Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA

Social security and insurance

Switzerland has concluded international social security agreements with 44 countries, aimed primarily at ensuring equal treatment for both sides, determining which legislation is applicable, and paying benefits abroad. A social security agreement between Switzerland and Canada has been in place since 1995.

Social security system

The agreement covers old age and survivors' insurance (OASI) and invalidity insurance (IV) for Switzerland and the Canadian Old Age Security Act, Canada Pension Plan and Québec Pension Plan. The agreement ensures the equal treatment of insured citizens from both Switzerland and Canada and facilitates access to benefits and pension payments abroad. For example, Canada takes into account the period of social security contributions in Switzerland in order to calculate the minimum period of residence required in Canada for entitlement to the payment of a pension abroad. The agreement also determines the country in which a person is subject to compulsory insurance and required to pay social security contributions.

Anyone intending to work in Canada or access government programmes and benefits will need a Social Insurance Number (SIN), which is used to register workers with the authorities. SINs may be obtained from Service Canada Centres, Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) centres or post offices.

Canada's national health and social security system consists of regional social security schemes. Insurance is only compulsory in certain provinces and territories. Some schemes are overseen by the HRDC and Health Canada, the federal department of health. An SIN is required in order to join.

Retirement benefits

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is a compulsory, contributions-based pension scheme. The scheme is mandatory for all employees aged 18 and above, with employees and the employer contributing equal amounts.

The CPP provides old-age pensions, disability pensions, survivors' pensions, children's and orphans' pensions and death benefits. Claimants must have been resident in Canada for ten years and have paid into the CPP for at least 3 years. Quebec has a separate scheme, the Québec Pension Plan.

Old Age Security (OAS) is a basic monthly pension payable to everyone aged 65 and over, irrespective of the contributions made and the level of income the person used to earn. Anyone who is resident in Canada for a minimum of 10 years can claim an OAS pension.

Switzerland and Canada also concluded a social security agreement in 1994. OASI/IV contributions paid in Switzerland are credited to the OAS and CPP.

The Canada Social Transfer (CTS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) are benefits that top up CPP and OAS payments and are comparable to Swiss supplementary benefits to the OASI/IV. The CTS and GIS provide pensioners with a modest minimum income and must be claimed separately. Certain provinces/territories also operate separate schemes (tax relief, housing benefit, etc.).

The picture shows high-rise buildings in Vancouver. — View of the skyscrapers of Vancouver. © Unsplash

Health and accident insurance

It is advisable to take out travel insurance, including temporary health and accident insurance and repatriation insurance, as healthcare is extremely expensive in Canada.

Canada has a high standard of healthcare, which is funded by tax revenues or fees and monthly premiums (Alberta and British Columbia). Health and hospital cover is available in all provinces/territories. The conditions for acceptance vary from province to province and from territory to territory. In Ontario, British Columbia, New Brunswick and Quebec, Health Insurance Cards are only issued to immigrants after 90 days. As a general rule, applicants must present a birth certificate, passport, Record of Landing and a Confirmation of Permanent Residence or Permanent Resident Card.

Private hospital insurance plans are available for people requiring immediate cover.

Occupational pension scheme

The provincial and territorial workers' compensation boards are entirely employer-funded. Part-time and full-time employees who are members of the various schemes and their dependents are automatically insured.

Unemployment insurance

Canada has a mandatory unemployment insurance scheme (called Employment Insurance or EI). Employment Insurance includes maternity and parental benefits and allowances for people who are in part-time employment.

Swiss old-age and survivors' insurance (OASI) and invalidity insurance (IV)

Payment of ordinary pensions

Ordinary OASI and IV pension payments (except quarter pensions under the IV scheme) for Swiss nationals can be transferred to their place of residence anywhere in the world. The pension is paid out directly by the Swiss compensation office, generally in the currency of the country of residence. You may also choose to have your benefits paid into a personal postal or bank account in Switzerland. Helplessness allowances and supplementary benefits are only paid if you are resident in Switzerland.

Voluntary OASI/IV

Swiss nationals who do not live in an EU/EFTA member state may join the voluntary OASI/IV scheme if they had compulsory insurance cover for at least five consecutive years immediately prior to their departure. Enrolment in the Swiss voluntary OASI/IV system does not exempt you from enrolling in a compulsory insurance system in your country of residence or employment. Employed persons contribute 10.1% of their salary to the pension fund. The minimum annual contribution is CHF 950. The voluntary OASI/IV system offers protection against the risks of old age, disability and death, in particular to persons who are not gainfully employed and who in many cases are not entitled to join a foreign social security scheme.

Special provisions for people employed by a Swiss company

Special provisions apply to persons who live abroad and are employed and on the payroll of an employer based in Switzerland and to their accompanying spouses abroad provided they are not gainfully employed. For further information, please contact your OASI office.

OASI pensioners (1st pillar) and pension fund beneficiaries (2nd pillar)

Make sure that pension payments from your old-age and survivors' insurance (OASI), your pension fund or other insurance policies you have taken out are being properly transferred to you. Whenever you change your address, you must inform the OASI compensation office, your pension fund and insurance provider. The Swiss Compensation Office (SCO) sends all persons who are receiving benefits a certificate of life and marital status form each year. To ensure uninterrupted payment of your pension, please return the form to the SCO within 90 days, duly endorsed by your local authority, or any other officially recognised administration.

Taxation of pension fund income

Switzerland imposes a withholding tax on pension fund income if the beneficiary resides abroad. Double taxation agreements sometimes allow the withholding tax to be waived or to be reclaimed by the pension recipient in their country of residence.

Social assistance for Swiss citizens abroad

In certain circumstances, the FDFA's Social Assistance Service for the Swiss Abroad (SAS) provides social assistance to Swiss nationals living abroad who have run into financial difficulty. If you find yourself in financial distress, you must first make every effort to manage with your own resources. If you really cannot manage on your own, you should try to get financial help from your family or from friends or acquaintances. You should also find out what social assistance or other support you can receive from the authorities in your country of residence. Support from the SAS should be a measure of last resort.