Moving to Another Province in Canada: A Checklist

When you move to another province, plan the long-distance move first, then apply for your new health card, exchange your driver’s licence, register your vehicle and update your address with the federal government and your providers. Every province sets its own deadlines and waiting periods, so check the official rules for the province you are moving to as soon as you know your date.

What should I do before the move?

• Choose your city and start looking at housing early. Our city guides cover Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina and Halifax.
• Get at least two written moving quotes. Long-distance moves are usually flat-rate, based on your inventory and the distance. See our long-distance moving page.
• Ask your current health providers for records and prescription refills to cover the first weeks.
• Collect school records and your family’s important documents.
• Check how your insurance, benefits and workplace coverage carry over.

How does health coverage work when I move?

Each province runs its own health insurance plan, and many have a waiting period of up to three months for new residents, including Canadians moving from another province. In general, the province you are leaving keeps covering you during that wait, but what it covers outside its borders can be limited. Ontario no longer has a waiting period for OHIP, while Quebec’s RAMQ coverage can take up to three months to begin. Apply in your new province as soon as you arrive, and ask your old province how long its coverage continues. Consider travel or bridging insurance for the gap.

What about my driver’s licence and vehicle?

New residents have a limited time to exchange an out-of-province licence and register their vehicle, and the deadline is set by the new province. Bring your current licence, proof of address and your vehicle documents. Your vehicle may need an inspection before it can be registered, and you will need insurance from a provider in your new province. In British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, basic auto insurance comes from the provincial insurer (ICBC, MPI and SGI). In Quebec, the SAAQ issues licences and covers bodily injury, and you buy property damage coverage privately.

What about taxes?

You file your income tax return for the province you lived in on December 31, so a move late in the year can change which province’s rates apply for the whole year. Sales tax changes too: HST in Ontario and Nova Scotia, GST only in Alberta, GST plus QST in Quebec, and GST plus provincial sales tax in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Update your address with the Canada Revenue Agency; our change of address guide has the full list.

How do I find a family doctor?

Start early. Many provinces run a registry or waitlist for people without a family doctor, so sign up as soon as you have your new health card. Keep copies of your medical records with you during the move.

What about schools and daycare?

Contact your local school board for registration, and gather transcripts and immunization records. If you move to Quebec, check the rules on eligibility for English-language schooling before you choose a school. Daycare spots can have waitlists, so apply as soon as you can.

What does a long-distance move cost?

It depends on volume, distance and services. Get an inventory-based written quote, and ask about fuel, packing, insurance and the delivery window. See your rights when hiring movers, how to compare moving quotes and how much movers cost in Canada.

Ready to plan?

Request a free quote and tell us where you are coming from and where you are going.