Can I get CPP if I live outside Canada?

Can I get CPP if I leave Canada?

Yes. Your CPP retirement pension is earned through contributions from your working years, so it does not depend on living in Canada. You keep receiving it after you move, and you can apply for it for the first time while living in another country.

This is a key difference from Old Age Security. OAS depends on years of residence and, if you live outside Canada, you generally need at least 20 years of Canadian residence after age 18 to keep receiving it. The OAS rules are covered on OAS outside Canada.

Is CPP taxed if I live outside Canada

Yes. Once you are a non-resident of Canada for tax purposes, Service Canada automatically withholds non-resident tax of 25% or less from each CPP payment, depending on your country. You do not file a regular Canadian return on that income unless you choose to.

Canada's tax treaties can reduce the rate or remove Canadian tax on CPP entirely, depending on your new country. Service Canada's CPP outside Canada page lists the rate for each treaty country, from 0% for the United States and the United Kingdom up to the standard 25%. Your new country may also tax the pension, so check how it gives credit for Canadian tax.

Ways to lower the tax withheld

• Form NR5: ask the CRA to reduce or eliminate the non-resident tax withheld. If approved, it covers five tax years unless your income changes.
• Section 217 election: file a Canadian return reporting CPP, OAS and similar pension income. If your total income is modest, you may get part of the 25% back. For the 2025 tax year, most people had to file by April 30, 2026.
• Treaty rate: if your country's treaty sets a lower rate, make sure Service Canada has your current foreign address so the right rate is applied.

Each year you receive an NR4 slip showing CPP paid and tax withheld. General rules for residents are on is CPP taxable.

How do I get direct deposit abroad

You have three options for receiving CPP after you move.

1. Keep your Canadian bank account. Payments continue in Canadian dollars. Update your mailing address with Service Canada.
2. Enrol a foreign bank account if your country is on the Government of Canada list for foreign direct deposit. Complete the Foreign direct deposit enrolment form (8002-501E), have the banking section validated by your bank as required for your country, and mail it to the Receiver General for Canada in Matane, Quebec.
3. Receive a cheque. Service Canada issues cheques in the currency of the country where they are mailed, if that country is supported by the conversion service. Otherwise, the cheque is issued in Canadian dollars.

Service Canada publishes the list of countries where CPP is paid in local currency. Exchange rates move daily, so the amount in local currency can differ from month to month even though your Canadian dollar entitlement stays the same. Details on switching accounts are in our CPP direct deposit guide.

When your new address takes effect

Once Service Canada records your new address, cheques are issued in the currency of the country where they are mailed, if that country is on the conversion list. For moves within Canada or to the United States, payments normally reach the new address the month after your request is received. Moves elsewhere can take up to an extra month to process, so update your address before you leave.

Social security agreements and CPP outside Canada

Canada has signed social security agreements with many countries. These agreements coordinate the pension systems of both countries for people who worked in each.

An agreement can help you qualify by letting periods of contribution in the other country count toward the minimum CPP requirements. It does not turn foreign earnings into a larger CPP pension; the benefit is still based on what you paid into the CPP. You may also be able to claim the other country's pension and receive both.

Agreements matter most for disability and survivor benefits, where a short Canadian work history might not meet the contribution test on its own. For survivor amounts see CPP survivor benefit.

Moving abroad with CPP: what to do before you go

Your payment dates do not change when you move. CPP is still paid on the scheduled dates, and 2026's remaining dates are October 28, November 26 and December 22; see CPP payment dates. Payments to foreign accounts or by cheque can take longer to reach you.

If you also receive OAS, plan both together, because OAS has its own residence rules and yearly return. Our page on getting CPP and OAS at the same time explains how they fit together, and CPP payment amounts lists the current maximums.