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Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Retirement Pension Application: Application for a Canada Pension Plan Retirement Pension
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Form ISP-1000 in short
Form ISP1000 is the paper application for the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement pension. The CPP retirement pension is a monthly, taxable benefit that replaces part of your income when you retire. You can apply online through My Service Canada Account or with this form by mail or in person.
| Issued by | Service Canada, for Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) |
|---|---|
| Current version | SC ISP-1000 (2026-07-01) E (checked 2026-10-25) |
| Who fills it in | A person who wants to start their CPP retirement pension. The form says you must be at least 60 years old and have made at least one valid contribution to the CPP. If you worked only in Quebec, or live in Quebec, you apply to Retraite Québec for the Quebec Pension Plan instead. |
| Who receives it | Service Canada, which delivers the CPP for Employment and Social Development Canada. |
| Where to send it | Mail it to the nearest Service Canada office in the address list on the last page of the form, or drop it off at a Service Canada Centre. From outside Canada, send it to the office for the province where you last lived. Canada.ca says applicants outside Canada must use a paper application. The fillable PDF can be saved but cannot be submitted electronically. |
| Deadline | No fixed deadline. Canada.ca says you can apply up to 12 months before your chosen start date. The earliest start is the month after your 60th birthday. If you apply after 65, retroactive payments are generally limited to 12 months and cannot start before the month after your 65th birthday. |
| Fee | No fee. |
| Official links | Official page · Official PDF · Official instructions |
What changed
The current edition is dated 2026-07-01, as printed on every page (SC ISP-1000 (2026-07-01) E). The form notes that a person approved for a credit split with a separated legal spouse on January 1, 2025 or later is not eligible for a CPP survivor's pension due to the death of that same spouse.
How to fill out Form ISP-1000, line by line
| Section A1 | Information about you Social Insurance Number, preferred language, name, date of birth, full name at birth if different, home and mailing address, phone numbers and an optional email. If you live outside Canada, give the last province or territory you lived in. Proof of birth is not needed with the application, but the CPP can ask for it. |
| Section A2 | Direct deposit Branch number (5 digits), institution number (3 digits), account number and the names on the account. The account must be in your name or a joint account. You can attach a void cheque instead. Without either, payments are sent by cheque. |
| Section B1 | Pension sharing Say whether you want to share your pension with a spouse or common-law partner who is at least 60. This is not the pension sharing application. If you answer yes, Service Canada sends you that form. |
| Section B2 | Benefits from other countries If you lived or worked in another country, give the country, the period, your insurance number there and whether you applied for or got a benefit from it. Use a separate sheet for more than one country. |
| Section B3 | Credit split provision Say whether you have ever been separated, divorced or in a common-law relationship that ended, and give your current marital status. CPP contributions made while living together may be combined and divided equally. |
| Section B4 | Child rearing provision If you worked less or stopped working as the primary caregiver of a child under 7, list each child with their SIN and date of birth, and answer the Family Allowance and Canada Child Benefit questions. Annex A shows which questions to answer. Part F is a waiver signed only by the other parent when needed. |
| Section C | When do you want your pension to start? Choose one: at age 65, as soon as you qualify, or a specific month (YYYY-MM). The pension is reduced by 0.6% for each month before 65 and increased by 0.7% for each month after 65, up to age 70. |
| Section D | Federal voluntary income tax deduction Say whether you want federal income tax deducted each month and give a dollar amount or a percentage. This is available to Canadian residents only. |
| Section E | Declaration and signature Read the privacy notice, then sign and date in pen. If you sign with a mark such as an X, a witness completes and signs the witness part on page 8. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving out your Social Insurance Number at the top of each page and on any extra sheets.
- Not signing the declaration on page 7 in pen.
- Choosing more than one start option in Section C. The form says to select one only.
- Sending original documents. The form asks for readable copies of all pages, with your SIN written on each.
- Applying to the CPP when you should apply to the Quebec Pension Plan because you worked only in Quebec or live in Quebec.
- Filling in the child rearing waiver (Part F) yourself. Only the current or former spouse or partner signs it to waive their rights.
- Expecting a quick answer by mail. Canada.ca says paper applications get a decision within 120 days, compared with 28 days online.
- Treating the pension sharing question as the pension sharing application. Pension sharing needs its own form, which Service Canada sends if you answer yes in B1.
Questions about Form ISP-1000
Can I apply for CPP retirement online instead?
Yes, through My Service Canada Account. Canada.ca says applicants living outside Canada must use the paper form.
How early can I apply?
Canada.ca says you can apply up to 12 months before your chosen start date. The pension can start the month after your 60th birthday at the earliest.
How long does a paper application take?
Canada.ca says to expect a decision by mail within 120 days of receipt for paper applications, and within 28 days for online applications.
Do I need to send my birth certificate?
No. The form says you do not need to provide proof of birth with the application, but the CPP can ask for it at any time.
Where do I mail the ISP1000?
To the nearest Service Canada office listed on the last page of the form. From outside Canada, use the office for the province where you last lived.
What is the child rearing provision?
It can increase your pension if you worked less or stopped working as the primary caregiver of a child under 7. You apply for it in Section B4 of this form.
Tools for this form
Sources
Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-25. PDF Editor Hub is not affiliated with the Service Canada, for Employment and Social Development Canada or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.