Last Updated:April 2026
Pension assets are often the largest component of a person's wealth, yet they are also among the most restricted in terms of international mobility. Each country's pension system has its own rules about what happens when a member emigrates — some allow transfers to foreign pension schemes, some allow cash withdrawals, and some require the pension to remain in the original country until retirement age regardless of where you live. This guide covers the major international pension systems and their treatment on emigration.
The taxation of pension income across borders is governed primarily by Double Tax Agreements. The OECD Model Article 18 covers pensions: employment pensions are taxable only in the recipient's country of residence (not the country where the pension originated). Government pensions (Article 19): pensions paid by a government to former government employees are generally taxable only in the paying country — regardless of where the recipient now lives. This is a common exception that surprises retirees.
UK government pension (NHS, civil service, teachers) received by a UK expat in Australia: Article 19 of the UK-Australia DTA: UK government pensions are taxable only in the UK. Australian tax does not apply. Canada-US DTA: private pensions (CPP, private RRSP/RRIF distributions) received by US residents: Canada withholds 15% under DTA; US taxes the income with FTC. Japan-Australia DTA: Japanese government pensions paid to Australians: taxable in Japan only under the government pension exception.
Practical implication: Before assuming your pension is only taxable in your new country of residence, check whether the pension source country's DTA has a government pension exception. Ask the pension paying authority for the applicable DTA treatment.
CountryTaxCalc.com is reader-supported. When you use our partner links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more about our affiliate partnerships
★ 4.3 Trustpilot · 287,413 reviews
Receive UK state pension, RRIF withdrawals, or Australian super payments internationally at the real exchange rate. Wise is used by thousands of expats managing cross-border pension income.
⚠ For currency exchange only — not a bank account replacement.
Receive Your UK, Canadian, or Australian Pension Abroad →★ 4.8 Trustpilot · 1,625 reviews
US citizens receiving foreign pensions (UK, Canadian, Australian): Greenback handles DTA treaty claims, Form 8833 pension elections, and FBAR/8938 reporting for foreign pension accounts.
⚠ Not the cheapest option — best for complex situations and expats who want a dedicated CPA.
US Expat Foreign Pension Tax Filing Help →UK pension to Australia QROPS transfer: technically possible if the Australian scheme is HMRC-registered as a QROPS. Australian Superannuation funds were previously on the HMRC QROPS list, but most major Australian super funds de-registered from QROPS status in 2017 following UK rule changes. As of 2026: very few Australian super funds accept QROPS transfers. Check the current HMRC QROPS list (published quarterly on gov.uk). Overseas Transfer Charge: if you live in Australia at the time of transfer and the receiving scheme is in Australia: no 25% OTC (member and scheme in same country). If the scheme is not QROPS-registered: the transfer is taxed in full as an unauthorised payment from the UK pension (55% UK tax + scheme sanction charges). Practical reality: most UK expats in Australia leave their UK pension in the UK, manage it remotely, and receive drawdown or annuity payments when they retire. QROPS to Australia is complex — very few schemes are eligible. Do not attempt without a UK-regulated financial adviser qualified in both UK pension transfers and Australian super rules.
Yes — if you held a temporary visa (not Australian citizen/PR) and have permanently left Australia, you are eligible to apply for a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP). The 5-year time limit concern: DASP has NO time limit — you can claim years after leaving. However, super balances that are 'inactive' for an extended period may be transferred to the ATO as 'lost super.' You can reclaim lost super through the ATO's SuperSeeker or myGov online portal. How to claim DASP: (1) Confirm your temporary visa has expired or been cancelled (check via the Department of Home Affairs). (2) If you have permanently left Australia (or intend to), apply to each of your super funds for DASP via their specific DASP application form. (3) Alternatively, if your super was transferred to the ATO as lost super: claim via ATO DASP online service. Tax rate reminder: 35% on the taxed element; 65% for working holiday maker visa holders. These are Australian taxes at source — your new country may also tax the proceeds as foreign pension income, or may exempt it under a DTA. Example: Australian citizen (not eligible for DASP), living in Germany: must wait until preservation age to access super. Example: New Zealand citizen who worked in Australia on a subclass 461 visa: eligible for DASP.
Managing pensions across multiple jurisdictions requires a country-by-country assessment: (1) UK pensions: consolidate into a single SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension) for easier management. Consider QROPS only if you are permanently emigrating and a qualifying scheme exists. Leave in UK if QROPS is not optimal or OTC applies. (2) Canadian RRSP/RRIF: leave in Canada, manage remotely. Coordinate RRSP drawdown timing with other income to minimise effective tax rate — draw down in years of low total income. (3) Australian Super: leave in Australia if you are a citizen/PR until preservation age. Claim DASP promptly if eligible (temporary visa holder). (4) US 401(k)/IRA: roll all 401(k)s into a single IRA for simplicity. Do not withdraw early (10% penalty + income tax). (5) Singapore CPF: remains in CPF system; withdrawable at 55 (with retirement sum conditions). (6) Key coordination principle: never withdraw from multiple pots in the same tax year — concentration in one year pushes you into higher brackets in your residence country. Spread withdrawals across years. (7) Professional advice: a 'multi-country' financial planner who understands pension systems in each relevant country is invaluable — firms specialising in UK-US, UK-Australia, Canada-US, and similar cross-border planning exist specifically for this use case.
Yes — the UK state pension (New State Pension, up to £221.20/week in 2026–27) is payable worldwide. HMRC pays it to a bank account of your choice — including foreign banks (via international transfer) or a Wise account. Key issue — pension freezing: if you retire in certain countries, your UK state pension is FROZEN at the amount it was when you first received it — you do not get annual increases (triple lock). Countries where UK state pension is FROZEN: most countries outside the EU/EEA, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and a few others. Your UK state pension is NOT frozen if you retire in: the EU/EEA countries, USA, Canada, Australia. It IS frozen in: South Korea, India, New Zealand is NOT frozen, but Canada, Australia are covered under historic bilateral agreements. Check the latest DWP guidance — frozen pension campaigning has continued and the list may have changed. UK National Insurance contributions: you can continue paying UK NIC (Class 2 or Class 3 voluntary contributions) from abroad to increase your qualifying years and future state pension entitlement. Class 3 voluntary NIC (2026): approximately £824/year. Each qualifying year adds ~£5.85/week to your state pension. If you have fewer than 35 qualifying years, voluntary NIC contributions abroad are highly cost-effective.