to retire there if you don't.
Canada's 90% rule helps non-residents and recent immigrants claim full federal tax credits (like the Basic Personal Amount) if 90% or more of their net worldwide income for the relevant tax year is from Canadian sources; otherwise, credits are prorated (reduced) based on their Canadian residency period, ensuring fairness for those who weren't residents all year.
If an individual, who, as a matter of fact, is considered not a resident of Canada, sojourns (i.e. is temporarily resident) in Canada for 183 days or more in a calendar year, the individual is deemed to be resident in Canada for that entire year.
You may still be able to claim some benefits if you travel or move abroad, or if you're already living abroad. What you're entitled to depends on where you're going and how long for.
Pension Credit
This may be extended up to eight weeks if you're away because of the death of a close relative. If you're going abroad for medical treatment, you may be able to receive Pension Credit for up to 26 weeks. You can't keep receiving Pension Credit if you move abroad permanently.
If you receive New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super) or Veteran's Pension and plan to go overseas for 26 weeks or less, you may also need to let Work and Income know. If you're planning to go overseas for more than 26 weeks, you must meet certain criteria and apply to keep receiving your payments.
Tell us about your travel online
If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, sign in now to do this. If you don't have a myGov account or a Centrelink online account you'll need to create them. We may ask you for supporting documents about your travel.