Where to Change My Address When I Move: A Complete Checklist

Knowing where to change my address can save you from missed mail, service interruptions, and important information being sent to your old home. When you move, you may need to update your address with government agencies, banks, insurance providers, utilities, healthcare providers, your employer, and other organizations you use regularly.

Not sure who to notify when you move? Start with the checklist below, then use our moving timeline to decide which changes to make before and after moving day.

Who Should I Notify When I Move?

Note: you must change your address when you move. It’s the Law and You May be Fined!

Your exact moving address checklist will depend on the accounts and services you use. However, most Canadians should check whether they need to update their address with:

• Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
• Service Canada programs you use
• Driver’s licence and vehicle registration
• Provincial or territorial health card
• Elections Canada
• Banks and credit cards
• Mortgage providers and other lenders
• Insurance providers
• Electricity, gas, and water providers
• Internet, television, and mobile phone providers
• Employer
• School or childcare provider
• Doctor, dentist, pharmacy, and veterinarian
• Online shopping and delivery accounts
• Subscriptions, memberships, and loyalty programs
• Canada Post Mail Forwarding

Remember that changing your address with one organization does not necessarily update it everywhere. Work through your accounts individually and make sure nothing important gets missed.

Government & Identification

Government records should be near the top of your list when determining where to change your address. Depending on where you live and the programs you use, you may need to update your information with the CRA, Service Canada, your provincial or territorial government, and Elections Canada.

Deadlines and requirements can vary, particularly for driver’s licences, vehicle registration, and health cards. Check the official government website of your province or territory rather than assuming one deadline applies across Canada.

Banks, Credit Cards, and Insurance

Update your address with banks, credit unions, credit card companies, mortgage providers, lenders, and investment accounts. 

You should also contact your auto, home or tenant, life, health, and other applicable insurance providers. Your location can affect certain insurance policies and premiums, so ask your provider when your new address should take effect rather than waiting until weeks after the move.

Utilities and Household Services

Contact your utility and household service providers before moving day. Depending on your home, this could include:

• Electricity
• Natural gas
• Water
• Internet
• Cable or television
• Mobile phone
• Home security

You may be able to transfer an existing service to your new address. If you are moving to another city or province, however, you may need to close an account and arrange service with a new provider.

Work, School, and Healthcare

Your employer needs your current contact information, and families should also update their child’s school or childcare provider where applicable.

Don’t forget your doctor, dentist, pharmacy, specialists, veterinarian, and other healthcare providers. Keeping these records current helps important correspondence, appointment information, prescriptions, and other documents reach the right place.

When Should I Change My Address When Moving?

There is no single deadline for every address change. Some services should be arranged several weeks before moving, while certain government records can be updated once your new address takes effect.

A simple timeline can help:

• 2-4 weeks before moving:
• Utilities, internet, insurance arrangements, Canada Post Mail Forwarding, schools or childcare, and recurring deliveries

• Around moving day
• Confirm utility transfers and mail forwarding, and update frequently used shopping and delivery accounts

• After moving
• Government identification and records, banks and financial accounts, healthcare providers, memberships, and anything you missed

Add these tasks to your weekly moving checklist so they don’t get buried under packing, cleaning, and everything else competing for your attention. 

Pay particular attention to government deadlines. For example, Ontario residents must update the address on their driver’s licence and vehicle permit within six days of moving. The Government of Ontario provides current instructions for updating a driver’s licence, vehicle permit, and health card.

How Do I Change My Address With the Government?

If you’re wondering where to change my address with the government, there isn’t one universal Canadian form that updates every government record (though that would be fantastic!).

You may need to update several organizations separately.

Canada Revenue Agency

You can change your address with the Canada Revenue Agency using one of the CRA’s available address-change methods. Keeping your information current helps ensure applicable tax correspondence and other CRA communications are sent to the correct address.

Service Canada

If you receive or use federal programs administered through Service Canada, check whether you need to update your address for each applicable program. Information about online services can be accessed through My Service Canada Account.

Provincial or Territorial Government

Driver’s licences, vehicle registration, and provincial and territorial health coverage are handled by your province or territory. Requirements and deadlines therefore vary depending on where you live. 

If you’re moving between provinces or territories, check the official government website for your new location to find out what you need to change and when.

Elections Canada

Moving can also affect your voter registration information. Visit Elections Canada for information about checking or updating your federal voter registration.

Provincial and municipal voter information may be maintained separately, so check requirements that apply where you live.

Should I Use Canada Post Mail Forwarding When I Move?



Canada Post Mail Forwarding can be a useful backup when you move, but mail forwarding is not a substitute for changing your address directly. 

Canada Post Mail Forwarding redirects eligible mail from your old address to your new one for a selected period. Setting it up before moving can give you additional time to identify organizations that still have your previous address.

However, not every item is eligible for forwarding. You should still update your information directly with government agencies, financial institutions, insurance companies, employers, healthcare providers, and other important organizations.

It’s also important to update saved shipping addresses on shopping websites and apps. Mail forwarding doesn’t mean an online order placed using your old shipping address will automatically arrive at your new home. 

What Happens If I Forget to Change My Address?

Forgetting to update a magazine subscription is probably going to be more annoying than disastrous. Forgetting an important government, financial, insurance, or utility account can cause bigger problems.

Depending on the account, an outdated address can lead to:



• Important notices or statements being sent to your previous home 
• Bills or other correspondence going to the wrong address
• Delays or interruptions in household services 
• Sensitive or personal information being delivered somewhere you no longer live
• Incorrect information on important financial or insurance records
• Problems meeting address-update requirements for certain government documents

If you realize you’ve forgotten something, update the organization directly as soon as possible.

What Address Changes Do People Commonly Forget When Moving?



You’ve updated your driver’s licence. The bank knows. Your electricity is on. Surely you’re finished? Maybe not.

Some of the most commonly overlooked address changes are the accounts you don’t think about every day. Before declaring your checklist complete, consider:

• Online retailers and saved shipping addresses
• Food delivery apps
• Subscription boxes
• Newspapers and magazines
• Gym and recreation memberships
• Library accounts
• Loyalty and rewards programs
• Professional associations
• Alumni organizations
• Charities
• Veterinarian records
• Pet microchip registries

One useful trick is to review your recent emails, bank statements, and recurring payments. They may remind you of memberships, subscriptions, and services you forgot were still connected to your old address.

For the rest of your moving-day preparation, Macho Movers’ Comprehensive Moving Checklist can help you keep track of other important tasks before the big day.

Looking For Help With Your Move? Macho Movers Can Help

Changing your address is one part of your move that you’ll need to handle yourself, but you don’t have to handle every part of moving alone.

Founded in 2016, Macho Movers provides residential moving services in Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, and communities across Ontario and beyond. If you want one less thing on your moving checklist, our packing and unpacking services can also help you prepare for moving day and settle into your new home.

Planning a move? Contact Macho Movers today to request a quote and start planning.