A revised agreement on social security between Canada and Norway came into force at the beginning of the year.
The most important feature of the revised agreement is that it allows periods of residence in Norway after 1936 and prior to 1967 to be considered for Norwegian pensions granted prior to 1991. Norwegians whose pensions were before 1991 are encouraged to request that a recalculation be done by the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration.
In the original agreement, periods of residence after 1936 and prior to 1967 were not fully regarded as Norwegian insurance periods unless the person in question was a resident in Norway at the time of application.
The revised agreement will also continue to co-ordinate the operation of the old age security and Canada Pension Plan programs with the comparable pension programs of Norway. It will allow seniors, people with disabilities and survivors to qualify for pensions from Canada and Norway based on their affiliation to each country’s pension system.
Canada has signed 57 international social security agreements, and they’re in force with 53 countries. Agreements have been signed with Brazil, Bulgaria, India and Serbia but are not yet in force.