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Health Card Registration (Inscription carte santé)

Register for public health insurance and get your provincial health card after moving to a Canadian province: check eligibility and any waiting period, gather original documents, apply in person or online, and find a family doctor.

Curated by Raaya · Last reviewed Oct 2026

Steps

  1. Check eligibility and waiting period in your province

    1 day

    Health insurance is run by each province and territory, so the rules depend on where you live. Citizens, permanent residents and some temporary residents can qualify once they make the province their home.

    Ontario (OHIP): there is no longer a waiting period; you can apply as soon as you arrive. You must make Ontario your primary place of residence and be physically present 153 days in any 12-month period (or 153 of your first 183 days). Work permit holders generally need full-time work for an Ontario employer for at least 6 months.

    British Columbia (MSP): coverage starts after the rest of the month you arrive plus two months. Quebec (RAMQ): coverage usually starts after a waiting period of up to 3 months, with exceptions such as children under 18 and people from countries with a social security agreement. Alberta (AHCIP): if you move from another province, coverage starts on the first day of the third month after you establish residence.

    Tip: Apply in your first days in the province, even if a waiting period applies.

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  2. Gather original documents (Pièces d'identité)

    2 days

    Provinces ask for original documents; photocopies and photos on a phone are usually refused. In Ontario you need one document from each of three groups: proof of citizenship or OHIP-eligible immigration status (Canadian passport, birth certificate, PR card, Confirmation of Permanent Residence or work permit), proof of Ontario residency (for example a lease, utility bill, bank statement or employer letter with your name and Ontario address), and proof of identity with your signature (for example a passport or driver's licence).

    Temporary residents should also bring a letter from their employer confirming full-time employment and duration, as the work permit alone may not show it.

    Other provinces use similar categories; British Columbia completes enrolment at an ICBC driver licensing office, where you show primary and secondary ID and get the BC Services Card photo taken.

    Tip: Check that your name is spelled exactly the same way on every document; mismatches are a common reason applications are sent back.

    Valid passport (Passeport)Permanent Resident Card or COPR (Carte de résident permanent)Work permit and employer letter (temporary residents)Proof of residency (lease, utility bill or bank statement)Driver's licence (Permis de conduire)
    Attach my documents

  3. Requirements checklist (Liste des exigences)

    1 day

    Run through this checklist the day before you apply so your visit is not wasted. Each province publishes its own accepted-document list; use the one for your province.

    If your province has a waiting period, or if your status is temporary, arrange private health insurance from the day you arrive. RAMQ, for example, strongly recommends buying private insurance within 5 days of arriving in Quebec, because care during the waiting period is not reimbursed.

    Tip: Put all originals in one folder the night before; forgetting one document group means a second trip.

    • Confirm you meet your province's residency and presence rules
    • Pick one original from each required document group (status, residency, identity)
    • Bring an employer letter if you hold a work permit
    • Make sure the residency document shows your name and current provincial address
    • Buy private health insurance to cover any waiting period
    • Gather documents for each family member who is applying
    Valid passport (Passeport)Permanent Resident Card or COPR (Carte de résident permanent)Work permit and employer letter (temporary residents)Proof of residency (lease, utility bill or bank statement)Private health insurance policy (waiting period)
    Attach my documents

  4. Start your application online where available

    1 day

    Some provinces let you start or complete registration online. In British Columbia you can apply for MSP through the online BC Application for Health and Drug Coverage, then finish at ICBC to get your BC Services Card. In Quebec, Canadian citizens and permanent residents can in most cases register with RAMQ online, then receive instructions for the photo and signature. Alberta lets you submit the application form at a registry agent, with processing that can take up to 5 days.

    In Ontario, applications for a first health card are made in person at a ServiceOntario centre.

    British Columbia eliminated MSP premiums in 2020, so there are no monthly payments for basic coverage.

    Tip: Save the confirmation or application number from any online form; you will need it when you visit the office.

