If you have lived or worked in the Republic of North Macedonia and in Canada, or you are the survivor of someone who has lived or worked in the Republic of North Macedonia and in Canada, you may be eligible for pensions or benefits from the Republic of North Macedonia or Canada, or both.
The Agreement on Social Security between Canada and the Republic of North Macedonia came into force on November 1, 2011.
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:
You may qualify for a Canadian or a Macedonian 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 the Republic of North Macedonia will pay a benefit amount reflecting the portion of your creditable periods under the Macedonian pension program.
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 of insurance or equivalent periods under the Macedonian pension program 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 your periods of insurance or equivalent periods under the Macedonian pension program 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.
The Macedonian pension program is similar to the Canada Pension Plan and covers most employed and self-employed persons in the Republic of North Macedonia.
To qualify for a benefit under the pension program of the Republic of North Macedonia, 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 Macedonian old age benefit under the Agreement, the Republic of North Macedonia will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan and periods of residence in Canada after the age of 18 as periods of insurance under the pension program of the Republic of North Macedonia. In addition, to determine eligibility to Macedonian disability and survivor benefits, the Republic of North Macedonia will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan as periods of insurance under the Macedonian pension program.
Print and complete one of the following application forms:
If you live in Canada and want to apply for Canadian benefits, see Pensions in Canada.
If you live in Canada and want to apply for Macedonian benefits:
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 the Republic of North Macedonia and want to apply for Canadian benefits:
Attach any necessary supporting documents, and return the application form to a social security office in the Republic of North Macedonia, or mail it to:
International Operations
Service Canada
PO Box 2710 Station Main
Edmonton, AB T5J 2G4
Canada
This page contains general information on the Agreement on Social Security between Canada and the Republic of North Macedonia 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.
