If you are a Ukrainian pensioner and have been living in Canada (Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Ottawa, Montreal, or another city) for a long time, in order not to lose your Ukrainian pension in 2026, you must undergo physical identification by December 31, 2025.
The legal norm is enshrined in Article 47-1 of the Law of Ukraine “On Compulsory State Pension Insurance,” which obliges all pensioners temporarily residing outside Ukraine to undergo physical identification by December 31 of each year.
The Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) specifically emphasizes in its explanations that this also applies to those who are abroad for more than 183 days a year or have temporary/protected status in their country of residence.
1. Who in Canada must undergo physical identification
According to the PFU's explanations, “persons temporarily residing outside Ukraine” are understood to be Ukrainian citizens who:
- Are abroad for 183 days or more in a calendar year (actually living in another country, not just traveling).
- Have special status in their country of residence, for example:
- temporary protection/temporary status in Canada (including those who arrived under the CUAET program or other temporary visas); Canada
- refugee status or other protective status.
If you meet one of these conditions and receive a Ukrainian pension to an account in a Ukrainian bank, physical identification is mandatory for you.
Important: this requirement does not apply to cases where the pension is paid under an international agreement between Ukraine and another country. The PFU explicitly identifies such cases as exceptions.
2. Deadlines and consequences for pensioners in Canada
- How often: once a year.
- Deadline: by December 31 of each calendar year.
What happens if you don't comply:
- The PFU has the right to suspend pension payments until you complete the identification process.
- Once you have complied with the requirement, payments may be resumed, but this will take time and require additional applications.
That is why the phrase is so often repeated in information messages (in particular, on the pages of Ukrainian communities in Canada): “complete physical identification by December 31, 2025, to retain your right to pension payments in 2026.”
3. How to undergo identification if you live in Canada
According to the official explanations of the Pension Fund, there are three main options for those who are temporarily abroad:
3.1. Remotely through the PFU Portal and “Dія.Підпис”
This method may be the most convenient if you are confident using a smartphone or computer and have Dія.Підпис (Dія ID).
Brief steps:
- Go to the PFU e-services portal:
portal.pfu.gov.ua. - Select “Login/Registration” → “Dія.Підпис” login method.
- Confirm your login via the “Dія” app (or web version).
- In the list of services, find the option related to physical identification/video identification.
- Follow the system instructions (this may include a photo, short video, or document confirmation).
This is an officially recognized PFU identification method for those who are abroad.
3.2. Via video conference with the Pension Fund
The PFU allows identification via video link (Google Meet, Zoom, and other platforms).
The general procedure is as follows:
- Sign up for video identification through the PFU portal or using the contacts listed on the official websites (the explanations provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the consular service explicitly mention the possibility of signing up for a video conference with a PFU specialist).
- At the appointed time, connect via the link.
- Show your passport, pension card, and answer the PFU employee's questions.
This option is convenient if:
- you do not have a digital signature,
- but you have a stable internet connection and the ability to connect from a laptop or smartphone.
3.3. Through Ukrainian diplomatic missions in Canada
The third option, as specified by the PFU, is to obtain a document from a Ukrainian diplomatic mission confirming that you are a living person and send it to your local PFU office.
In Canada, Ukrainian diplomatic missions include, in particular: mfa.gov.ua, toronto.mfa.gov.ua
- Embassy of Ukraine in Canada (Ottawa) – Consular Section.
- Consulate General of Ukraine in Toronto.
- Consulate General of Ukraine in Edmonton.
- Honorary Consulate of Ukraine in Montreal (some questions are forwarded to the embassy/consular sections).
The website of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Toronto has a separate section “Information for Pensioners” and a page “Identification of Pensioners in the Pension Fund of Ukraine,” which confirms the possibility of obtaining a document for the PFU.
What you usually need to do:
- Make an appointment with the consulate (via online registration or e-mail, as described on the website of the specific institution).
- Come in person with:
- Ukrainian passport/foreign passport;
- pension certificate (if available);
- if necessary, documents confirming your place of residence in Canada.
- Obtain a notarized document confirming that the person is alive.
- Send this document in person (along with a short statement in any form indicating your contact details) to your local PFU office in Ukraine.
4. Practical checklist for pensioners in Canada
To avoid getting lost in the details, here is a brief plan:
- Check whether you are “temporarily residing outside Ukraine” according to the PFU criteria.
- You live in Canada for more than 183 days a year or
- you have temporary status / temporary protection / refugee status.
- Choose a method of identification:
- if you are confident using “Dія” – the PFU portal + Dія.Підпис;
- if you prefer to communicate online – a video conference with the PFU;
- if you want a “real person nearby” – the consulate/embassy in Canada.
- Make a list of documents:
- Ukrainian passport;
- pension card;
- details of your Ukrainian bank account where your pension is paid;
- confirmation of your status in Canada (in case of additional questions).
- Do this in advance, not in the last week of December. Consulates have a limited number of slots, and there are long queues at the PFU and banks at the end of the year.
- Keep copies of all documents and receipts. If you are sending documents by mail to the PFU, send them by registered mail and keep the tracking number.
5. Where to find official information
To avoid relying on rumors on social media, it is worth checking official sources from time to time:
-
Law of Ukraine “On Compulsory State Pension Insurance,” Article 47-1 (website of the Verkhovna Rada / official legal databases).
-
Pension Fund of Ukraine website – sections on physical identification of beneficiaries residing abroad.
-
Website of the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada and the Consulate General of Ukraine in Toronto/Edmonton – section “Information for pensioners.”
-
Official Facebook pages of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the consular service – step-by-step instructions on pensions and identification are regularly published there.