  5. Apply in person at ServiceOntario (Rendez-vous)

    1 day

    Go to a ServiceOntario centre that offers health card services and apply in person. Many centres let you book an appointment online, which avoids long waits; others take walk-ins. Staff check your documents, take your photo and signature, and you complete the Registration for Ontario Health Coverage form.

    In other provinces, go to the office your province uses: an ICBC driver licensing office in British Columbia, a registry agent in Alberta, or follow RAMQ's instructions in Quebec.

    Keep the paper receipt or temporary document you receive; it shows your health number or application, and clinics may accept it until the card arrives.

    Tip: Bring each family member who is applying; adults usually must attend in person for their own photo and signature.

    Where
    ServiceOntario centre (ICBC in BC, registry agent in Alberta, RAMQ in Quebec) · Bring original proof of status, proof of residency and proof of identity for each applicant, plus an employer letter if you hold a work permit. Photo and signature are taken on site.
    Valid passport (Passeport)Permanent Resident Card or COPR (Carte de résident permanent)Work permit and employer letter (temporary residents)Proof of residency (lease, utility bill or bank statement)Driver's licence (Permis de conduire)
    Attach my documents

  6. Travel to the service centre

    1 day

    Plan your trip to the service centre. Check the location's hours and services on the provincial locator before you leave, since not every location offers health card services, and some close early on certain days.

    Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your appointment with all original documents in one folder. If you are walking in, the shortest lines are usually mid-morning on weekdays and mid-month.

    If you cannot get there, ask whether the province offers alternatives such as mobile service for remote communities.

    Tip: Use the ServiceOntario location finder filter for health card services; general ServiceOntario kiosks cannot issue a first health card.

  7. Watch for your health card in the mail

    30 days

    Your card is mailed to the address you gave. Timing depends on the province; if it has not arrived after several weeks, contact the issuing office with your application details. Newborn cards in Ontario, for example, are mailed within 8 weeks.

    When it arrives, sign it if required, check your name, date of birth and expiry date, and store your health number somewhere safe. Show it every time you get insured care.

    If you move, you must update your address with the province; in Ontario this can be done online. If you leave the province for a long period, check the rules on absences, because long stays outside the province can affect coverage.

    Tip: Do not laminate or punch your card, and report a lost card right away; your health number can be misused.

  8. Find a family doctor (Médecin de famille)

    1 day

    Once you have a health number, register with your province's waitlist for a family doctor or nurse practitioner. In Ontario this is Health Care Connect, in British Columbia the Health Connect Registry, and in Quebec the Guichet d'accès à un médecin de famille (GAMF). Wait times can be long, so register early.

    Until you are matched, use walk-in clinics, virtual care offered by your province, and the free health advice phone line (811 in most provinces) for non-emergency questions.

    Ask your provincial plan what is not covered; prescription drugs, dental care and eye exams for most adults are often not included, so check your workplace benefits and federal or provincial programs.

    Tip: Some clinics take new patients directly; ask nearby clinics while you wait on the provincial list.

Documents you'll need

Valid passport (Passeport)Accepted as proof of identity with signature and, for Canadian passports, proof of citizenship. Bring the original.
Permanent Resident Card or COPR (Carte de résident permanent)Proof of OHIP-eligible immigration status for permanent residents. A Confirmation of Permanent Residence is accepted if your card has not arrived.
Work permit and employer letter (temporary residents)Temporary residents prove eligibility with a valid permit; in Ontario work permit holders need full-time work for an Ontario employer for at least 6 months.
Proof of residency (lease, utility bill or bank statement)Must show your name and current address in the province. Check your province's list of accepted residency documents.
Driver's licence (Permis de conduire)A provincial driver's licence can serve as proof of identity with signature; foreign licences may not be accepted as residency proof.
Private health insurance policy (waiting period)Covers you until public coverage starts in provinces with a waiting period, such as Quebec and British Columbia. Buy it from the day you arrive.

Official sources

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General guidance, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change; confirm with the official source before you act.

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