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When it comes to receiving your OAS pension for Canada, the country that you live in now also makes a difference. Let's take a look at these stipulations and how they work.
Requirements To Receive OAS Out of the Country
Whether or not you can receive Old Age Security Outside of Canada is situational. If you lived in Canada for at least 20 years after the age of 18, you’re eligible, as well as if you lived and worked in one of the other countries that have a Social Security Agreement (tax treaties) with Canada that offers comparable pension programs. That said, you must have lived and worked in that country and Canada for at least 20 years.
If you don’t meet these above requirements then you won’t be able to receive your OAS pension outside of Canada. This means that you will stop receiving payments if you’re out of the country for more than 6 months. This is the same with the Guaranteed Income Supplement if you qualify. However, when and if you do return to Canada, you just have to notify the Canada Revenue Agency, and your payments will resume.
If you do leave Canada to start living abroad, it is recommended that you notify the government right away. They can help you determine if you’ll be a resident or a non-resident and help you determine if moving abroad will make you ineligible for payments or not. Your residency status, worldwide income, and where you are considered a legal resident are all important factors. Even if you can’t get OAS payments, you will still receive CPP payments while outside Canada.
How Long You Can Receive CPP and OAS Out Of The Country
As we already mentioned, whether or not you receive OAS outside of the country depends on how long you worked in the country as well as the country that you live in. If you don’t qualify, you can only receive payments from Canada for at least 6 months. That said, this isn’t the case with CPP.
CPP, also known as the Canada Pension Plan, is based on qualifying earnings that you made in Canada. If you qualify, you can receive what you’re entitled to anywhere in the world which includes your new country. There are no stipulations like there are with OAS. As long as you meet the same requirements as everyone else, it doesn’t matter where you live.
Taxes on Old Age Pension Outside of Canada
If you do qualify to receive your Old Age Pension outside of Canada, then one thing you need to consider is your taxes. Whether you live in Canada or not, this amount is considered to be taxable income. However, taxes aren’t automatically taken off. This is done when you file your annual tax return instead. Even though you don’t live in the country, some still are considered to have Canadian residency for tax purposes and will have to declare the amount on their tax return.
For those who reside in Canada or are considered a Canadian resident for tax purposes, the amount is taxed at your marginal tax rate. If you owe that amount, it will have to be paid by the tax due date. If you’re not considered a Canadian resident for tax purposes, then you’ll automatically be taxed at a rate of 25%, which will be taken out of your payment before you even receive it, so you don’t have to pay taxes at a later date.
Old Age Pension Amounts in Canada
Old Age Security Pension benefits in Canada are based on how much your annual taxable income is. This can range from year to year, so your amounts will likely fluctuate. That said, here are the maximum amounts that you could earn in 2025.
- Age 65-74 - $727.67 monthly
- 75 + - $800.44 monthly
For those aged 65-74, you have to make an annual income of under $142,609. For those who are age 75+, you need to make an annual income of $148,179 or less. However, if your income classifies you as low income, you could also qualify for something called the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
GIS Amounts
Those who are 65 or older and qualify for the Old Age Security pension could also qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement to help supplement their retirement income. Your age and marital status will determine the amount that you can receive. Here they are:
- If you’re single, divorced or widowed with an income below $22,056, you can get up to $1,086.88 per month.
- If you have a spouse or common-law partner who receives full OAS and has a combined income of less than $29,136, you could receive $654.23 per month,
- If your spouse or partner receives the allowance and your combined income is less than $40,800, then you could get up to $645.23.
- If your spouse doesn’t receive OAS or an Allowance and your combined income is below $52,848, you could receive up to $1,086.88.
CPP Amounts in Canada
If you’re eligible to receive CPP amounts in Canada, how much you can receive is based on your eligible CPP contributions and not your annual income, Here are the maximum amounts that you could receive. For those who start receiving CPP at age 65, the maximum monthly payment that they can receive is $1,433.
New $1,200 Benefit in Canada for Seniors
For those who receive Old Age Security benefits in 2025, the federal government announced that they are making a one-time $1,200 payment to eligible seniors. The idea behind this is to provide more funds for old-age seniors so they can make their payments and have a bit of a financial buffer. While the payment hasn’t been made yet, it is still expected for those who qualify.
How To Start Receiving OAS
For most people, they’re automatically enrolled into the Old Age Security program at the age of 65 by Service Canada. When this occurs you will be notified. However, those who aren’t notified may be required to apply.
That said, you can choose to start receiving OAS benefits at the age of 60. This isn’t done automatically, so you will be required to apply. You can also choose to start receiving your OAS at the age of 70, which would require you to defer when you’re 64, so you aren’t automatically enrolled at age 65.
When you apply, you will be asked if you’re a Canadian citizen and for your bank account information, which is likely a Canadian account. This is so your payments can be directly deposited, and there will be no delay. They will also require other details such as your address if you still have an employer, details of other benefits and much more.
When you do apply for OAS, the government of Canada will accept applications from residents online or via mail. They often also accept if you choose to have another person fill out the application on your behalf with your permission. It’s important to note that this may require written permission as well. Any updates regarding your application can be accessed via your My Service Canada account. However, if you don’t have access to your account for example, you can also call and request an update.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to Old Age Security, those who live in Canada can start receiving this payment at age 60 or wait until the maximum age of 70. However, not everyone who moves outside of the country will be able to continue receiving these benefits. Those who don't will stop receiving benefits 6 months after the month that they move.
In terms of CPP benefits, you can live anywhere in the world and receive these benefits. This is because they’re based on eligible CPP earnings, which you can only get when you live in Canada. Before you move out of the country, it’s best to check with the CRA to determine if you’re eligible and make arrangements.
