Congratulations on your new home! Moving into a new property is an exciting milestone, but it comes with its fair share of to-dos. Before you dive into unpacking and settling in, take some time to ensure your address is updated with all the necessary contacts and organizations. Here’s a handy checklist to help you navigate the process smoothly and stress-free.
Notify Key Contacts About Your Address Change
Family and Friends
There’s something special about receiving a handwritten note in your new mailbox. Share your new address with loved ones by using Canada Post’s mail forwarding service. You can send physical cards with postage or use email for a quick and convenient update. For municipality or Canada Post-initiated address changes, you may even qualify for 12 months of free mail forwarding.
Government Agencies
Keep your records up-to-date by notifying the following services:
- Canada Revenue Agency (CRA): Update your personal and business tax information.
- Service Canada: Ensure Employment Insurance (EI), Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and Old Age Security (OAS) benefits are redirected.
- Provincial Registries: Update your health card, driver’s license, and vehicle registration.
- Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada: If you have ongoing applications, notify IRCC of your new address.
- Elections Canada: Update your voter registration.
Remember, address updates aren’t automatically shared across departments, so you’ll need to notify each agency individually.
Don’t Miss Mail with Canada Post’s Mail Forwarding Service
Use Canada Post’s mail forwarding to catch any mail sent to your old address. This ensures that important letters, bills, and packages don’t get lost in the shuffle. Set this up a few weeks before your move to avoid interruptions.
Update Essential Services
Financial Institutions
Notify your bank, credit card providers, and loan issuers. If you’ve secured a mortgage for your new home, the address will likely already be on file, but double-check for accuracy.
Insurance Providers
Update your address for home, rental, and auto insurance policies. Note that insurance premiums may change based on your new location.
Utility Providers
Transfer or set up new accounts for electricity, water, gas, internet, and cable. Arrange these updates ahead of time to ensure services are ready when you move in.
Medical Practitioners
Inform your doctor, dentist, and any other healthcare providers. Don’t forget to update your pet’s veterinarian too!
Memberships and Subscriptions
Whether it’s your gym membership or subscription boxes for wine, beauty products, or pet supplies, update your address to avoid missing deliveries.
Moving to Another Province? Additional Steps to Consider
If your new home is in a different province, additional steps are required:
- Notify your current province when you intend to leave.
- Register for health insurance in your new province (note that there may be a three-month waiting period before coverage begins).
- Update your driver’s license and vehicle registration with your new provincial registry.
Get Organized to Save Time
Many organizations allow you to update your address online. By staying organized and tackling this checklist methodically, you can complete most updates in just a few hours. Keep a list of all the changes you’ve made to ensure nothing gets overlooked.
Final Thoughts
Changing your address might seem like a daunting task, but once it’s complete, you can relax and focus on making your new house feel like home. From notifying loved ones to updating official records, each step ensures a seamless transition into your new chapter. Happy moving!