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How do I apply for Old Age Security (OAS)?

✓ Verified answer Written from official pages, with checked citations and a verification date.

The Old Age Security (OAS) pension is paid by Service Canada starting at age 65. To live in Canada, you must be a Canadian citizen or legal resident and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18. Most people do not have to apply: if Service Canada has the necessary information, you receive an enrolment letter around your 64th birthday. Otherwise, you can apply online with My Service Canada Account, or with a paper form. Amounts are adjusted every quarter: check the ones in effect on the official page. General information only.

Official page: Apply for Old Age Security (Canada.ca) ↗

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Key facts
Age and residence
65 or older. In Canada: Canadian citizen or legal resident, at least 10 years of residence since the age of 18. Outside Canada: at least 20 years of residence since the age of 18.
Automatic or not
Most people do not need to apply: an enrolment letter is sent around the 64th birthday if Service Canada has the information. Otherwise, you must apply (online with My Service Canada Account or with a paper form).
Maximum monthly amount (shown for October to December 2026)
Ages 65 to 74: $762.50. Age 75 and over: $838.75. These are maximums and are not guaranteed: the actual amount varies with age, income and years of residence in Canada (partial pension if less than 40 years of residence: years of residence ÷ 40).
Net annual income thresholds (2025 income according to the page)
To receive the pension: less than $152,062 (ages 65 to 74) and less than $157,923 (age 75 and over). Above $93,454 of net income (2025), part or all of the pension must be repaid (recovery tax).
Deferring the pension
After age 65, payments increase by 0.6% per month (7.2% per year), up to 36% at age 70. A retroactive start date is possible for a maximum of 11 months from the date the application is received.
Amounts change
Payments are increased every January, April, July and October for cost of living: check the amounts and thresholds in effect on Canada.ca.
Steps
  1. Check the basic conditions: be 65 or older; if you live in Canada, be a Canadian citizen or legal resident when Service Canada approves your application and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18. If you live outside Canada, you must have been a Canadian citizen or legal resident the day before you left and have lived in Canada for at least 20 years since the age of 18.
  2. Keep income in mind: working does not affect eligibility, but your net income does. You must also file an income tax return every year to receive your pension.
  3. Wait for your enrolment letter: if Service Canada has the necessary information, you receive it around your 64th birthday, you are then enrolled automatically and have no application to make. If it has been more than a month since your 64th birthday and you have no letter, contact Service Canada to find out whether you need to apply.
  4. Act if: the letter contains wrong information; Service Canada asks you to apply; you want to delay or change your start date; or you are already 65 but have not started your pension or deferred your start date.
  5. Gather your information: your spouse or common-law partner’s, your places of residence since the age of 18, the date you want to start receiving your pension, your addresses for the last 2 years and your banking information for direct deposit.
  6. Apply online with your My Service Canada Account (MSCA): in the “Old Age Security” section of the dashboard, click “Apply for Old Age Security pension and manage my benefits” and follow the instructions. This is only possible if, among other conditions, at least 1 month has passed since your 64th birthday and you are not already receiving the pension.
  7. If you cannot apply online, or if you apply from outside Canada, fill out the paper form “Application for OAS and GIS pension” and send it by mail.
  8. Choose your start date: you can start at 65 or at the latest at 70. Starting later means higher monthly payments.
General information drawn from official sources. It does not replace legal, medical or financial advice. For your situation, contact the organization concerned or a professional.
Sources

Checked on October 5, 2026. Rules, deadlines and fees can change: always confirm on the official page above. Demande au Québec is an independent website, not a government site.

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