Do Immigrants Qualify for CPP?

Yes. Immigrants can qualify for the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) as long as they work in Canada and contribute to CPP.

CPP is based on your contributions, not your citizenship or country of birth. If you have a valid SIN and pay into CPP through your job (or as self-employed), you can be eligible for CPP retirement benefits.

To get a CPP retirement pension you generally need to:

• Be at least 60 years old, and

• Have made at least one valid CPP contribution during your working years in Canada

The more years you contribute and the higher your earnings, the larger your CPP pension will be.

How KOHO Essential Can Help Newcomers Get Set Up

KOHO Essential can help immigrants get their day-to-day money organized so they can plan for the future.

With KOHO Essential:

• It has a low monthly plan fee that can be waived when you set up direct deposit or add +$1,000.

• You can opt into KOHO Credit Building for $10/month and build your credit history

• Quickly and easily check your credit score for free, anytime

• Grow your savings with a 2% interest savings rate on your entire balance.

• Earn 1% cash back on groceries, eating & drinking, and transportation

• Enjoy unlimited transactions (never worry about sending money to someone again)

As a newcomer, getting your income flowing into one simple account, keeping your bills on time, and building savings early makes it easier to combine CPP + personal savings later on.

How CPP Works for Immigrants

Here’s what’s important if you moved to Canada:

• You don’t need to be a citizen – permanent residents and some workers on valid permits can still contribute and qualify.

• Only your Canadian pensionable earnings (where CPP was deducted or you paid as self-employed) count toward your CPP amount.

• If you arrive later in life, you may still qualify, but your pension will usually be smaller, because you have fewer years of contributions.

• If you’ve worked in countries that have a social security agreement with Canada, that time abroad might help you meet minimum eligibility for some benefits, but your CPP amount still mainly comes from your Canadian contributions.

CPP is usually just one part of retirement income for immigrants, alongside personal savings, workplace pensions, and potentially Old Age Security (OAS) if you’ve lived in Canada long enough.