Living abroad changes the Old Age Security (OAS) application process in one important way: you must apply using a paper application rather than applying online. Complete the appropriate form, provide any required supporting documents, sign it and send it to the correct office handling applications from outside Canada. Before applying, it is worth confirming that you can receive OAS while living outside Canada. The residence rules for someone abroad differ from those for an applicant living in Canada, and a social security agreement may affect whether your periods in another country help you qualify.
Use the Paper OAS Application
For a standard application from outside Canada, use the Application for the Old Age Security Pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (ISP-3550). Although the form also covers the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), GIS is generally for OAS pensioners residing in Canada. The form lets you indicate that you do not want to apply for GIS.
Download the form to your computer before completing it. Once finished, print it and sign every section requiring your signature in pen. The accompanying ISP-3550A reference guide explains individual questions on the application.
The form asks for information such as your Social Insurance Number, date of birth, marital status and residence history. You also choose when you want your OAS pension to start. Because residence is particularly important for an applicant abroad, give complete information about periods when you lived outside Canada rather than leaving gaps in your history.
Check Whether a Social Security Agreement Changes the Application
There is a different route to check when you live in a country that has a social security agreement with Canada. The international pensions application service lets you select your country and see the Canadian benefits covered by its agreement, the forms that apply and the submission instructions.
Some agreements use country-specific applications for Canadian benefits. Depending on the country, the completed application may go to that country’s social security authority or to Canada’s International Operations office. We would check the country page before mailing the standard form, because using the instructions for your particular agreement can prevent an avoidable application error.
If your country has no social security agreement with Canada, use the regular Canadian application procedure rather than looking for an international agreement form.
Include Any Supporting Documents Service Canada Requires
You do not automatically have to send proof of every fact entered on the application. For example, proof of birth, Canadian residence and legal status may be requested when Service Canada needs it to assess your claim.
When documents are required with a paper application, follow the instructions for the type of copy Service Canada requests rather than mailing original documents unless specifically instructed to do so. Our separate guide to OAS documents and forms covers the supporting-document side of the application in more detail.
Where to Send an OAS Application From Outside Canada
When the regular paper application applies, send it to the Service Canada office for the province or territory where you last lived in Canada. The government maintains the current OAS mailing addresses by province and territory, so check that page before posting your documents rather than relying on an old address.
After Service Canada receives the application, you can follow its progress through My Service Canada Account and provide additional information if requested. Our separate guide explains how to check an OAS application status without duplicating those steps here.
Questions About Applying for OAS From Abroad
Can you get help with your application while outside Canada?
Yes. The International Social Security Agreements contact service handles questions for people who lived or are living abroad. From outside Canada and the United States, the listed number is 1-613-957-1954, and calls can be made collect.
Can someone communicate with Service Canada for you?
Yes. You can use Form ISP-1603 to authorize another person to communicate with Service Canada about your application. That authorization does not allow the person to apply for benefits on your behalf.
What if you made a mistake after submitting the application?
Contact Service Canada when information you provided is inaccurate or incomplete, or when relevant information was left out. Correcting the record promptly is better than submitting a second application for the same pension.
Can you apply for OAS from abroad if you have never worked in Canada?
Potentially. OAS eligibility is based primarily on age, legal status and residence rather than employment history. The separate OAS residency requirements determine whether your years in Canada and, where applicable, periods recognized under an international agreement are sufficient.
