Author: Brittany Stager
Brittany is a Social Media Director and agency owner by day, and author of a personal lifestyle blog, My Daily Randomness, by night. With a passion for all things home, Brittany uses her blog to showcase home decorating projects, DIY’s and tips & tricks. She also enjoys sharing recipes, travel stories, fashion roundups and her experiences as a new mom. When she’s not blogging, you can find her playing with her daughter Emily, walking her dog Maddy or eating dessert.
Moving is often an exciting adventure, but it also comes with a long to-do list.
From coordinating movers, to picking up the keys, every single task on your to-do list feels important. There’s one task that’s often overlooked, put off to the very last minute, or forgotten completely—updating your address.
It might not be as thrilling as exploring your new neighbourhood or planning your upcoming home improvement projects, but dedicating time to ensuring your address is changed will save you from missing online shopping deliveries, bills, and other major headaches (or even fines!) down the road.
This comprehensive guide will help you navigate the task of updating your address so you can spend more time enjoying your new home!
Getting started
It goes without saying, the first step in changing your address is ensuring you have it written down/recorded correctly. Reference your sale agreement or lease agreement if you’re in doubt, and ensure you have the correct street number, suite number, street direction, and postal code.
The second step is to set up a mail forward with Canada Post. Mail forwarding acts as a catch-all for anything you have missed in the excitement of your move. Using a mail forwarding service for one year offers peace of mind. Prices start at $92.50, and can be set up in-person or online in as little as 10 minutes. Mail that’s forwarded is tagged with a yellow sticker. As these items are received, initiate a change of address request with the mailer. By the end of year one, you should have caught most of what was initially missed. Set up your mail forward at least 30 days before your moving date.
Who to notify when your address changes
From the government to your grandma, your list of who to notify about your address change might seem long, but this checklist will help you identify who to notify and when.
Service providers
You’ll need to contact your phone company, cable and internet provider, hydro services, insurance provider, and more when you move. Plus, don’t forget things like subscription boxes and streaming services for good measure. Here are some of the service providers you’ll need to notify, and when to do so.
Medical care or providers
Be sure to update any medical care providers of your new address at your next visit or by phone after you move. This can include:
Doctors and physicians
Holistic health services providers
Dentists
Pharmacies
Optometrists
Veterinarians
Medical insurance programs
Government services
Provinces and territories have laws about how long you have to notify them of an address change when it comes to your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and health card. For example, in Ontario, you’re required to notify them no longer than six days after your address changes for your license and registration, and 30 days for your health card. In Alberta, you have 14 days for your license and registration.
Here are the government services you should be notifying of an address change, when to do so, and how to do it. For exact deadlines, make sure to check your provincial/territorial website for details.
Educational Institutions
Schools, daycares, colleges, scholarship programs, and trade programs all need to be notified of an address change. If you’re moving out of the school district, make sure to make this change as far in advance as possible to allow for registration and transfer times.
Personal contacts Most people you’re close with will know you’re moving, so they’ll know an address change is happening and likely ask for the address anyway. However, make sure you inform your employer or human resources department of a move within one or two weeks of moving so all relevant files, paystubs, and tax documents can be up to date. This can be done in person, by email, or by phone.
Other
We’ve already covered most of the main people or places to notify of an address change, but there are some others that don’t quite fall into a specific category.
Changing your address doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With a little planning and organization, you can make the transition to your new home smooth and stress-free. If you feel as though you’re forgetting something, your REALTOR® can answer any questions about organizations you may need to notify!