Is a pension from another country paid automatically, or do I have to apply?

In the systems below, you have to apply: the pension does not start on its own. Germany first: Deutsche Rentenversicherung prints the problem itself: the pension does not come automatically when you reach pension age (Source: deutsche-rentenversicherung.de, read 3 October 2026). France sets the same rule and adds a start date: L'Assurance retraite states that the pension is not paid automatically and must be requested five months before the date you want it to start, and that the start date is set at the earliest on the first day of the month after your application is received, and never before the date you applied (Source: lassuranceretraite.fr, info-retraite.fr and franceconnect.gouv.fr, read 3 October 2026). A few systems do start a pension without an application, but on conditions that someone who lives abroad does not meet, as the Belgian and Danish rows further down show.

Which countries say I must apply?

• United Kingdom. gov.uk states you will not get your new State Pension automatically and have to apply for it, and that if you do not apply at State Pension age it defers automatically and you do not have to do anything (Source: gov.uk, read 3 October 2026).
• Italy. INPS states the old age pension is paid on request, and that its online services are reached with SPID, CIE or CNS (Source: inps.it, read 3 October 2026).
• Canada. CPP does not arrive by itself: Service Canada says you must apply for the retirement pension. The automatic enrolment letter around age 64 is for Old Age Security and is sent only if Service Canada holds your information (Source: canada.ca, CPP apply, CPP statement of contributions, My Service Canada Account registration and CPP contact, read 3 October 2026).
• United States. SSA's handbook states you must file an application to become entitled to benefits (Source: ssa.gov, read 3 October 2026).
• Romania. Nothing in the public system arrives by itself: pension rights are awarded only on application (Source: cnpp.ro, asfromania.ro, read 4 October 2026).

Are there exceptions?

Some systems start a pension on their own for residents only.

• Belgium. Belgium does start some pensions with no application, but only on a three-part test a former worker abroad fails. The Federal Pensions Service requires all three: retiring at statutory age, having worked as an employee or self-employed person in Belgium, and having lived in Belgium since at least thirteen months before that age (Source: sfpd.fgov.be, mypension.be, mybelgianid.be, read 3 October 2026).
• Denmark. ATP pays residents automatically but states that members living abroad are paid only on request (Source: borger.dk, mitid.dk, pensionsinfo.dk, retsinformation.dk, read 4 October 2026).

What if I apply late?

Then the months before the application may not be paid. Our deadline register holds 40 backdating limits across 21 countries, and our post on backdating sets them out.

Where do I apply from abroad?

In several of the systems we research, through the institution of the country where you live now. Our post on where to apply sets out what the institutions state, with sources. The country hubs for the examples above: Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, United States, Romania, Belgium and Denmark.

Our free pension checker and our free map start from your own work history. Our pension questions pages answer single country questions, our authority answers publish what national pension institutions told us in writing, and our monthly data release publishes our agreement routes and deadline rows as CSV, each with its source and read date.

Frequently asked questions

Will an institution write to me when I reach pension age? Some do, on conditions. In Canada, the automatic Old Age Security letter is sent only if Service Canada holds your information, as the Canadian row above states.

Does PensionHunter apply for me? No. We identify and research: our reports name the scheme, who holds the record today and how to reach them. The application stays with you.

Sources

• Germany, pension portals directory entry, citing deutsche-rentenversicherung.de, read 3 October 2026.
• France, pension portals directory entry, citing lassuranceretraite.fr, info-retraite.fr and franceconnect.gouv.fr, read 3 October 2026.
• United Kingdom, pension portals directory entry, citing gov.uk, read 3 October 2026.
• Italy, pension portals directory entry, citing inps.it, read 3 October 2026.
• Canada, pension portals directory entry, citing canada.ca, CPP apply, CPP statement of contributions, My Service Canada Account registration and CPP contact, read 3 October 2026.
• United States, pension portals directory entry, citing ssa.gov, read 3 October 2026.
• Belgium, pension portals directory entry, citing sfpd.fgov.be, mypension.be, mybelgianid.be, read 3 October 2026.
• Denmark, pension portals directory entry, citing borger.dk, mitid.dk, pensionsinfo.dk, retsinformation.dk, read 4 October 2026.
• Romania, pension portals directory entry, citing cnpp.ro, asfromania.ro, read 4 October 2026.