Change of Address Checklist When You Move in Canada

Change of address checklist for moving in Canada

By MoverDash Research Team · Reviewed by Ridvan Oral, Founder & CEO, MoverDash · Last updated October 13, 2026

Fact-checked against official sources on October 13, 2026. General information, not legal advice. MoverDash is free for customers; movers pay to reach customers who share their details.

Deadlines you must meet

Some address changes are required by law, with a deadline. These are the ones in Canada’s three largest provinces:

Address-change deadlines after a move
Province	What to update	Deadline	Cost
Ontario	Driver’s licence and vehicle permit	6 days (source)	Free. A replacement fee may apply if you don’t bring your permit.
Ontario	Health card	30 days (source)	Free
Québec	SAAQ (licence and vehicle registration)	30 days (source)	Check with the SAAQ
British Columbia	Driver’s licence or BCID with ICBC	10 days (source)	Check with ICBC

In Québec, one change at adresse.gouv.qc.ca reaches 7 government bodies at once (SAAQ, French only). Moving to another province? Licences and health cards follow different rules; see our guide to moving to another province.

Forwarding your mail

Canada Post forwards your mail to the new address for a fee (Canada Post):

Canada Post mail forwarding prices
Length	Within your province	To another province
4 months	$66.50	$82.75
12 months	$100.75	$126.25

Forwarding can start 5 business days after you buy it online, or 3 business days after you buy it at a post office. If Canada Post can’t verify your identity online, you finish the order at a post office.
Parcels aren’t forwarded. Give senders your new address for anything you’ve ordered.
You need government-issued photo ID to buy it.

The CRA and federal programs

Change your address with the CRA in My Account, by phone, or with Form RC325. The CRA won’t share your new address with other federal departments, so update each program you use separately (CRA).

What to do, and when

At least 2 weeks before you move: buy mail forwarding so it starts on moving day.
Moving week: give your new address to your employer, bank and insurers.
Within 6 days (Ontario): update your driver’s licence and vehicle permit.
Within 10 days (BC): update your licence with ICBC.
Within 30 days: your Ontario health card, or the SAAQ in Québec.
Before tax time: make sure the CRA has your new address.

Who else to tell

These aren’t legal deadlines, but missing them causes the most trouble after a move:

your bank and credit card companies
your home, tenant and car insurers
your employer, for pay slips and tax slips
your internet, phone and utility providers
subscriptions and online stores that ship to you

Questions people ask

Does Canada Post forward parcels?

No. Mail forwarding doesn’t cover parcels such as Xpresspost or Regular Parcel, so give senders your new address yourself (Canada Post).

Is changing my address on my Ontario licence free?

Yes, for the licence. Updating the vehicle permit is free too, but a replacement fee may apply if you don’t bring the permit with you (Ontario.ca).

Can I forward my mail for a short time only?

Yes. Canada Post’s shortest option for a move is 4 months: $66.50 within your province or $82.75 to another province.

What changed

October 13, 2026: First published.
October 13, 2026: Canada Post start times are business days; added the identity check.