Moving to Ottawa

Here are a few tips and tricks to make the transition to Ottawa smoother. Not all categories below apply to everyone.

See our Housing and Neighbourhoods pages for more info!

If you are moving >40 km closer to work, then keep all receipts related to your move. The full listings of what is eligible and ineligible to be claimed are available through the Canada Revenue Agency’s website.
If signing with a moving company, ensure you read the contract carefully for clear terms regarding broken items, missing items, and delayed delivery.
Consider additional insurance if insurance is not included in your moving contract.

Exchange your licence in person at any DriveTest location within 60 days of moving to Ontario. Eligible valid drivers’ licences for exchange include any Canadian province, the USA, the armed forces, or certain other countries (click here for further information).
Further details about what is required for the application is available here including what to bring to the DriveTest office. There is a $90 fee.

COVID-19 update: Some ServiceOntario centres are closed. Check the Service Finder to see when and where a service is available near you.
Application must be done in person at a ServiceOntario office.
You must complete the registration form for OHIP coverage and bring 3 different forms of ID:
- (i) birth certificate/permanent resident card
- (ii) driver’s licence/income tax assessment
- (iii) credit card/passport
Note that Quebec residents may be charged extra fees for bloodwork or physician visits due to nonreciprocal agreements between Ontario and Quebec.
For full details on the OHIP application click here.

Types of insurance you should consider/need during residency include auto, life, disability, tenant, and property insurance. It is best to shop around to find a good deal.
The New Hire package sent to you by the UOttawa Paymaster includes information on:
- Extended Health and Dental (Manulife, paid by employer)
- Group Life (Sun Life, paid by employer)
- Long Term Disability (Desjardins, paid by employee)
The OMA has discounted offers for all members and is a good starting point for quotes.
A few options for companies:

COVID-19 update: Some ServiceOntario centres are closed. Check the Service Finder to see when and where a service is available near you.
If you are purchasing a new vehicle or are from out of province, then you can register your vehicle online or in person at your local ServiceOntario office. There is a $59 fee.
You must have proof of insurance from an insurance provider licensed in Ontario.
Many vehicles in Ontario need both Safety Inspections and Vehicle Emissions Testing. The MTO (Ministry of Transportation Ontario) annually publishes which vehicles require repeat emissions testing (usually vehicles older than 7 years).
License plates in Ontario consist of a plate fee (flat rate at time of registration) and a “sticker” fee that can be purchased for 1 or 2 year time frames. The sticker is placed directly on the license plate.

Some of the contacts you should update with your new mailing address are:

Ottawa Resiliency