Moving to a new home in British Columbia means updating your address in more places than most people expect. One of the first steps is setting up mail forwarding through Canada Post so that letters and parcels sent to your old address still reach you while you work through the full list of updates.
This guide covers exactly how Canada Post mail forwarding works, how to set it up, what it costs, how long it lasts, and — just as importantly — which senders you need to update directly regardless of whether forwarding is active.
What Is Canada Post Mail Forwarding?
Canada Post's mail forwarding service redirects mail sent to your old address to your new one. When a letter or parcel arrives at your old address, Canada Post intercepts it and delivers it to the address you registered.
This is a temporary bridge, not a permanent solution. It gives you time to notify every sender of your new address without missing anything in the meantime.
How to Set Up Mail Forwarding in BC
Option 1: Online
- Go to canadapost.ca and navigate to the mail forwarding section
- Log in or create a Canada Post account
- Enter your old address and your new address
- Select your forwarding duration (4, 8, or 12 months)
- Verify your identity — Canada Post requires identity verification to prevent misuse
- Pay the service fee
The online process takes about 10 minutes. Allow 5 to 7 business days before your move date for the service to activate.
Option 2: In Person at a Post Office
Visit any Canada Post outlet with two pieces of ID. Staff will complete the registration for you. This is useful if you have trouble with the online identity verification step.
Option 3: By Phone
Call Canada Post customer service at 1-866-607-6301. Have your old address, new address, and payment method ready.
How Much Does Mail Forwarding Cost?
Canada Post charges a fee based on the duration you select:
- 4 months — suitable for shorter transitions
- 8 months — the most common choice for a typical move
- 12 months — recommended if you have a large volume of mail or many senders to update
Check current pricing at canadapost.ca, as rates are updated periodically. The fee covers one address per registration. If multiple people at the same address are moving together, each person needs a separate registration.
How Long Does Mail Forwarding Last?
Forwarding runs for the duration you paid for — 4, 8, or 12 months. After it expires, mail addressed to your old address is no longer redirected. It may be returned to the sender or discarded depending on the type of mail.
Use the forwarding window to work through your full address update list. Do not rely on forwarding indefinitely.
What Mail Gets Forwarded — and What Does Not
Forwarded
- Personal letter mail
- Most small parcels
- Magazines and periodicals (in most cases)
- Courier items handled through Canada Post
Not Forwarded
- Mail addressed to "Occupant," "Resident," or "Current Resident"
- Government of Canada cheques (these must be updated directly with the issuing department)
- Certain registered and certified mail
- Items that require a signature at the original address
- Flyers and unaddressed admail
This is why updating senders directly is essential — forwarding does not catch everything.
Who to Update Directly (Do Not Rely on Forwarding Alone)
Even with mail forwarding active, update these senders as soon as possible after your move:
Government and Legal
- ICBC — update your driver's licence and vehicle registration address at icbc.com or an Autoplan broker. BC law requires this within 10 days of moving.
- CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) — update at canada.ca/my-cra-account or by calling 1-800-959-8281. This affects tax refunds, benefit payments, and correspondence.
- Service Canada — for EI, CPP, OAS, and other federal benefits. Update at servicecanada.gc.ca.
- BC Services Card — update at id.gov.bc.ca or a Service BC centre.
- Elections BC — update your voter registration at elections.bc.ca.
- Passport Canada — update your address on file if you have a current passport.
Financial
- Your bank and all credit card issuers
- Investment accounts and RRSP/TFSA providers
- Insurance companies (home, auto, life, health)
- Mortgage lender or property management company
Utilities and Services
- BC Hydro — update at bchydro.com or call 1-800-224-9376
- FortisBC — update at fortisbc.com if you use natural gas
- Internet and cable provider
- Cell phone provider
- Strata or property management company
Personal and Professional
- Employer (for T4 slips and payroll)
- Canada Pension Plan and benefit providers
- Subscription services (streaming, magazines, boxes)
- Online shopping accounts (Amazon, etc.)
- Loyalty and rewards programs
- Doctor, dentist, and other healthcare providers
- Children's schools and daycares
- Professional associations and licensing bodies
Tips for Managing Your Address Change
Start a list before you move. Go through your inbox and recent mail for the past three months. Every sender you identify is one less piece of mail that gets lost after forwarding expires.
Set a reminder for 30 days before forwarding ends. Review your list and confirm you have updated every sender. If you are still receiving forwarded mail at that point, those senders still have your old address on file.
Update your address on Google. If you have a Google account, update your home address in Google Maps so navigation and location-based services reflect your new home.
Notify your contacts. Send a quick message to friends and family with your new address. A group email or text takes five minutes and prevents confusion.
Check your new mailbox on day one. Confirm that mail is arriving at your new address and that the previous occupant's mail is not still being delivered there. If it is, contact Canada Post to resolve it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Setting up forwarding too late. If you submit your request the day before your move, it may not be active in time. Submit at least a week in advance.
Assuming forwarding covers everything. Government cheques, occupant mail, and some registered items are not forwarded. Update those senders directly.
Letting forwarding expire without completing your list. Once the service ends, mail goes to your old address. Set calendar reminders to finish your updates before the expiry date.
Not updating ICBC. BC law requires you to update your driver's licence address within 10 days of moving. Canada Post forwarding does not satisfy this requirement.
How This Fits Into Your Overall Moving Plan
Mail forwarding is one task in a broader address-change process. For a complete checklist of every organization you need to notify when moving in BC — including ICBC, CRA, BC Hydro, and more — read our BC address change checklist.
If you are still planning your move, our moving day checklist covers everything from the morning of your move to your first night in the new home.
When you are ready to book professional movers in Metro Vancouver, get a free quote from 4 You Moving. We serve Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond, North Vancouver, and the surrounding Lower Mainland.
Summary
Setting up Canada Post mail forwarding is straightforward and takes about 10 minutes online. Do it at least a week before your move, choose a duration that gives you enough time to update all your senders, and treat it as a safety net — not a replacement for direct address updates.
The senders that matter most — ICBC, CRA, your bank, and your employer — need to be updated directly regardless of whether forwarding is active. Use the forwarding window to work through that list systematically so nothing falls through the cracks after the service expires.
4 You Moving serves Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Call 778-200-8825 or request a free quote online.