Brazil - Pensions and benefits

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

The Agreement on Social Security between Canada and Brazil came into force on August 1, 2014.

Available benefits

If you lived in Canada or contributed to the Canada Pension Plan and contributed to the Brazilian pension program, this agreement may help you qualify for:

  • Canadian old age and disability benefits
  • Brazilian 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
  • Brazilian survivor benefits

You may qualify for a Canadian or a Brazilian 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 Brazil will pay a benefit amount reflecting the portion of your creditable periods under Brazil'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 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 Brazilian pension program as periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan to help you meet the eligibility requirements.

If you do not qualify for an Old Age Security pension based on your years of residence in Canada, Canada will consider periods credited under the Brazilian pension program as periods of residence in Canada to help you meet the eligibility requirements.

Note: Quebec 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.

Brazilian benefits

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

To qualify for a benefit under the pension program of Brazil, you normally must have contributed to the program for a minimum number of years.

If you have not contributed to the program for the minimum period to qualify for a Brazilian old age benefit, under the Agreement, Brazil will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan and periods of residence in Canada after the age of 18 as creditable periods under the pension program of Brazil to help meet the eligibility requirements. To determine eligibility for Brazilian invalidity benefits, Brazil will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan as creditable periods under the Brazilian social security program. To determine eligibility for Brazilian survivor benefits, the deceased’s periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan will be considered as creditable periods under the Brazilian social security 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 Pensions in Canada.

If you live in Canada and want to apply for Brazilian benefits:

Attach any necessary supporting documents, and return the application form to a Service Canada Centre, or mail it to:

International Operations
Service Canada
P.O. Box 250
Fredericton, NB  E3B 4Z6
Canada

If you live in Brazil

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

Attach any necessary supporting documents, and return the application form to a social security office in Brazil, or mail it to:

International Operations
Service Canada
P.O. Box 250
Fredericton, NB  E3B 4Z6
Canada

Brazil's social security

Resources

Note: The Agreement

This page contains general information on the Agreement on Social Security between Canada and Brazil 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.

Page details

Date modified: