When you move, the average Canadian has 40 to 80 organizations that hold their address. Many people update five and call it done. Here is the complete list — organized by category so nothing gets missed.
1. Government and Identity Documents
Start here. Government records are the hardest to fix retroactively, have the most serious consequences if wrong, and often have legal timeframes for updates.
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CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) — My Account online, or 1-800-959-8281. Update before filing your next return or receiving benefit payments.
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Service Canada — My Service Canada Account. Covers EI, CPP, OAS, and GIS records.
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Driver's licence — Through your provincial authority (ServiceOntario, ICBC, SGI, etc.). In Ontario, required within 6 days of moving.
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Vehicle registration — Same portal as your driver's licence in most provinces.
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Provincial health card (OHIP, CareCard, MSP, etc.) — Through your provincial health authority. Required to maintain valid coverage in most provinces.
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Passport Canada — Passport records do not store a home address, but ensure your emergency contact information is current at ircc.canada.ca.
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Elections Canada — Update at elections.ca to stay on the federal voters list. Your provincial electoral office is separate.
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Provincial electoral office — Check your province's election authority website.
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Canada Post mail forwarding — Set up at canadapost.ca as a safety net while other updates process. Not a substitute for individual updates.
2. Financial Institutions
Financial institutions use your address for identity verification, fraud monitoring, and mailing account statements, T5s, and year-end tax slips. Update each one directly through their own secure online portal or by calling — do not share financial account numbers with any third-party service.
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Primary bank (chequing and savings) — Online banking profile, branch, or 1-800 line.
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Secondary banks or credit unions — Each institution separately.
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All credit cards — Including store cards, travel cards, and cards from different issuers than your main bank.
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Investment accounts (RRSP, TFSA, non-registered) — Brokerage, robo-advisor, or bank investment platform.
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Mortgage lender — Your lender holds your primary asset's records and communicates important documents by mail.
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Line of credit provider — If separate from your primary bank.
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Student loans (NSLSC or provincial) — Update at studentaid.ca or your provincial loan authority.
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PayPal and digital payment accounts — Billing address is used for verification and occasionally for mailed correspondence.
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Pension provider (employer or group plan) — Contact your HR department or pension administrator.
A note on financial institutions: For your security, we strongly recommend updating banks, credit card providers, and investment accounts directly — never through a third-party service. Financial accounts require sensitive credentials that should remain private. If you are not comfortable sharing an account number, always update that institution manually by logging in to their secure portal or calling them directly.
3. Insurance
Insurance is the most legally time-sensitive category. Many policies require notification within 30–60 days. Failing to notify can void coverage.
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Home / tenant insuranceUrgent — Your current policy covers your old address. You need a new policy for the new address, effective on possession date.
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Auto insuranceUrgent — Rating territory changes with your address. In Ontario, failure to notify within a reasonable time can void the policy. Rates may change significantly.
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Life insurance — Correspondence and beneficiary-related documents are mailed.
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Health and dental insurance — Benefits cards, claims correspondence, and T4As are mailed to the address on file.
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Disability insurance — If separate from your group benefits plan.
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Business insurance — If applicable.
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Travel insurance provider — For standalone travel policies, not credit card benefits.
4. Utilities and Home Services
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Electricity provider — Set up at new address and close account at old.
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Natural gas provider — Enbridge, FortisBC, SaskEnergy, etc.
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Water / municipality — Billing address for water account at new municipality.
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Internet provider — Transfer service or cancel and reorder at new address.
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Cable / TV provider — If separate from internet.
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Home phone (landline) — If applicable.
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Home security company — Monitoring account and emergency contact information.
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Waste collection / recycling — Municipality billing or private contractor.
5. Mobile and Telecom
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Mobile carrier — Billing address for your cell phone plan. Also ask to set a SIM-lock PIN when you call — this prevents SIM-swap fraud at your old address.
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Corporate / business mobile account — If separate from personal.
6. Healthcare Providers
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Family doctor (GP) — Update your chart; if moving to a new area, register with a new family physician.
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Specialists — Each specialist's office separately.
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Dentist and orthodontist
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Optometrist / eye doctor
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Pharmacy / drug store — For prescription records and delivery.
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Physiotherapist / chiropractor / therapist — If receiving ongoing treatment.
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Mental health provider
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Veterinarian — For pet owners.
7. Employer and Professional
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HR and payroll department — For T4s, ROEs, and direct deposit correspondence.
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Group benefits administrator — Often separate from payroll.
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Professional licensing body — Law Society, nursing college, engineering association, etc.
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Union — If applicable.
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Former employers with pension obligations — Defined benefit pensions continue to mail statements to the address on file.
8. Children and Education
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School board and school — Enrollment and emergency contact records.
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Daycare or childcare provider
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Post-secondary institution (alumni records) — T2202 tax slips and alumni correspondence are mailed.
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Student financial aid (NSLSC) — Already listed under Financial, but important for student families.
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RESP provider — Statements and government grant correspondence.
9. Subscriptions and Online Accounts
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Amazon — Primary shipping and billing address.
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Other online retailers — Walmart, Best Buy, Costco online, etc.
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Streaming services — Netflix, Apple TV+, Crave, Disney+, etc. (billing address).
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Grocery delivery / meal kit services
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Magazine and newspaper subscriptions
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Loyalty and rewards programs — Aeroplan, PC Optimum, Scene+, etc. Points are mailed if a redemption threshold is reached.
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Clubs and memberships — Gym, association, sports club.
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Charitable donation accounts — Annual tax receipts.
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