When you’re moving, there are a lot of components to think about. One of the important items on your to-do list should be updating your address. There are a lot of important places you should alert of your address change (some obvious, and some not-so-obvious). Here is a checklist and timeline to get you started.
Tip: If you’re not sure of every spot you need to update your address, monitor the mail you receive and start updating your address with those organizations, such as university or college alumni services, charities you have supported, car dealerships, etc.
As soon as you know your new address
- Internet service – when you make this update, along with TV and home phone, you will likely be booking an appointment to have your services connected in your new home, so many this call as soon as possible.
- TV service
- Home phone service
- Utility companies – hydro, gas, water
1 month before you move
- Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
- Any loans, i.e. OSAP
- Any mailout subscriptions you have – magazines, newspapers
- Charities you have donated to
- Schools
2 weeks before you move
- Service Ontario – drivers license, vehicle registration, land registration, health card
- Other government services – employment insurance (EI), disability programs, etc.
- Auto insurance
- Home insurance
- Life insurance
- Cell phone provider
- Bonds
1 week before you move
- Bank
- Credit card company
- Investments
- Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
- Your employer
Other organizations to notify
- Elections Canada
- Elections Ontario
- Netflix – or any streaming services you subscribe to
- Amazon – you don’t want your package to get delivered to the wrong house
- Online Stores – update your account address on the websites you frequency order from
- Pharmacist
- Dentist
- Doctor’s office
- Library
- Gym or other memberships
If you’re not sure that you address change will take effect soon enough, or you have missed something, you can always forward your mail. Canada Post offers 2 types of mail forwarding services: mail forwarding for moves and mail forwarding for temporary relocation.
