Renew 
online

Renew using your driver’s licence or Ontario Photo Card 

$0 fee

The renewed card will be mailed to you in approximately 4 to 6 weeks

Valid for 5 years

You must renew your health card every 5 years

Renew online

Renew your health card

Renew your health card online using your valid driver’s licence or valid Ontario Photo Card as proof of identity and residency in Ontario. Your driver’s licence or Ontario Photo Card will not be renewed as part of this transaction.

Check if you are eligible to renew your health card online.

Make sure you have:

  1. your most recent health card
  2. your current driver’s licence (not suspended, expired or cancelled), or your current Ontario Photo Card (not expired or cancelled)
  3. a printer to print your temporary documents

Renew your health card

Reminder: It’s important that you download, print and carry the temporary document(s).

Manage your health card with an account

Create an account with ServiceOntario that can:

  • manage your Ontario products and services
  • view a history of your orders
  • get notifications and alerts

Create or log in to an account

Renew both health card and driver’s licence

You may be able to renew both your health card and driver’s licence if they expire at the same time and you don’t need a new photo/signature.

Check if you are eligible to renew your health card online.

Make sure you have:

  1. your most recent health card
  2. your current driver’s licence (not suspended, expired or cancelled)
  3. a valid Visa or Mastercard (to pay the fee if you renew your driver’s licence at the same time)
  4. a printer to print your temporary document

Renew health card and driver's licence

Reminder: It’s important that you download, print and carry the temporary document(s).

Sign up for renewal reminders     
Never forget to renew again!

Sign up to get free reminders by email, text message, or phone call when it's time to renew your health card.

Renew in-person

When you go to the centre, bring the following with you:

You may be required to provide additional documents to confirm Ontario is your primary place of residence if your health card is already expired and/or you have been out of the province for more than 7 months in the last 12-month period.

You may be able to book an appointment ahead of your visit.

Find a ServiceOntario centre

You may also be able to renew your health card through a virtual appointment with a ServiceOntario customer service representative. Learn more about virtual appointments.

Signatures with "add-on statements" or illustrations will not be accepted. If your signature has not been accepted, you will need to correct your signature before you can receive your new health card.

The examples below are considered ‘add-ons’ and are not accepted:

  • “I hereby certify…”
  • “Without prejudice…”
  • “All rights reserved per…”
  • “Freeman on the Land”
  • “Sovereign Citizens”
  • ©
  • ®
  • ♥

Cost and delivery

Canada Post strike 
Visit ontario.ca/Mail to learn about impacted programs and potential delays.

Renewing an Ontario health card is free.

The renewed card will be mailed to you in approximately 4 to 6 weeks.

Renewal for children under 15 ½

Submit your renewal application online

If you have a child under 15 ½ years old, in most cases you will be able to renew his or her health card by mail. The renewal notice you received in the mail will give you your next steps.

You may be able to submit the application online if the child:

  • was born in Ontario and has an Ontario birth certificate
  • has a valid Ontario health card expiring within 90 days
  • has an up-to-date address with ServiceOntario

Complete and submit the application online

Manage your child's health card with an account

Create an account with ServiceOntario that can:

  • manage your Ontario products and services
  • view a history of your orders
  • get notifications and alerts

Create or log in to an account

Renew by mail

If you have a child under 15 ½ years old, in most cases you will be able to renew his or her health card by mail. The renewal notice you received in the mail will give you your next steps.

Renew in-person

If your child’s renewal notice says you need to visit a ServiceOntario centre, bring three original documents from the Ontario Health Coverage Document List:

  • your child’s most recent citizenship or immigration document (such as an Ontario birth certificate)
  • one to prove your residency in Ontario (such as an Ontario driver’s licence)
  • one to prove your identity (such as a credit card)

Here is a complete list of acceptable documents.

Note: your child does not need to be with you.  

Lost renewal reminder

If you have lost the renewal reminder, you can print another copy of the form.

For lost return address envelopes, you may instead mail a copy of the form in a regular plain envelope addressed to:

ServiceOntario     
PO Box 48     
Kingston, ON K7L 5J3

Renewals for youth over 15 ½

Renew in-person

If you’re over 15½ years old, you must renew your Ontario health card in person.

