Serbia - Pensions and benefits
If you have lived or worked in Serbia and in Canada, or you are the survivor of someone who has lived or worked in Serbia and in Canada, you may be eligible for pensions or benefits from Serbia or Canada, or both.
The Agreement on Social Security between Canada and Serbia came into force on December 1, 2014.
Available benefits
If you lived in Canada or contributed to the Canada Pension Plan and contributed to the Serbian pension program, this agreement may help you qualify for:
- Canadian old age and disability benefits
- Serbian 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
- Serbian survivor benefits
You may qualify for a Canadian or a Serbian 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 Serbia will pay a benefit amount reflecting the portion of your creditable periods under Serbia'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 Serbian 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 OAS pension based on your years of residence in Canada, Canada will consider periods credited under the Serbian 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 Quebec Pension Plan.
Serbian benefits
The pension program of Serbia is similar to the Canada Pension Plan and covers most employed and self-employed persons in Serbia.
To qualify for a benefit under the pension program of Serbia, 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 Serbian old age benefit, under the Agreement, Serbia 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 Serbia to help meet the eligibility requirements. To determine eligibility for Serbian invalidity benefits, Serbia will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan as creditable periods under the Serbian social security program. To determine eligibility for Serbian survivor benefits, the deceased’s periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan will be considered as creditable periods under the Serbian 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 the Pensions in Canada.
If you live in Canada and want to apply for Serbian benefits:
- Serbia/Canada Agreement - Application for a Serbian old age or early old age pension (CAN_SRB_2)
- Serbia/Canada Agreement - Application for a Serbian disability pension (CAN_SRB_3)
- Serbia/Canada Agreement - Application for a Serbian survivor’s pension (CAN_SRB_4)
Attach any necessary supporting documents, and return the application form to a Service Canada Centre, or mail it to:
International Operations
Service Canada
PO Box 2710 Station Main
Edmonton AB T5J 2G4
Canada
If you live in Serbia
If you live in Serbia and want to apply for Canadian benefits:
- Serbia/Canada Agreement - Application for Canadian Old Age, Retirement and Survivor Benefits (ISP5054-SRB)
- Serbia/Canada Agreement - Application for CPP Child's Benefit's (ISP5055-SRB)
- Serbia/Canada Agreement - Application for CPP Disability Benefits (ISP5053-SRB)
Attach any necessary supporting documents, and return the application form to a social security office in Serbia, or mail it to:
International Operations
Service Canada
PO Box 2710 Station Main
Edmonton AB T5J 2G4
Canada
Serbia's social security
Resources
- Agreement on Social Security between Canada and the Republic of Serbia
- General overview of Serbia’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 the Government of Canada and the Republic of Serbia 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: