Get the one-page Change of Address Notification (COAN) form from Canada Post/Canada Postes at any post office or online (www.smartmoves.ca). Have information about your move, addresses and contacts ready and a current government-issued photo ID with you in person or the information from it online.
Complete the same form for residential and commercial customers who need permanent or temporary mail redirection.
Plan to pay a minimum six months for permanent redirection and three months for temporary changes.
List up to four individuals per form as long as their old and new addresses are the same.
Base your fees on the time requested for mail redirection, the type of customer and the destination.
Residential customers who wanted permanent forwarding in 2009 paid CDN $39 for six months and $69 for a year to an address in the same province. The fees for a Canadian address were CDN $138/$245. Forwarding outside the country cost CDN $110/$196.
Businesses permanently redirected mail in 2009 for CDN $120 for six months and $214 for a year inside the province; CDN $138/$245 within Canada and CDN $250/$445 outside Canada.
For a minimum of three months, residential customers paid CDN $36 (plus $12 per additional month) for temporary forwarding within the province in 2009, CDN $42 ($14/mo) in Canada and CDN $69 ($23/mo) for outside the country.
Business customers redirected mail temporarily for CDN $78 a month for inside the province, CDN $90/mo outside the province and CDN $180/mo outside Canada in 2009.
Applying for mail redirection during summer break cost schools CDN $175 in 2009.
Pay at post offices in cash or by check (certified check for residential customers, business check for businesses), credit, or debit card or money order (CDN $4.95 for Canada and the US, $5.50 for the UK and $6 elsewhere). Check with your local post office to see which method they accept.
Pay online applications by credit card only.
Check the box on the COAN form and the post office will send your new address to businesses and organizations that have your old one (www.smartmoves.ca).
Receive the current issue of the Guide for Your New Home magazine, which contains information on your new location.
Relocating for less than three months may mean the hold mail option is better for you.
In 2009, Canada Post charged residential customers CDN $7.50 per week (minimum of 10 days) and businesses $6.75/wk (minimum 5 days) for this service.
