Après un déménagement, plusieurs organismes distincts doivent être avisés de votre nouvelle adresse.
1. Why this isn't a single step
After a move, there's no single button that notifies everyone of your new address. The Quebec government, the federal government, your bank, your employer and your insurers each keep their own file. Forgetting even one of these organizations can delay a refund, a renewed card, or an important document.
2. The provincial shortcut: the Quebec Address Change Service
The Quebec government offers a free service that sends your new address to seven ministries and organizations in a single step: the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) (licence, registration), the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) (health card), Revenu Québec, Retraite Québec, Élections Québec, the Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale, and the CNESST. The service is available at adresse.gouv.qc.ca and takes a few business days to process.
3. The safety net: mail forwarding through Canada Post
Even after notifying every organization, a letter always ends up arriving at your old address. Canada Post's mail forwarding service automatically redirects your mail to your new address for a duration you choose, renewable for as long as you need. It covers regular mail, registered mail and magazines, but not parcels or prepaid envelopes.
4. How to sign up and the deadlines
Two ways to sign up for mail forwarding:
- Online, on the Canada Post website — create or use your account, enter your new address and pay by credit card.
- At the post office — show up with ID and fill out a form, which usually activates the service a bit faster.
Either way, expect a few business days before the service is active — sign up as soon as you know your new address.
5. Beyond the government: who else to notify
The table below summarizes the other federal and private organizations you must notify separately, and how to do it.
| Organization | Why | How |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) | Your notices of assessment, refunds and benefits (Canada Child Benefit, GST credit) | In your online My Account, or by phone |
| Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) | Your immigration documents and correspondence on your file | In your online IRCC account (if applicable to your status) |
| Your bank | Statements, replacement debit/credit cards, security alerts | Mobile app, website, or branch |
| Your employer | Tax slips (T4/Relevé 1), payroll, group insurance | Directly with human resources |
| Your insurance (home, auto, life) | Policy documents, renewal notices | By phone or the insurer's client portal |
A good habit: update the CRA and your bank first — these are the two organizations where a missed document has the most concrete consequences, like a lost refund or bank card.
6. Your action list
Follow these concrete steps for your change of address. Check each box as you go — your progress is saved if you're signed in.
7. Frequently asked questions
The most common questions about a change of address: within what deadline must you notify the RAMQ, does mail forwarding redirect parcels, and how many people can be covered by the same forwarding request.
Within what deadline must I notify the RAMQ of my address change?
The RAMQ requires you to report any change of address promptly — the same requirement applies to a change of marital status or any other change to the information provided when you registered. The exact legal deadline is set on the RAMQ website, since it can be revised.
Notifying the RAMQ through the Quebec Address Change Service (see above) counts as fulfilling this obligation.
Does mail forwarding redirect my parcels?
No. The Canada Post mail forwarding service only covers regular mail, registered mail and magazines. Parcels and prepaid envelopes are not redirected — you must update your delivery address directly with each online retailer or sender.
Can I cover my whole family with a single forwarding request?
Yes, one residential mail forwarding request can include up to eight individual names at the same address — useful for a couple, a family, or roommates who move together.
8. See also
These related guides may be useful:
- Opening your Hydro-Québec account — another step to do around the same time as your change of address.
- RAMQ — how your health insurance card works.
- Driver's licence in Quebec (SAAQ) — the SAAQ is also one of the organizations covered by the Quebec Address Change Service.
9. Official sources
For official, up-to-date information, see these pages:
You can also call Services Québec at 1-877-644-4545.
Author's Note: Treat your change of address as a list, not a single task. The Quebec Address Change Service and mail forwarding cover the essentials in twenty minutes, but it's the items in the middle table — bank, employer, insurance — that get forgotten most often.
