Old Age Security: eligibility and the recovery tax threshold
OAS begins no earlier than age 65. Eligibility includes residence and legal-status conditions, while income can trigger repayment through the recovery tax.
- Eligibility age
- 65 years or older.Service Canada, OAS eligibility
- Living in Canada
- At least 10 years of residence in Canada after age 18, plus the legal-status condition.Service Canada, OAS eligibility
- Living outside Canada
- At least 20 years of residence in Canada after age 18, plus the legal-status condition; social security agreements may affect eligibility.Service Canada, OAS eligibility
- 2026 income threshold
- $95,323 minimum recovery threshold for 2026 income, applied to July 2027 to June 2028.Service Canada, OAS recovery tax
- Current recovery period
- $93,454 minimum threshold on 2025 income for July 2026 to June 2027.Service Canada, OAS recovery tax
Age, residence and legal status
An OAS pension recipient must be 65 or older. For someone living in Canada, the ordinary conditions include being a Canadian citizen or legal resident when the application is approved and having resided in Canada for at least 10 years since age 18. For someone living outside Canada, the ordinary conditions include being a citizen or legal resident on the day before leaving and at least 20 years of Canadian residence since age 18. Service Canada, OAS eligibility (opens in a new tab).
Employment is not an eligibility requirement: OAS can be paid to someone who has never worked or is still working. If you have lived or are living outside Canada, you may qualify for both the Old Age Security pension and a pension from the other country, if that country has a social security agreement with Canada. Eligibility and the amount of pension are separate questions. Service Canada, OAS eligibility (opens in a new tab).
Income year and recovery period are different
The published minimum recovery threshold for the 2026 income year is $95,323, associated with the July 2027 to June 2028 recovery period. The current July 2026 to June 2027 recovery period instead uses 2025 income and a $93,454 minimum threshold. Naming the income year prevents these two figures being treated as interchangeable. Service Canada, OAS recovery thresholds (opens in a new tab).
The recovery tax calculation uses net world income above the relevant threshold. The published explanation applies a 15% repayment calculation to the excess. Income can cause part or all of the pension to be recovered; this guide does not calculate a recipient’s repayment or pension amount. Service Canada, OAS recovery calculation (opens in a new tab).