Can Canadians collect there pensions if they don't live in Canada
Executive summary
Yes — in most cases Canadians can collect federal pensions while living abroad: Canada Pension Plan (CPP)/Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) payments continue once eligibility is met and Old Age Security (OAS) can be paid outside Canada but only under specific residency rules or via international social security agreements that can fill gaps (Government of Canada; Service Canada) [1] [2] [3].
1. Eligibility basics: what “collecting abroad” actually means
Federal retirement benefits are governed separately: CPP/QPP are contributory plans based on work and contributions and are normally payable regardless of where a beneficiary lives once they qualify, while OAS is residence‑based and has explicit limits on payments to non‑residents unless special provisions apply — the government’s guidance and “Lived or living outside Canada” pages make that split clear [1] [2] [3].
2. Canada Pension Plan and Quebec Pension Plan — portability is the default
CPP and QPP entitlements are calculated from contributions made during working life and, once entitlement is established, payments can generally continue no matter where the recipient lives, with Service Canada processes for updating banking and contact details to avoid disruption [1] [4] [5].
3. Old Age Security — residence rules and social security agreements matter
OAS is tied to years of residence in Canada after age 18: to receive OAS while living abroad without an agreement, one normally must have lived in Canada for at least 20 years after turning 18; otherwise, OAS may stop when a person leaves Canada unless Canada has a social security agreement with the country of residence that allows periods abroad to count toward entitlement [2] [3] [6].
4. Social security agreements — the wedge that can restore or prorate benefits
Canada has bilateral social security agreements with a number of countries designed to coordinate pensions so periods worked or lived in both countries can be used to meet eligibility rules; those agreements can allow people who don’t meet strict Canadian residency thresholds to receive a prorated OAS or to combine contribution periods for CPP/QPP qualification [1] [3] [7].
5. Mechanics and practical consequences — deposits, withholding and provincial benefits
Payments can often be direct‑deposited to foreign bank accounts (Canada deposits to participating countries and many private plans offer foreign currency options), but tax and withholding rules change: pension and RRSP/RRIF withdrawals for non‑residents often face 15–25% withholding at source and may be taxed by the country of residence (NR5 applications can sometimes reduce withholding); further, provincially administered benefits and health coverage are generally tied to provincial residency and are unlikely to follow an emigrant abroad [8] [9] [10] [5].
6. What people leaving Canada should do now
The consistent advice in official and financial guidance is to notify Service Canada and the CRA, update banking and contact details, check whether the destination country has a social security agreement with Canada that could affect OAS or CPP/QPP entitlement, and seek tax and pension advice because residency, treaty rules and withholding filings (NR4/NR5) determine net income and paperwork requirements [11] [1] [5] [9].