Residence Requirements

To qualify for either the Allowance or the Allowance for the Survivor, you must be a Canadian citizen or a legal resident of Canada.

If you have not lived in Canada for at least 10 years since you turned 18, but you have lived or worked in a country that has a social security agreement with Canada, you may still qualify for a partial benefit. Contact us for more information.

Newcomers to Canada

Sponsored immigrants

If you are a sponsored immigrant from a country with which Canada has a social security agreement, you are not eligible for the GIS, the Allowance, or the Allowance for the Survivor during your sponsorship period (up to a maximum of 10 years), even if you obtain your Canadian citizenship during your sponsorship period, unless you:

  • have 10 years of residence in Canada after the age of 18; and
    • had resided in Canada as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident on or before March 6, 1996; or
    • had resided in Canada as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident on or before March 6, 1996, but became eligible for OAS program benefits on January 1, 2001, or earlier; or
    • were receiving OAS program benefits for the month of March 1996 or earlier.

Your sponsorship period may be considered broken if your sponsor:

  • dies;
  • is imprisoned for more than six months;
  • is convicted of abusing you; or
  • suffers personal bankruptcy.

If one of these events occurs during your period of sponsorship, contact us. You may be eligible for a partial benefit, starting the month of the event.

Non-sponsored immigrants

If you are a non-sponsored immigrant, you may be eligible to receive the GIS, the Allowance, or the Allowance for the Survivor based on the number of years you resided in Canada after the age of 18.

If you have resided in Canada for less than 10 years since you turned 18, but you have lived or worked in a country that has a social security agreement with Canada, you may be eligible for a partial benefit. Your benefit entitlement will gradually increase with every year that you continue to reside in Canada until you have reached 10 years of residence.