Moving to Ontario: health card, driver's licence and taxes

The first steps after arriving in Ontario: health coverage, driver's licence, sales tax, online accounts and benefits.

1. Health card. Apply to the provincial plan: OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan). Keep your previous coverage until the new one starts, since there can be a waiting period.
2. Driver's licence and vehicle. Licences and registration are handled by ServiceOntario / Ministry of Transportation. There is a deadline to exchange an out-of-province licence and re-register a vehicle.
3. Taxes. Sales tax in Ontario: HST 13%. For income tax, the province where you live on December 31 applies for the whole year. Update your address with the CRA.
4. Benefits. File a tax return even with little income: federal and provincial benefits are calculated from it and follow you to your new province.
5. Housing and work. See our guides on renting and working in Ontario.

Official government site ↗ · Source: Canada Revenue Agency, GST/HST rates ↗, read on 2026-11-13.

Online accounts to set up

• ServiceOntario online — Renew a driver's licence, health card or licence plate and order certificates.

Federal accounts explained →

Programs to know about

• Ontario Child Benefit — Monthly amount for low- to moderate-income families, paid together with the CCB.
• GAINS — Monthly top-up for low-income seniors who receive OAS and GIS.
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) — Income and employment support for people with disabilities.
• Ontario Drug Benefit, OHIP+ and Trillium Drug Program — Drug coverage for seniors, people under 25 without private insurance, and households with high drug costs.
• OSAP — Ontario's single application for federal and provincial student grants and loans.

General information, not legal or financial advice. Figures show their source and the date they were read; confirm with the official body before making a decision.

Guides for this province

• Renting in Ontario: rights, rent increases and average rents
• Working in Ontario: minimum wage, standards and wages
• Moving to Ontario: health card, driver's licence and taxes
• Cost of living in Ontario: prices, rent, wages and taxes
• Buying a home in Ontario: land transfer tax, rebates and first-time buyer help
• Health care in Ontario: health card, drug plans and dental help
• Studying in Ontario: tuition, student aid and grants
• Seniors in Ontario: pensions, supplements and programs
• Taxes in Ontario: income tax rates, sales tax and take-home pay (2026)
• Families in Ontario: child benefits and family programs
• Immigrating to Ontario: nominee program, steps and processing times