Italy - Pensions and benefits
If you have lived or worked in Italy and in Canada, or you are the survivor of someone who has lived or worked in Italy and in Canada, you may be eligible for pensions or benefits from Italy or Canada, or both.
The Agreement on Social Security between Canada and Italy came into force on January 1, 1979. The Agreement was replaced with a revised Agreement and Protocol that came into force on October 1, 2017.
Available benefits
If you contributed to both the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and the Italian pension program, or if you lived in Canada and Italy, this agreement may help you qualify for:
- Canadian old age and disability benefits
- Italian old age and disability benefits
If you are the widow, widower or child of a person who contributed to the pension programs of both countries, this agreement may help you qualify for:
- Canadian survivor benefits
- Italian survivor benefits
You may qualify for a Canadian or an Italian 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 Italy will pay a benefit amount reflecting the portion of your creditable periods under Italy's pension program.
Eligibility
Canadian benefits
The Canadian pension programs included in the Agreement are the CPP and the Old Age Security program.
If you do not qualify for a CPP benefit based on your contributions to the CPP, Canada will consider periods credited under the pension program of Italy as periods of contribution to the CPP.
If you do not qualify for an Old Age Security pension based on your years of residence in Canada, Canada will consider periods during which you resided in Italy after the age of 18 as periods of residence in Canada.
Note: Québec Pension Plan (QPP) contributors
The Government of Canada’s international social security agreements cover Old Age Security and CPP benefits only. If you contribute or have contributed to the QPP but not to the CPP, please consult the Québec Pension Plan.
Italian benefits
The pension program of Italy is similar to the CPP and covers most employed and self-employed persons in Italy.
To qualify for a benefit under the pension program of Italy, you normally must have contributed to the program for a minimum number of weeks.
If you have not contributed to the program for the minimum period, to qualify for an Italian benefit under the Agreement, Italy will consider periods of contribution to the CPP and periods of residence in Canada after the age of 18 as periods credited under the pension program of Italy.
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 Italian benefits:
- Italy/Canada Agreement – Application for an Italian Retirement and/or Disability benefit (CAN_IT_1)
- Italy/Canada Agreement – Application for an Italian Survivor’s benefit (CAN_IT_1(S))
- Italy/Canada Agreement – Application for an Italian Anti-Tuberculosis benefit (CAN_IT_TBC)
Return the form to a Service Canada Centre, or mail it to:
International Operations
Service Canada
P.O. Box 2710 Station Main
Edmonton, AB T5J 2G4
Canada
If you live in Italy
If you live in Italy and want to apply for Canadian benefits:
- Italy/Canada Agreement - Application for Canadian Old Age, Retirement and Survivor Benefits (ISP5054-ITA)
- Italy/Canada Agreement - Application for CPP Child's Benefits (ISP5055-ITA)
- Italy/Canada Agreement - Application for CPP Disability Benefits (ISP5053-ITA)
Attach any necessary supporting documents, and return the completed application form to a social security office in Italy, or mail it to:
International Operations
Service Canada
P.O. Box 2710 Station Main
Edmonton, AB T5J 2G4
Canada
Italy’s social security
- Istituto Nazionale Previdenza Sociale [National Institute of Social Security] (in Italian only)
Resources
- Agreement on Social Security between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Italian Republic
- Protocol to the Agreement on Social Security between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Italian Republic
- General overview of Italy’s social security system
- Information and access to programs and services for Canadians living abroad
- Information on contributing to the CPP 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 the Government of Canada and the Government of the Italian Republic 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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