Right now, but subject to change, if the total lump sum value of your UK Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution* pension plans is £30,000 or less you can withdraw the Defined Benefits amounts in cash and bring it to Canada. The amount transferred would be subject to tax in Canada.

What a cheek calling a pension of £30,000 trivial! Nonetheless, click here to find out more.

*A Defined Benefit (DB) plan, is a retirement account for which both an employer and employee make contributions that promise the employee a set payout at retirement e.g. two thirds of final salary. You do not have your own retirement pot but instead have a defined income.  A Defined Contribution (DC) plan is a retirement account where both an employer and employee make contributions to an employee’s own individual retirement pot – the employee has flexibility to take the income any way they wish but the amounts depend on how much was contributed and how those contributions were invested.

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Did You Know?

If you are going to retire in Canada and you have a Defined Contribution Pension in the UK, life might be better if you transfer the funds to Canada.

If you leave your plan in the UK and it comes into payment, you will normally be paid in British pounds. You will have all the hassle and expense of converting every payment to dollars.
Did You Know?

You might need advice before you are allowed to transfer a UK Defined Benefit pension plan.

To protect you from fraud the UK’s tax authority – HMRC – will not allow trustees to transfer a DB pension with a value of £30,000 or more without the advice of a consultant regulated by the FCA.
Did You Know?

Not every UK pension is eligible for transfer.

There are two major exceptions: The first is the old age or state pension and the second is any unfunded pension plan (often provided by the Public Sector e.g. National Health Service, Teachers, Civil Service, Police, Military).