You booked the truck. You bought the boxes. You labelled the kitchen stuff with the confidence of someone who has clearly never unpacked a kitchen before. And then, three weeks after you move, a parking ticket from your old address shows up at your mom's house, your bank mails a new card into the void, and you realize the registry never got the memo. Changing your address is the most forgotten part of any move. Here is the complete list of everyone you need to tell when you move in British Columbia, sorted so nothing slips through the cracks.
Start with the legally required ones
Some address changes are not just polite, they are required by law, and skipping them can cost you real money.
ICBC. In BC, you are required to update ICBC with your new address within 10 days of moving. That covers your driver's licence, your BCID if you have one, your vehicle registration, and your Autoplan insurance. This one matters more than people think, because if your insurance policy does not show your current address, you could run into coverage problems if you ever need to make a claim. Update it promptly and keep your coverage solid.
Your BC Services Card and health coverage. Make sure the province has your new address for your BC Services Card and your medical coverage through Health Insurance BC. You want appointment reminders, renewal notices, and any health correspondence reaching the right mailbox.
The provincial one-stop service. Here is a time-saver many movers miss. The BC government runs an online change of address service that updates several provincial records at once, including your driver's licence and health-related details, in a single step. It is the fastest way to clear a few of these boxes together instead of contacting each one separately.
Canada Revenue Agency. Update the CRA so your tax documents, GST or HST credit, Canada Child Benefit, and any other payments follow you. A missed CRA update is a common reason benefit cheques go astray.
Service Canada. If you receive Employment Insurance, the Canada Pension Plan, or Old Age Security, or if you simply hold a passport, keep Service Canada current too.
Elections. Update your voter information with Elections BC and Elections Canada so you stay registered at your real address for the next time you head to the polls.
Then protect your money
Financial mail is exactly the kind you do not want landing in a stranger's hands.
Tell your bank or credit union, and do not forget every credit card, line of credit, and loan you hold. Update any investment, RRSP, or TFSA accounts, plus your mortgage lender if you own elsewhere. New debit and credit cards, statements, and security notices all key off your address, so a missed update is both an inconvenience and a small fraud risk.
While you are at it, contact your insurance providers. Tenant or home insurance needs your new address to cover your belongings at the right location, and your premium can change with the postal code. Auto and life insurance should be updated too. If your tenant insurance still lists your old suite, your coverage may not protect you where you actually live.
Don't forget the bills and the home services
These are the ones that keep your new place running and stop you from paying for service at a home you no longer occupy.
Arrange your utilities before move-in day so you arrive to working power and heat. In most of the province that means BC Hydro for electricity and FortisBC for natural gas, plus your municipality for water, sewer, and garbage. Set up or transfer your internet and TV, whether that is Telus, Shaw, Rogers, or another provider, and book the installation early because good appointment slots disappear fast around the first of the month. Update your mobile phone account as well, since your carrier uses your address for billing and emergency services.
Cancel or transfer service at your old address on the right date so you are not paying two hydro bills at once.
Look after your health and your household
This group is easy to overlook until you suddenly need them.
Update your family doctor, dentist, optometrist, and pharmacy, especially if you are moving far enough that you will switch clinics. Transfer prescriptions to a pharmacy near your new home so refills are simple. If you have pets, tell your veterinarian and update any pet licensing or microchip registry. And if you have kids, notify their school or daycare and start any registration or transfer paperwork early, since enrolment can take time.
The everyday stuff almost everyone misses
Now for the long tail of small accounts that quietly keep your old address on file.
Tell your employer so your payroll, tax slips, and benefits paperwork reach you. Update your subscriptions and deliveries, including meal kits, magazines, and anything on a recurring shipment, because those parcels do not redirect themselves. Fix the saved shipping address in your online shopping accounts, or your next big order ships straight to your former doorstep. Refresh your streaming and app billing addresses, your loyalty and rewards programs, your gym membership, and any professional associations or alumni groups you belong to.
None of these are urgent on their own. Together, they are the reason mail keeps trickling to your old place for a year.
The safety net: Canada Post mail forwarding
Even the most organized mover forgets someone. That is what Canada Post's mail forwarding service is for. For a set period, it redirects mail from your old address to your new one, giving you a buffer so that the one company you overlooked still reaches you. Think of it as insurance for your mailbox while you work through the rest of this list. Set it up to start on or just before your move date.
A simple timeline so it does not pile up
Spread the work out and it never becomes overwhelming.
Two to four weeks before the move: book utilities and internet for the new place, set up Canada Post mail forwarding, and notify your bank, insurance, and employer.
The week of the move: update ICBC, your BC Services Card, the CRA, and Service Canada, and confirm your utility start and stop dates.
The first week after: work through the everyday accounts, the subscriptions, the loyalty programs, and the saved online addresses while you settle in.
Where the right movers save you the headache
A move has two halves. One is the paperwork above. The other is physically getting your life from point A to point B without losing a vacation day or a damaged TV in the process, and that is the half worth handing to professionals.
Booking an experienced residential moving team means your belongings are wrapped, padded, and moved by people who do this every day, so you can spend your energy on the checklist instead of the stairs. If your move-in date does not line up with your move-out date, secure climate-controlled storage holds your things safely in between, so you are never rushing or cramming boxes into a friend's basement. Dreading the packing? Professional packing services handle it in a fraction of the time, with proper materials so fragile items arrive in one piece. And if you own a piano or another oversized item, specialty and piano moving gets it done safely without a single scratch on your new doorway.
Let the crew carry the couch while you carry the to-do list.
Make your move the easy part
You have the full list now, so nothing will reach your old address by accident. The next step is the move itself, and that is the part you do not have to do alone. Get a free moving estimate from a team with decades of experience and tens of thousands of moves behind them, and turn moving day into the smoothest part of your whole relocation.
Book your move today and start your new chapter in the right place, with everyone already in the loop.
Frequently asked questions
Who do I legally have to notify when I move in BC?
At minimum, update ICBC within 10 days for your driver's licence, BCID, vehicle registration, and Autoplan insurance, and keep your BC Services Card and health coverage current. The CRA and Service Canada should also be updated so your benefits and tax mail follow you.
Is there a fast way to change my address with the BC government?
Yes. The province offers an online change of address service that updates several provincial records at once, which saves you from contacting each one individually.
How long do I have to update my driver's licence after moving?
You are required to notify ICBC within 10 days of moving, and your driver's licence, BCID, and insurance must show your current home address.
Should I use Canada Post mail forwarding?
It is a smart safety net. Forwarding redirects mail from your old address for a set period, so the accounts you forget still reach you while you finish updating everything.
When should I set up utilities for my new place?
Two to four weeks before your move is ideal, especially for internet and TV installation, since appointment slots fill up quickly around the first of the month.