Free new-resident guide: ON
Moving to Ontario (2026)
What you need to do when you move to Ontario from another province: driver's licence, health card, vehicle re-registration, and address updates, with Ontario-specific deadlines.
Guidepost
Before we begin
Generating: moving to a new province
Guidepost generates document templates and step-by-step process guides based on your answers. We are not a law firm, and nothing we provide is legal advice.
The documents you receive are templates designed to cover typical situations and meet standard provincial requirements, but every situation is different.
If your situation is complex, a dispute, unusual circumstances, or significant money is involved, consult a lawyer or notary in your province before completing the transaction.
By continuing you acknowledge that Guidepost provides informational document templates only, and that you are not receiving legal advice.
Keep your old health coverage
Keep your old provincial health coverage active until your new coverage starts. Do not cancel it early.
Update address & notify agencies
Update your address with Canada Post (mail forwarding), CRA, Service Canada, Elections Canada, your bank, employer, and provincial agencies including your health card and driver's licence address.
Driver's licence
Exchange deadline: 60 days
You may drive on your existing out-of-province licence for up to 60 days after becoming an Ontario resident; after that you must exchange it for an Ontario licence.
Testing is typically waived when exchanging a same-class Canadian licence.
Official source → https://www.ontario.ca/page/exchange-out-province-drivers-licenceChanging your address too? Ontario change-of-address checklist →What happens if you miss the Ontario licence-exchange deadline
Deadline: 60 days.
Ontario's official page sets this deadline but does not publish a dollar penalty for missing it.
Official source: Ontario driver's licence exchange page →Health card: OHIP
Plan
OHIP
When to apply
as soon as you arrive
How to apply
ServiceOntario (in person or online)
Waiting period / coverage start
No waiting period: OHIP coverage is immediate (the 3-month wait was removed in 2020). You must be physically present in Ontario for at least 153 of the first 183 days of your coverage period.
Vehicle re-registration
Re-register your out-of-province vehicle in Ontario. The deadline and whether a safety inspection is required varies by province.
Ontario vehicle re-registration guide →What will all of this cost? Moving Cost Calculator →What to bring to each appointment
Before you go: what each Ontario office asks new residents to bring, from its own official page.
Driver's licence exchange
The Ontario licence-exchange page asks you to bring:
- ✓original valid out-of-province/foreign licence
- ✓originals of accepted identity documents showing legal name and date of birth
- ✓any original documents proving driving experience
- ✓completed application form
- ✓an accepted identity document (for example a passport, Canadian birth certificate, or PR card); see the acceptable-ID list
You will also take a vision test on site and declare that Ontario is your primary residence and your presence in Canada is legal. The page says to pay the applicable fees but does not publish a dollar amount.
Official source: ontario.ca: Exchange an out-of-province driver's licence →Health card: OHIP
The OHIP application asks for one completed form plus three original documents, one from each category:
- ✓proves Canadian citizenship or OHIP-eligible immigration status
- ✓proves residency in Ontario
- ✓proves identity, must include name and signature
Photocopies are not accepted; all three documents must be originals.
Official source: ontario.ca: Documents needed to get a health card →Vehicle re-registration
- ✓Out-of-province vehicle ownership (title/registration)
- ✓Safety Standards Certificate (SSC)
- ✓Ontario auto insurance
- ✓Government-issued photo ID
- ✓Bill of sale
- ✓Form SR-LV-006 (if applicable)
Federal tasks
- •CRA: update your mailing address via My Account at canada.ca or by calling 1-800-959-8281. Direct deposit details stay the same.
- •Elections Canada: update your voter registration at elections.ca or at your nearest Elections Canada office.
Local setup
Utilities, waste/recycling, transit passes, and school registration are set by your municipality: rules and providers vary by city. Check your city or municipal website for local services. (Per-city details are outside the scope of this guide.)
Replace or obtain documents
If you need a replacement birth certificate, SIN confirmation letter, or passport, see the replace-documents guide for Ontario-specific steps and agencies.
Ontario replace-documents guide →Download your free Ontario new-resident checklist
Printable PDF covering all 7 steps with Ontario-specific deadlines.
Free. General information only, not legal or regulatory advice.
Moving to a different province?
Common questions
Is there a moving to Ontario checklist?
Yes: this page is a step-by-step Ontario new-resident checklist, and you can download it as a free printable PDF. It covers all seven steps: updating your address, exchanging your driver's licence within 60 days, enrolling in OHIP, re-registering your vehicle, federal updates (CRA and Elections Canada), and local setup.
How do I move to Ontario from another province?
The steps are the same whichever province you're moving from: exchange your out-of-province driver's licence within 60 days, enrol in OHIP (keep your previous province's coverage until the new coverage starts), re-register your vehicle, and update your address with the CRA and Elections Canada. Each step above has the Ontario-specific detail and official source.
Guidepost is not a law firm. This guide is for general information only. Full disclaimer