Republic of Albania - Pensions and benefits

If you have lived or worked in Albania and in Canada, or you are the survivor of someone who has lived or worked in Albania and in Canada, you may be eligible for pensions or benefits from Albania, Canada, or both.

The Agreement on Social Security between Canada and the Republic of Albania came into force on August 1, 2022.

Available benefits

If you contributed to both the Canada Pension Plan and the Albanian pension program, or if you have lived in Canada and Albania, this agreement may help you qualify for:

  • Canadian old age and disability benefits
  • Albanian old age and invalidity benefits

If you are the widow, widower, child or eligible individual of a person who contributed to the pension programs of both countries, or lived in Canada and Albania, this agreement may help you qualify for:

  • Canadian survivor benefits
  • Albanian survivor benefits

You may qualify for a Canadian or an Albanian 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 Albania will pay a benefit amount reflecting the portion of your creditable periods under Albania’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 creditable periods under the Albanian 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 creditable periods under the Albanian 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.

Albanian benefits

The pension program of Albania is similar to the Canada Pension Plan and covers most employed and self-employed persons in Albania.

To qualify for a benefit under the pension program of Albania, 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 Albanian pension program to qualify for an old age or invalidity benefit, Albania will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan and/or periods of residence in Canada after age 18 to help you qualify.

To determine eligibility for Albanian survivor benefits, the deceased’s periods of contribution to the CPP and/or periods of residence in Canada after age 18, will be considered as creditable periods under the Albanian 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 Albanian benefits:

Please send your completed application form, and supporting documents, to the address indicated below.

International Operations
Service Canada
P.O. Box 2710 Station Main
Edmonton AB  T5J 2G4
Canada

If you live in Albania

If you live in Albania and want to apply for Canadian benefits:

Return the completed application form, and supporting documents, to a social security office in Albania, or mail it to:

International Operations
Service Canada
P.O. Box 2710 Station Main
Edmonton AB  T5J 2G4
Canada

Albania's social security

Resources

Note: The Agreement

This page contains general information on the Agreement on Social Security between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Albania 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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