France - Pensions and Benefits
If you have lived or worked in France and in Canada, or you are the survivor of someone who has lived or worked in France and in Canada, you may be eligible for pensions or benefits from France, Canada, or both.
The Agreement on Social Security between Canada and the French Republic came into force on March 1, 1981. This Agreement was replaced by a revised agreement that came into force on August 1, 2017.
Available benefits
If you contributed to both the Canada Pension Plan and the French pension program, or if you have lived in Canada and France, this agreement may help you qualify for:
- Canadian old age and disability benefits
- French old age and disability benefits
If you are the widow, widower, child or eligible individual of a person who contributed to the pension programs of both countries, this agreement may help you qualify for:
- Canadian survivor benefits
- French survivor benefits
You may qualify for a Canadian or a French benefit, or both. However, under the Agreement, the benefit paid by each country will be based solely on your creditable periods under that country's pension program. In other words, Canada will pay a benefit amount reflecting the portion of your periods that are creditable under Canada's pension program, and France will pay a benefit amount reflecting the portion of your creditable periods under France’s pension program.
Eligibility
Canadian benefits
The Canadian pension programs included in the Agreement are the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and the Old Age Security (OAS) program.
If you do not qualify for a Canada Pension Plan benefit based on your contributions to the CPP, Canada will consider your periods credited under the French pension program as periods of contribution to the CPP to help you meet the eligibility requirements.
If you do not qualify for an OAS pension based on your years of residence in Canada, Canada will consider periods during which you resided in France since age 18 and since January 1, 1966, and periods credited under the French pension program, as periods of residence in Canada to help you meet the eligibility requirements.
Note: Québec Pension Plan (QPP) contributors
The Government of Canada's international social security agreements cover Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan benefits only. If you contribute or have contributed to the QPP but not to the CPP, please consult the Québec Pension Plan.
French benefits
The pension program of France is similar to the Canada Pension Plan and covers most employed and self-employed persons in France.
To qualify for a benefit under the pension program of France, normally you must have contributed to the program for a minimum number of years. With the Agreement, if you do not have enough creditable periods under the French pension program to qualify for an old age or disability benefit, France will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan to help you qualify.
To determine eligibility for French survivor benefits, the deceased’s periods of contribution to the CPP will be considered as creditable periods under the French pension program.
Apply
Print and complete one of the following application forms:
If you live in Canada
If you live in Canada and want to apply for Canadian benefits, consult the Public pensions.
If you live in Canada and want to apply for French benefits:
- France/Canada Agreement – Application for a French Old Age Pension (SE401-05)
- France/Canada Agreement – Application for a French Disability Benefit (SE401-04)
- France/Canada Agreement – Application for a French Survivors’ Pension (SE401-06)
Please send your completed application form, and supporting documents, to the address indicated below.
International Operations
Service Canada
PO Box 250
Fredericton NB E3B 4Z6
Canada
If you live in France
If you live in France and want to apply for Canadian benefits:
- France/Canada Agreement - Application for Canadian Old Age, Retirement and Survivors’ Benefits (ISP5054-FRA)
- France/Canada Agreement - Application for CPP Child's Benefits (ISP5055-FRA)
- France/Canada Agreement - Application for CPP Disability Benefits (ISP5053-FRA)
Return the completed application form, and supporting documents, to a social security office in France, or mail it to:
International Operations
Service Canada
PO Box 250
Fredericton NB E3B 4Z6
Canada
France's social security
- National old age insurance fund (CNAV) (in French only)
- Fund for French Abroad (CFE) (in French only)
- Center for European and International Social Security Liaisons (CLEISS) (in French only)
- Supplementary pension AGIRC and ARRCO (in French only)
Resources
- Agreement on Social Security between Canada and France
- General overview of France's social security system
- Information on programs and services for Canadians living abroad
- Information on contributing to the Canada Pension Plan while working abroad and contact information for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Note: The Agreement
This page contains general information on the Agreement on Social Security between Canada and France and may not describe all the provisions that apply to your situation. If you have any questions, please contact us. In the case of a discrepancy between this page and the Agreement, the wording and provisions of the Agreement will prevail.
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