Reciprocal Agreement
Sub Headings
Qualifying for Benefits | Working in Canada | Working in Trinidad and Tobago
The National Insurance Board of Trinidad and Tobago has Reciprocal Agreements on Social Security with and Canada and CARICOM.
The Agreement on Social Security between Trinidad and Tobago and Canada came into force on July 1, 1999.
If you have contributed to the National Insurance System of Trinidad and Tobago and the Canada Pension Plan after April 10, 1972, or if you have resided in Canada after the same date, the Agreement may help you qualify for a Trinidad and Tobago Retirement Benefit.
If you contributed to the National Insurance System of Trinidad and Tobago and have resided in Canada for at least one year, the Agreement may help you qualify for Canadian Old Age Security Benefits.
If you are the widow, widower or child of someone who had contributed to the National Insurance System of Trinidad and Tobago and to the Canada Pension Plan, the Agreement may also help you qualify for the Trinidad and Tobago Survivor’s Benefit, Death Benefit and Funeral Grant, as well as for Canada's Survivor Benefit.
This page contains only general information.
You can find more information on the Agreement on Social Security between Trinidad and Tobago and Canada at Employment and Social Development Canada
The following provisions are covered under the reciprocal agreement of Canada and CARICOM and the NIBTT will only accept the following:
1. Canadian or CARICOM bank accounts to effect payment of claims where the beneficiary is a resident of Canada or a CARICOM state at the time of the claim application or subsequently becomes a resident of Canada or a CARICOM state and requests a change of banking information.
2. A foreign bank account other than in Canada or CARICOM to effect payment of claims, if an individual has either lived or worked in Canada and qualified for a benefit under the Canada Reciprocal agreement.
3. If the conditions of 1 and 2 are not satisfied, a TT bank account is mandatory.
Qualifying for Benefits
To qualify for a benefit under most pension programmes, you normally must have contributed to the programme, or lived in the country, for a minimum period of time.
For example, to qualify for a Trinidad and Tobago Retirement Pension, you normally must have contributed to the National Insurance System of Trinidad and Tobago for at least 750 weeks (approximately 15 years). To qualify for a Canadian Old Age Security Pension in Canada, you normally must have lived in this country for at least 10 years after age 18. You normally need 20 years of residence in Canada after age 18 to receive an Old Age Security Pension outside Canada.
The Trinidad and Tobago/Canada Agreement on Social Security can help you meet such qualifying conditions.
Under the Agreement, to determine if you qualify for a benefit, Trinidad and Tobago will consider periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan and periods of residence in Canada after April 10, 1972, as if they were periods of contribution to the National Insurance System of Trinidad and Tobago. Likewise, Canada will consider periods during which you contributed to the National Insurance System of Trinidad and Tobago as if they were periods of residence in Canada and periods of contribution to the Canada Pension Plan.
If you qualify for a benefit from Trinidad and Tobago or Canada or both countries, under the Agreement, each country will pay a benefit based solely on your periods of contribution/residence under the pension programme of that country.
If you want to apply for a benefit from Trinidad and Tobago or Canada under the Agreement, or if you have any questions, see here for contact information.
Working In Canada
Many Trinidad and Tobago citizens, as part of their work, are sent on temporary postings in another country. These postings may be to the same company, or to a related company (for example, an affiliate or subsidiary in another country).
The Agreement on Social Security between Trinidad and Tobago and Canada ensures that you can continue to contribute to the National Insurance System if your employer sends you to Canada to work temporarily. In this way, your National Insurance coverage will not be interrupted. The Agreement also ensures that you will not have to contribute to the Canada Pension Plan, in these special circumstances.
For the provisions of the Agreement to apply to you, you must be working in Trinidad and Tobago and contributing to the National Insurance System before your posting to Canada. The posting must be part of your work duties. It cannot be an entirely new job in Canada which has no relation to your job in Trinidad and Tobago.
To benefit from the provisions of the Trinidad and Tobago/Canada Agreement regarding temporary posting for periods five years and less, you and your employer have to obtain a certificate of coverage from the National Insurance Board. Exemptions from paying contributions to the Canada Pension Plan for more than five years must be approved by the Trinidad and Tobago and Canada authorities. The address, telephone numbers and email for the National Insurance Board are here.
If you are self-employed and work in Canada as part of your self-employment, you could elect to contribute to the Canada Pension Plan, provided you meet specific qualifying criteria.
If you are a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and you take up employment in Canada for a Canadian employer, either as a legal resident or as a Canadian citizen, you will be required to contribute to the Canada Pension Plan.
If you work for the government of Trinidad and Tobago and are posted in Canada, you are exempt from contributing to the Canada Pension Plan for the length of your assignment. Your coverage under the National Insurance System is maintained.
Working In Trinidad and Tobago
Many Canadians, as part of their work, are sent on temporary postings in another country. These postings may be to the same company, or to a related company (for example, an affiliate or subsidiary in another country).
In such circumstances, the Agreement on Social Security between Trinidad and Tobago and Canada ensures that you can continue to contribute to the Canada Pension Plan if your employer sends you to Trinidad and Tobago to work temporarily. In this way, your Canada Pension Plan protection will not be interrupted. The Agreement also ensures that you will not have to contribute to the National Insurance System of Trinidad and Tobago while you are working there.
For the provisions of the Agreement to apply to you, you must be working in Canada and contributing to the Canada Pension Plan before your posting to Trinidad and Tobago. The posting must be part of your work duties. It cannot be an entirely new job in Trinidad and Tobago which has no relation to your job in Canada. Also, the posting cannot be expected to last more than five years.
To benefit from the provisions of the Trinidad and Tobago/Canada Agreement regarding temporary postings, you and your employer have to obtain a certificate of coverage from Revenue Canada. The addresses, telephone and fax numbers for Revenue Canada are given below.
You can find more information on the Agreement on Social Security between Trinidad and Tobago and Canada at Employment and Social Development Canada
If you are self-employed and work in Trinidad and Tobago as part of your self-employment, you will not have to contribute to the National Insurance System of Trinidad and Tobago.
Under the Agreement, however, if you ordinarily reside in Canada, you can continue your coverage under the Canada Pension Plan.
For more information, please call or write Revenue Canada.
If you take an entirely new job in Trinidad and Tobago, you will have to contribute to the National Insurance System of Trinidad and Tobago.
For more information
You can write to:
Local Office Operations,
The National Insurance Board,
Ramsaran Street, Chaguanas,
Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies
You can call:
1 (868) 877-4NIS (4647) (Toll Free)
1 (868) 625-4NIS (4647)
You can email:
customercare@nibtt.net
Canada/TT Forms
CARICOM Reciprocal