ISP-1000 is the paper Application for a Canada Pension Plan Retirement Pension. You can use it instead of applying online through My Service Canada Account, and it's the only route if you're applying from outside Canada. Service Canada says to expect a decision by mail within 120 days of receiving a paper application, against 28 days online.
Everything here comes from Service Canada's CPP retirement pension pages (Apply, Do you qualify, When to start and How much you could receive), as of October 2026.
Who can apply
To qualify you must be at least 60 and have made at least one valid contribution to the CPP, from work in Canada or from credits received from a spouse or common-law partner after a divorce or separation. You have to apply: the pension doesn't start on its own. The exception is a CPP disability benefit, which changes automatically to a retirement pension at 65.
If you only worked in Quebec, or live in Quebec after working there and elsewhere, contact Retraite Québec instead, because the Québec Pension Plan handles your pension.
Paper form or online
| Online (My Service Canada Account) | Paper ISP-1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Decision time | Within 28 days | Within 120 days |
| From outside Canada | No | Yes: send it to the Service Canada office in your last province or territory of residence |
| How to send | Online | By mail |
You can apply up to 12 months before the date you want the pension to start. Applying early is the simplest way to avoid a gap, especially on paper.
What to have ready
- Your Social Insurance Number.
- Direct deposit details: the financial institution's name, branch (transit) number and account number.
- If you lived or worked outside Canada: the country, your insurance number there and the start and end dates.
- If you're claiming the Child Rearing Provision: each child's name, SIN and date of birth, proof of entry to Canada if born abroad, and the periods you weren't the main caregiver or didn't get Family Allowance or the Canada Child Benefit.
Choosing your start age
| Start | Effect on your monthly pension |
|---|---|
| Age 60 | Reduced by 0.6% a month before 65 (7.2% a year), up to 36% |
| Age 65 | The standard age |
| Age 70 | Increased by 0.7% a month after 65 (8.4% a year), up to 42% |
There's no gain from waiting past 70, because the maximum is reached then. If you apply after 65, you can ask for a retroactive start of up to 11 months before the month Service Canada gets your application, but no earlier than the month after your 65th birthday. Apply in or before your 65th birthday month and there's no backdating.
How much you might get
The maximum CPP pension at 65 was $1,507.65 a month in January 2026, and the average at 65 was $858.34 a month in July 2026, as of October 2026. Neither is guaranteed: your amount depends on your start age, how much and how long you contributed, and your earnings over your working life. Your CPP contributions record drives the figure, and it's built from the employment earnings reported each year on your T4 slip.
Two rules help people with gaps. Up to 8 years of your lowest earnings are dropped when working out the base part of the pension, and your best 40 years are used for the enhanced part.
Checking your record before you apply
Your statement of contributions shows your CPP contributions and pensionable earnings, and an estimate of your pension if you're eligible now. Service Canada also offers the Canadian Retirement Income Calculator, which estimates retirement income from the CPP, Old Age Security and other sources. Look at both before choosing a start age, because the decision is about your health, finances and other income, and the pages give examples both ways: starting early if you need the income now, later if you're healthy and have other income.
Forms that travel with ISP-1000
- ISP-1603, to let someone communicate with Service Canada for you. It doesn't let them apply, change your address or change tax withholding.
- ISP-3505, a Certificate of Incapability completed by a medical professional, if you're applying for someone who can't manage their benefits.
- ISP-3506 for an individual trustee, or ISP-3507 for an agency, charity or municipality, to administer benefits.
Situations that change the amount
- Divorce or separation: credit splitting lets you divide CPP contributions equally with your spouse or common-law partner.
- Working after 65 before you start: those later earnings can replace low-earning years before 65, but only if that increases the pension.
- Contributions stop at 70 even if you're still working.
Service Canada considers these automatically if the right information is in your application, so answer every section of the ISP-1000, including the Child Rearing Provision part if you stayed home with children.
Working after you start
Your pension isn't reduced if you keep working. If you're under 70 and still contributing, you earn a Post-Retirement Benefit, paid automatically the following year for the rest of your life. You can choose to stop those contributions from 65, and they stop at 70 regardless.
The verdict
Pick your start age first, because it changes every cheque for life. Then apply online if you can, since the decision comes in 28 days rather than 120. Use the paper ISP-1000 if you're abroad or need someone else to apply for you, and send it about a year ahead so the first payment lands on time.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the ISP-1000 form?
It's the paper Application for a Canada Pension Plan Retirement Pension from Service Canada.
How long does an ISP-1000 paper application take?
Service Canada says to expect a decision by mail within 120 days of receiving it; online applications take within 28 days.
How early can I apply for CPP?
Up to 12 months before your chosen start date.
What age can I start CPP?
As early as 60 or as late as 70, with 65 as the standard age.
What is the maximum CPP pension in 2026?
$1,507.65 a month at age 65 in January 2026, as of October 2026.
Can I apply for CPP from outside Canada?
Yes, using the paper application, sent to the Service Canada office in your last province or territory of residence.
Can someone else apply for my CPP on my behalf?
Only as an administrator: a medical professional completes ISP-3505, and the person or agency completes ISP-3506 or ISP-3507.
Can I get CPP backdated?
If you apply after 65, you can request a retroactive start of up to 11 months, but not earlier than the month after your 65th birthday.
Does CPP disability change to a retirement pension?
Yes. It changes automatically to a CPP retirement pension when you turn 65.
