Housing & Utilities · Moving In
Who to tell when you move
IRCC, the CRA, your bank and your provincial licence office all need your new address — some provinces give you only days to update ID.
Moving to a new home in Canada means updating your address with multiple government agencies and institutions. Missing even one of these updates can delay benefits, hold up important documents, or land you a fine. This guide walks you through exactly who needs your new address and when they need it.
Notify IRCC if you have an active immigration case
If you have an ongoing application with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada—whether for permanent residence, a work permit, study permit, or a PR card renewal—you must notify IRCC of your move. Your official documents, letters, and status updates are mailed to the address on file, so an outdated address could mean missing critical correspondence.
You can submit your address change online through IRCC's official service, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The address update will take 5 business days to process in their system. You'll need your application number and a valid email address to use this service. If you applied on paper (rather than online), were processed in Canada, and are moving within 3 weeks or have already moved, you're eligible to use the online tool.
- Service: IRCC Change of Address online tool
- Processing time: 5 business days
- Available: 24/7 online (no phone or mail needed)
- Cost: Free
Update your address with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
The Canada Revenue Agency administers tax refunds, benefits, and credits—many of which depend on having your correct address on file. This includes the Canada Child Benefit, GST/HST credit, Canada Pension Plan, and Old Age Security. If your address is outdated, benefit payments can be delayed or sent to the wrong location, and you may miss important tax notices.
The fastest way to update your address is through CRA My Account online. Log in, go to your profile, and edit your contact information. Changes take effect immediately. If you cannot access or prefer not to use the online portal, you can call the CRA's general enquiries line and update by phone (you'll need your Social Insurance Number, date of birth, and a recent tax document to verify your identity). A third option is to mail Form RC325 to the CRA.
- Online (CRA My Account): Immediate update
- By phone: 1-800-959-8281 (within Canada); processing time varies
- By mail (Form RC325): Processing time several weeks
- Cost: Free
Update your driver's licence and provincial health card
Updating your driver's licence address is a legal requirement in Canada, and the deadline varies by province. In Ontario, you must update within 6 days of moving. In British Columbia, you have 10 days. In Alberta and Quebec, the deadline is 14 and 30 days respectively. Since these deadlines are strict—missing them can result in fines—check your province's specific rules as soon as you know your move date.
Driver's licence
In most provinces, you can update your driver's licence address online or in person at a ServiceOntario centre (Ontario), ICBC office (British Columbia), registry agent (Alberta), or SAAQ office (Quebec). Online updates are usually fastest—taking about 15 to 20 minutes. Your new driver's licence card will be mailed to your new address within 4 to 6 weeks. Until it arrives, keep your temporary proof of update (usually a printed slip) with your old licence as valid identification.
Provincial health card
Your provincial health card (called OHIP in Ontario, MSP in British Columbia, and RAMQ in Quebec) also requires an address update. In Ontario, you have 30 days to notify the Ministry of Health. Other provinces have similar deadlines, usually within 30 days of your move. Your health card often does not display your address on the physical card, so no new card is issued—the ministry simply updates its records. However, keeping your address current ensures you receive renewal notices and other important mail.
- Ontario (OHIP): 30 days, update online via ServiceOntario or in person
- British Columbia (MSP): Check BC Health Services for your deadline
- Alberta: Update through your provincial health authority
- Quebec (RAMQ): 30 days, update online or in person
Update your address with your bank
Contact your bank as soon as you move. Most banks allow you to update your address online, by phone, or in person at a branch. An updated address ensures you receive statements, tax documents (such as T4 or T5 slips for tax filing), and any notices related to fraud alerts or account changes.
Set up Canada Post mail forwarding for a safety net
Even with the best intentions, you may forget to notify one or two organizations of your move. Canada Post mail forwarding acts as a safety net, automatically redirecting mail sent to your old address to your new one. This gives you peace of mind while you update your address with banks, employers, subscription services, and other contacts.
Canada Post mail forwarding is a paid service. For residential mail forwarding within the same province, a 12-month service costs approximately CAD 98. A 4-month service costs around CAD 75 to 115, depending on whether you choose individual or household forwarding. You can set up mail forwarding online through Canada Post or in person at a post office. The service typically begins processing within 2 to 4 weeks, and once active, all letter-mail, flyers, and small publications addressed to your old address will be redirected for the duration you choose.
- Cost: CAD 98 for 12 months (within province); CAD 75–115 for 4 months
- Setup: Online at canadapost.ca or in person at a post office
- Duration: 3 months to 12 months (renewable)
- Processing: Typically starts 2–4 weeks after purchase
- Coverage: Letter-mail, flyers, small publications (not all parcels)
Summary checklist
- IRCC (if you have an active case): Update online; 5 business days to process
- CRA: Update via CRA My Account (immediate) or by phone/mail (slow)
- Driver's licence: Update online or in person within the provincial deadline (usually 6–30 days)
- Provincial health card: Update online or in person within 30 days
- Bank: Update online, by phone, or in person
- Canada Post mail forwarding: Set up online for CAD 98 (12 months) or less as a backup
- Other utilities, subscriptions, employers: Update as you identify them
Keep reading — Moving In
Always verify with official sources before acting on the information above.