Moving tips
How to Set Up Mail Forwarding and Change Your Address
By TLC Moving & Storage · Published 15 May 2018
Set a date and time to change your address with every account or service you can think of before moving in Ottawa. And consider using Canada Post’s Mail Forwarding service: it redirects your mail to your new address in case you forget to change your address with some places.
Why changing your address matters
Thanks to online forms and submissions, changing your address before a move has never been easier. And while it’s one of the easier tasks during a move, it gets overlooked during this stressful time. You may not forget to set up your Internet and hydro. But you might forget to change your address with some places, only realizing months later when you haven’t been getting important mail.
When it comes to sensitive mail that has your financial and personal information (i.e. your date of birth and your social insurance number), you can’t be too careful. If this mail gets into the wrong person’s hands, you’re at risk of having your identity stolen.
What Is Canada Post Mail Forwarding?
Canada Post’s Mail Forwarding is a paid service that redirects your mail from your old address to your new one when you move. This is an essential service so you don’t lose any important mail, or have it end up in the wrong hands.
For a move, you can buy it for 4 months or 12 months, online with a Canada Post account or at a post office, where you show ID. Buy it before your move: the service starts a few days after you buy it.
Do note that this service does not apply to: newspapers and flyers delivered by other parties; prepaid envelopes; mail through a privately administered mailbox company; personal mail delivered to a business or institution, such as an office building, hospital, nursing home or hotel; mail at a shared postal address used by more than two businesses; parcels sent by Xpresspost, Regular Parcel or other parcel services.
Make sure to notify senders of your new address when shopping online and expecting parcel deliveries. Mail forwarding allows you to receive important mail from senders who you’ve forgotten to change your address with. But it does not inform senders of your new address. You will need to do a change of address either online, in person, or by mail with all accounts, government departments, and services you use.
How to Change Your Address Online
You should be able to change your address online for most government services, financial institutions, and online accounts. The Government of Canada’s website has information about changing your address with federal departments, like immigration and citizenship services, and Canada Revenue Agency. With the CRA, you can change it through your CRA account online, by phone, by mail with Form RC325, or on a paper or EFILE tax return.
ServiceOntario lets you change your address online for your health card, driver’s licence and vehicle permit. You will need your new address and the numbers on your cards. A photo health card with an address printed on it can’t be changed online. You must update the address on your driver’s licence and vehicle permit within 6 days of moving, and on your health card within 30 days.
Along with other tips and life hacks to make your move less stressful, consider using this checklist so you don’t forget to change your address with all important companies, services, and departments.
Your Change of Address Checklist
Use this checklist as a starting point to make sure you’ve got all your bases covered when it’s time to change your address.
Priority
Start here with mail forwarding and address changes. These should be your top priorities, as mail forwarding with Canada Post gives you a bit of breathing room to gradually update your address elsewhere over a longer period of time. Canada Post—sign up for mail forwarding; employers—for your paycheques, tax forms, employee benefits, etc.
Financial Services
If you still receive paper bills, don’t forget to update your address with any financial institutions you have an account with. If you went paperless, it’s still worthwhile to stay current with your bank. Banks/credit unions; credit cards; student loans. Loan issuers; investments; financial assistance.
Insurance Providers
It is absolutely vital your insurance providers have accurate details about your residence and how to reach you. Health and dental insurance; home/renter’s insurance; car insurance.
Utilities & Home Services
Updating your utilities and home services should ideally take place while you switch over to your new address and home. Power/hydro; gas; water; home phone; cell phone. Internet; cable; landscaping; snow removal; cleaners.
Government Departments
If you receive regular mailings from the Federal or Provincial governments, such as rebates or tax benefits, updating your address is a must. Note that updating your address with Canada Revenue Agency can also take place during tax season when you file a return. Provincial health card; driver’s license; provincial vehicle permit; Canada Revenue Agency. Citizenship and Immigration; Veterans Affairs Canada; Elections Canada.
Online Services
Don’t forget to update your delivery addresses for any online accounts you might have. This can save you from missing a shipment. Netflix and other streaming services; PayPal; online shopping accounts.
People
It goes without saying that family, friends, and healthcare providers should have up-to-date addresses when you move! Doctors and dentists; lawyers; babysitters. Veterinarians; family; friends.
Miscellaneous
Add any other miscellaneous people, places, or services you need to change your address with, i.e. any place that has your credit card billing address, such as your gym.
Why It’s Worth Doing Quickly
Set an afternoon aside to change your address with all the people and places on your checklist. While you can change your address for most places online, you may need to call some places as well. Many services allow you to have your change of address effective on a specific date, so you can do this well in advance of your move.
By setting aside the time to do this, you can get it out of the way quickly and efficiently, having one less thing to stress about during your busy move.
Setting Up Utilities Ahead of Time
For added peace of mind, contact your utility providers ahead of time to switch over your accounts to your new address. Most utility providers allow you to do this online, and you can even set the move-out (end service) and move-in (start service) date for your new home.
The last thing you want is to move into your new home and not have any power or water. Be sure to make this a priority when changing your address with all of your service providers. Get your address changed ahead of time so you can have one less thing to worry about in the hectic time leading up to your move.
Questions about moving with TLC
How do I set up mail forwarding with Canada Post?
Buy Canada Post’s Mail Forwarding online with a Canada Post account, or at a post office, where you show ID. For a move you can choose 4 months or 12 months. Buy it before your move, because the service starts a few days after you buy it.
Does mail forwarding change my address with senders?
No. Mail forwarding lets you receive important mail from senders you’ve forgotten to change your address with, but it does not inform them of your new address. You still need to change your address online, in person or by mail with every account, government department and service you use.
How soon do I need to change my address on my Ontario driver’s licence and health card?
Within 6 days of moving for your driver’s licence and vehicle permit, and within 30 days for your health card. You can change all three online through ServiceOntario with the numbers on your cards, unless your photo health card has an address printed on it.
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