Visit a ServiceOntario centre with two original documents from the Ontario Health Coverage Document List:

  • one to prove your residency in Ontario (such as an Ontario driver’s licence)
  • one to prove your identity (such as a credit card)

If your Canadian Citizenship or immigration status has changed since you received your current health card, you also need to bring your most recent Citizenship or immigration document.

Renewal for seniors over 80

Renew by mail

In most cases, you can renew a health card by mail. The renewal reminder will confirm if this option is available to you and will give you your next steps.

Renew in-person

If your renewal notice says you need to visit a ServiceOntario centre.

Bring two original documents from the Ontario Health Coverage Document List with you:

  • one to prove your residency in Ontario (such as an Ontario driver’s licence)
  • one to prove your identity (such as a credit card)

If your Canadian Citizenship or immigration status has changed since you got your current health card, you also need to bring your most recent Citizenship or immigration document.

Lost renewal reminder

If you have lost your renewal reminder, you can print another copy of the form.

For lost return address envelopes, you may instead mail a copy of the form in a regular plain envelope addressed to:

ServiceOntario
PO Box 48     
Kingston, ON K7L 5J3

ServiceOntario virtual appointments for health card renewals

ServiceOntario is now offering  virtual appointments to renew health cards.

A virtual appointment is a video call with a ServiceOntario customer service representative to help you renew your health card from home, without visiting in-person at a ServiceOntario centre.

This virtual appointment pilot service is currently available if your health card is not expired yet and you:

Further requirements may apply. Call ServiceOntario to learn more about virtual appointments.

Medical exemptions

If you cannot visit a ServiceOntario centre for a medical reason, you must have a licenced Ontario physician or nurse practitioner complete a Health Card Medical Exemption Request form.

You can submit a health card medical exemption request to renew your health card:

  • by having someone visit ServiceOntario on your behalf
  • by mail

Call ServiceOntario if you have any questions about renewing your health card with a medical exemption.

Renew in-person on someone’s behalf

The completed medical exemption form, along with your required original proof of identity and proof of residency documents and your completed renewal form, can be brought into a ServiceOntario centre by someone else on your behalf to renew your health card in-person.

Find a ServiceOntario centre

You may be able to book an appointment ahead of your visit.

Mail a health card medical exemption request form

To submit a medical exemption request form to renew your health card by mail, send us your documents by registered mail (Canada Post) or courier, including your:

ServiceOntario     
49 Place D'Armes
PO BOX 48
Kingston ON K7L 5J3

When your health card renewal has been completed, ServiceOntario will mail your new health card and original documents to you.

Call ServiceOntario to learn more about renewing your health card with a medical exemption by mail.

Request accessibility accommodations

ServiceOntario is committed to ensuring our services are accessible.

Please let us know what you need 2-3 days before your visit. We will work with you to determine the type of accommodation we can provide. This can include a sign language interpreter.

Please call us or send us an e-mail.

Do you need a photo?

You will need to visit a ServiceOntario centre and get your photo taken if:

  • you are replacing your red and white health card
  • your photo is 5 years or older (excluding medical exemption)
  • you are turning 16 years old
  • you are renewing in-person
  • you are making a change to your name
  • you received a notice in the mail from ServiceOntario

Replace a lost or stolen health card

Online renewal eligibility

You may be able to renew your health card online if you have:

  • a valid Ontario photo health card that 
    • will expire within 90 days, or expired on or after December 1, 2019, and 
    • has an up-to-date photo and signature
    • has an up-to-date address with ServiceOntario 
      • you cannot renew your health card online within 90 days of changing your address with ServiceOntario

If you are between 75 and 80, you have to renew your health card in-person at your nearest ServiceOntario centre to take a new photo. If you are 80 or older, you can also renew your health card by mail. Learn more about health card and driver’s licence renewals for seniors over 80.

To renew online, you must have a valid driver’s licence or Ontario Photo Card to prove your identity and that you live in Ontario.

  • a valid driver’s licence that 
    • is not suspended, cancelled, or expired
    • does not require a test
    • has an up-to-date photo and signature 
    • has an up-to-date address with ServiceOntario 
  • or a valid Ontario Photo Card (not expired or cancelled)

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