Retiring Outside Canada... Will You Lose Your CPP, OAS & GIS?
You've finally retired, and you're dreaming of sunshine, slow mornings, and lower costs somewhere warm — funded by your CPP, OAS, and GIS. But here's what most Canadians don't realize: the moment you move abroad, one of those benefits can vanish completely, another can get hit with a surprise tax, and only one is truly guaranteed to follow you.
In this video I break down — in plain English, 100% for Canada — exactly what happens to each of your three government retirement benefits when you leave the country:
GIS — the one you lose first (and why no treaty in the world can save it)
CPP — the loyal one that follows you anywhere (watch the withholding tax)
OAS — the wild card that depends on one specific residency rule
Plus the tax treaties that can cut your withholding from 25% down to 15% or zero, the OAS clawback, and a simple cheat sheet at the end you can screenshot.
⏱️ CHAPTERS:
00:00 — The dream (and the surprise)
00:40 — What you LOSE first: the GIS
02:20 — What you KEEP: CPP (+ withholding tax)
04:35 — The WILD CARD: OAS & the 20-year rule
07:50 — Real example: planning a move to Portugal
08:50 — Your travel companions + the cheat sheet
💡 THE 3 RULES IN ONE LINE: CPP follows you anywhere (taxed by treaty). OAS continues abroad ONLY if you lived in Canada 20+ years after age 18. GIS stops after 6 months out of the country — no exceptions, no workaround.
⚠️ Don't forget: you must keep filing a Canadian tax return every year to keep your OAS while abroad, and your provincial health coverage typically ends after about 6 months — arrange private insurance before you go.
📌 Mentioned: CPP and non-resident withholding tax, OAS 20-year residency rule, social security agreements, the OAS clawback (recovery tax), tax treaties, the NR4 slip, and drawing down RRSPs before becoming a non-resident.
⚠️ This video is general information only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Rules and treaty rates vary by country and change over time. Always confirm your situation with Service Canada, the CRA, or a qualified cross-border tax professional before making an irreversible move.
👇 Are you thinking about retiring abroad? Which country — and did the GIS rule surprise you? Tell me below. I read every comment, and the most common questions become future videos.
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