Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service
1 | What Is Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service? |  |
The Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service ensures that mail is delivered to a new or temporary address anywhere in Canada or the world when a business or residential customer moves or temporary relocates. The service can be purchased online or at a post office.
Two Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service types are available:
- Customers not returning to their old address must buy the Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) for Moves. Mail delivery resumes to the old address upon service expiry. It is the Customer’s responsibility to notify correspondents of the new mailing address.
- Customers who are returning to the old address must buy the Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) for Temporary Relocation (eg: Canadian residents wintering outside of the country).
2 | Pricing Information | |
To obtain information on pricing, see Canada Post Prices.
3 | Payment Options | |
Table 1 lists the acceptable proofs of payment.
Table 1: Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service Proofs of Payment
Table 2 lists the acceptable methods of payment for the Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service. Some restrictions or conditions may apply.
Table 2: Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service Methods of Payment
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NOTE:
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Customers purchasing the Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service online must pay by credit card. |
4 | Delivery Standards at a Glance | |
Delivery standards are estimates of how long it will take for the mail to be delivered. These delivery standards are not guaranteed.
The delivery standard for forwarded mail can be calculated by adding the delivery standard of the postal service initially used and the delivery standard from the old address to the new address, plus one day.
5 | How to Purchase a Change of Address
(Mail Forwarding) service | |
The service is available for purchase online or at any post office.
Online, except if the request:
- is on behalf of a deceased person
- is on behalf of a third party by a guardian or trustee
- is subject to a dispute regarding the receipt of mail
- is on behalf of a school or a military installation.
For Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) for moves, visit canadapost.ca/mailforwarding.
For Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) for Temporary Relocation visit canadapost.ca/temporaryrelocation.
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NOTE:
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When purchasing the service online, the Customer’s credit card information is validated through an online authentication process. If the Customer’s identity cannot be validated, the Customer still has the option to purchase the service online and activate it at a post office. |
At the post office with government-issued Customer identification.
Each service purchased includes the forwarding of mail for up to four (4) individuals, two (2) businesses or a combination of two (2) individuals and two (2) businesses from the same address. When individuals and businesses share the same form, the business price applies.
6 | Service Features | |
The Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service for Moves is offered for periods of:
- 12 months (recommended): The 12-month service option offers greater value and ensures movers won't miss annual or infrequent mailings, such as tax documents, car license sticker renewals, financial statements and membership/club renewals.
- 4 months: The service period is an economical option that provides short-term protection against mail being delivered to the old address, which can be extended, if necessary.
Before the service expires, Customers will have the option to extend for an additional four or 12 months.
The Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service for Temporary Relocation is offered for any duration. While the minimum price for Mail Forwarding for temporary residential relocation is based on a three (3) month period, the minimum price for temporary business relocation is based on a period of one (1) month. Customers can extend the service before the expiry date for as long as needed. If the original service purchased was for less than three (3) months and the Customer subsequently wishes to renew the service for any period of time, the price of the extension will be calculated based on the period in excess of three (3) months.
If a valid Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service is in place, all mail will be redirected to the forwarding address indicated on the request.
Mail not forwarded as part of this service include:
- Unaddressed Admail™
- Dimensional Addressed Admail™
- Lettermail™ items bearing a “Do Not Forward” endorsement
- Addressed Admail™ bearing “Address Correction Service”
- Addressed Admail™ bearing the name of the addressee followed by the words “Or Occupant” or similar
- Parcels (should a Customer expect any parcel deliveries, the Customer must advise the sender(s) of the new address).
As part of the Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service, Canada Post may send Customers special offers on behalf of organizations with relevant products and services. Customers' personal information is not disclosed to these organizations.
When an email address is provided at the time of purchase, Customers have access to a convenient online portal where they can sign-in to extend or make changes to their service. The appropriate fee must be paid for requests to forward mail to an address which is different from the one indicated on the original purchase.
