Croatia - Pensions and Benefits
If you have lived or worked in Croatia and in Canada, or you are the survivor of someone who has lived or worked in Croatia and in Canada, you may be eligible for pensions or benefits from Croatia or Canada, or both.
The Agreement on Social Security between Canada and Croatia came into force on May 1, 1999.
Available benefits
If you contributed to both the Canada Pension Plan and the Croatian pension program, or if you lived in Canada and Croatia, this agreement may help you qualify for:
- Canadian old age and disability benefits
- Croatian 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
- Croatian survivor benefits
You may qualify for a Canadian or a Croatian 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 Croatia will pay a benefit amount reflecting the portion of your creditable periods under Croatia'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 periods credited under the pension program of Croatia as periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan.
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 pension program of Croatia after the age of 18 as periods of residence in Canada.
Periods during which you worked in Croatia and contributed to the pension insurance scheme of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will also be included.
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.
Croatian benefits
The pension program of Croatia is similar to the Canada Pension Plan and covers most employed and self-employed persons in Croatia.
To qualify for a benefit under the pension program of Croatia, 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 Croatian old age pension under the Agreement, Croatia will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan and periods of residence in Canada after the age of 18 as credited periods under the pension program of Croatia. To determine eligibility for Croatian disability and survivor benefits, Croatia will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan as periods of contribution to the Croatian 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 Pensions in Canada.
If you live in Canada and want to apply for Croatian benefits:
- Croatia/Canada Agreement - Application for a Croatian Old Age Benefit (CAN/HR 1)
- Croatia/Canada Agreement - Application for Croatian Survivors Benefits (CAN/HR 4)
- Croatia/Canada Agreement - Application for a Croatian Disability Benefit (CAN/HR 3)
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 Croatia
If you live in Croatia and want to apply for Canadian benefits:
- Croatia/Canada Agreement - Application for Canadian Old Age, Retirement and Survivors Benefits (ISP5054-HRV)
- Croatia/Canada Agreement - Application for CPP Disability Benefits (ISP5053-HRV)
- Croatia/Canada Agreement - Application for CPP Child's Benefits (ISP5055-HRV)
Attach any necessary supporting documents, and return the application form to a social security office in Croatia, or mail it to:
International Operations
Service Canada
PO Box 2710 Station Main
Edmonton AB T5J 2G4
Canada
Croatia's Social Security
Resources
- Agreement on Social Security between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Croatia
- General overview of Croatia’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 Government of the Republic of Croatia 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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