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Service Canada mails proof-of-life and income attestation forms to the address on your record, usually once a year in the late summer or fall.
If you have moved and never updated it, the form goes to the old address, you do not respond, and your payment is suspended on the next scheduled date. The cascade is fast: one missed form, one missed deadline, one missed payment cycle.
The fix is under 10 minutes and free, and most recipients never see another suspension once the record is corrected.
Three methods to update your address
Online is the fastest and most reliable. Phone is the second fastest.
In-person is the slowest but the most thorough if you have other questions, or if your file is in an unusual state (a pending suspension, an open verification request, or a recent marital change).
For most readers, the online method completes the update in under five minutes and produces an on-screen confirmation that can be saved or printed for your records.
| Method | Time required | Confirmation |
|---|---|---|
| My Service Canada Account (online) | 5 minutes | Immediate on-screen + email |
| Phone 1-800-277-9914 | 10-15 minutes | Same call |
| In-person Service Canada Centre | 30-60 minutes including travel | Printed receipt |
Online
Log into My Service Canada Account at canada.ca, navigate to Personal information → Update mailing address, enter the new address, confirm, and submit. The change is immediate; the confirmation screen appears within seconds and a follow-up email is sent to the address on file.
Phone
Call 1-800-277-9914 (8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Mon to Fri) with your SIN and OAS or GIS number. The agent reads the current address, confirms the change, and gives a reference number at the end of the call.
In-person
Visit any Service Canada Centre with photo ID and proof of the new address (a utility bill, a lease, or a bank statement dated within the last 30 days). No appointment is required.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most common errors in 2026:
- Updating only the CRA address — Service Canada keeps its own record, separate from the tax-side record maintained by the Canada Revenue Agency.
- Forgetting a spouse’s record — if both receive OAS or GIS, each recipient has a separate file.
- Assuming a forwarded letter counts — it does not, and the response window expires regardless of forwarding.
- Waiting until a form has already gone to the wrong address — if you receive a letter at the wrong address, do not forward it. Contact Service Canada directly and request that a new form be mailed to the correct address before the deadline.
Next step in the guide
If your form arrives at the wrong address or the amount is not what you expected, the address may not be the only issue. The most common pattern in 2026 is a record mismatch after a separation, a spouse’s death, or a bank account change.
The next step covers the most common mismatch after address: the direct deposit. See the 2026 update on OAS and GIS direct deposit changes →
How long does it take for an address update to take effect?
Can I update my address by mail?
Do I need to update the CRA address separately?
Is this guide an official Service Canada publication?
Independent guide. Not affiliated with Service Canada or the Government of Canada. All figures are estimates for 2026 and may change quarterly. Confirm current procedures on the official site at canada.ca/service-canada before acting on any information here. Procedures, deadlines, and form names can be updated at any time without notice.