To forward mail on behalf of a deceased person, an executor, administrator or an appointed next of kin must purchase the Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) for Moves service. The following legal documents are required in order for Canada Post to provide the service:
- death certificate issued by the applicable government Vital Statistics office including one of the following:
- a medical examiner’s certificate,
- a funeral director’s certificate,
- a cremation certificate,
- a Canada Post Statutory Declaration [regarding proof of authority] or other certificate of comparable authority [such as in the case of a death outside the country]) AND
- proof of appointment as the legal representative or a satisfactory indemnity, by providing one (1) of the following documents:
- Grant of Letters Probate OR
- Letters of Administration (with or without the Will attached) OR
- Certificate of Appointment of the estate liquidator or certified statement of the liquidator (known as “État certifié des droits du Liquidateur” in the province of Québec) OR
- Canada Post Statutory Declaration form AND
- acceptable personal photo identification showing current address.
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NOTE:
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If the deceased person had a business located at the same address, the business price for Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) for Moves service would apply. |
Canada Post can provide the Customer’s new address to businesses and organizations that the Customer deals with. These organizations must already have the Customer’s correct names and old address on file and agree to use Customer’s new address for the sole purpose of updating their customer records. This service helps Customers continue to receive mail from infrequent mailers (for example, financial statements, licenses, tax forms and recall notices).
If Customers do not want Canada Post to assist in notifying organizations of their new address, they can opt-out of this feature at time of purchase.
6.7 | Expiry or Cancellation |
When the Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service expires, mail delivery resumes to the old address.
A Customer may cancel the service at any time by presenting the receipt at any post office. However, no refund will be granted once the service has begun.
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NOTE:
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Customers who have purchased the service online and wish to cancel their service must do so online and not at a post office. |
6.8 | Mail Forwarding Destinations |
Mail can be forwarded from any Canadian address to any other address in Canada, the U.S.A. and most international destinations (dutiable items excluded).
Mail addressed to Customers who receive mail through a shared postal address cannot be forwarded. This includes:
- individuals receiving mail through an institution such as a business, hotel, motel, rooming house, nursing home, hospital or school
- businesses with a common postal address
- mail received through privately administered mailboxes.
In cases of dissolved partnerships, marriages etc., if there is a dispute over who should receive the mail, a joint written agreement, signed by both parties, will be required.
Parcels are not part of the Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service. Customers expecting parcel deliveries where a Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service is in place must advise sender(s) of their new address.
Canada Post and its agents (including, but not limited to authorized dealers) shall not be responsible for any direct, indirect, general, special or consequential damages arising out of or in any way connected to the Agreement between the Customer and Canada Post regardless of whether such damages are based on contract or tort.
The use of Customer information gathered by Canada Post is governed by the Privacy Act.
Customers have a right to access all of their personal information collected by Canada Post for the purpose of delivering the Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service and to request that any inaccurate or missing information be corrected.
7 | Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) Announcement Cards | |
Complimentary Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) Announcement Cards are offered to Customers at post offices to notify correspondents of a new address. Customers must apply the applicable postage before sending.
For Municipality-initiated and Canada Post-initiated changes (i.e. street name change, street number change, conversion from rural route addressing to civic addressing), Canada Post will provide 12 months of free mail forwarding service and a limited quantity of postage-paid Courtesy Cards - Notice of New Address. These cards can be obtain at the post office.
8 | Enquiries | |
General enquiries concerning the Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service should be directed to Customer Service at canadapost.ca/support or by phone at 1-800-267-1177.
9 | Addressing | |
A complete and valid address and postal code information are required as part of this service. See Addressing Guidelines for more information.
10 | School Service | |
School Service is offered to educational institutions to forward and/or hold their mail during various holiday periods thereby ensuring their mail is kept secure when Schools are closed. The service is sold to Schools at post offices only.
Three (3) service options are available:
- Hold Mail only: applies when the School wants to have their mail held at a Canada Post facility.
- Temporary Mail Forwarding (Redirection) only: applies when the School wants to forward their mail to an alternate applicable Canadian address.
- Combination of Temporary Mail Forwarding (Redirection) and Hold Mail: apply when the School wants to have their mail held and temporarily forwarded to an alternate applicable Canadian address in accordance with the time periods specified on the form.
The form will indicate the dates the School is open and closed and if the mail should be held or forwarded to a new address for each of the time periods. Each service purchased covers a period of up to one year starting from the date the initial service was purchased and covering up to 6 different time periods.
In the event that the School is permanently moving to a different location, a Change of Address (Mail Forwarding) service for Moves must be purchased. The business price would apply.
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