Mexico - Pensions and benefits
If you have lived or worked in Mexico and in Canada, or you are the survivor of someone who has lived or worked in Mexico and in Canada, you may be eligible for pensions or benefits from Mexico or Canada, or both.
The Agreement on Social Security between Canada and Mexico came into force on May 1, 1996.
Available benefits
If you contributed to both the Canada Pension Plan and the Mexican pension program, or if you lived in Canada and Mexico, this agreement may help you qualify for:
- Canadian old age and disability benefits
- Mexican 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
- Mexican survivor benefits
You may qualify for a Canadian or a Mexican 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 Mexico will pay a benefit amount reflecting the portion of your creditable periods under Mexico'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 Mexico as periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan.
If you do not qualify for an Old Age Security pension because you have not lived in Canada for the minimum number of years, Canada will consider periods credited under the pension program of Mexico as periods of residence in Canada.
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.
Mexican benefits
To qualify for a benefit under the Mexican pension program, 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 old age or retirement benefit under the Agreement, Mexico 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 Mexico. To determine eligibility to a Mexican disability or life insurance benefit, Mexico will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan as credited periods under the program of Mexico.
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 Mexican benefits:
- Mexico/Canada Agreement - Application for Mexican Mandatory Retirement benefit (CAN-MEX 1 RTR)
- Mexico/Canada Agreement - Application for Mexican Old Age benefit (CAN-MEX 1 OA)
- Mexico/Canada Agreement - Application for Mexican Disability benefit (CAN/MEX 1 DSB)
- Mexico/Canada Agreement - Application for Mexican Life Insurance benefits (CAN/MEX 1 DTH)
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 250
Fredericton NB E3B 4Z6
Canada
If you live in Mexico
If you live in Mexico and want to apply for Canadian benefits:
- Mexico/Canada Agreement - Application for Canadian Old Age, Retirement and Survivor Benefits (ISP5054-MEX)
- Mexico/Canada Agreement - Application for CPP Child's Benefits (ISP5055-MEX)
- Mexico/Canada Agreement - Application for CPP Disability Benefits (ISP5053-MEX)
Attach any necessary supporting documents, and return the application form to a social security office in Mexico, or mail it to:
International Operations
Service Canada
PO Box 250
Fredericton NB E3B 4Z6
Canada
Mexico’s social security
- Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social [Mexican Social Security Institute] (in Spanish only)
Resources
- Agreement on social security between Canada and and the United Mexican States
- General overview of Mexico’s social security system
- Information and access to 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 Canada and the United Mexican States 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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