Renew a health card
Learn how to renew an Ontario health card. You need a valid card to get coverage through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).
$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
Notice: Service Interruption
Due to scheduled maintenance this online service will be temporarily unavailable Sunday, December 8, 2:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience.
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:
- your most recent health card
- your current driver’s licence (not suspended, expired or cancelled), or your current Ontario Photo Card (not expired or cancelled)
- a printer to print your temporary documents
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:
- your most recent health card
- your current driver’s licence (not suspended, expired or cancelled)
- a valid Visa or Mastercard (to pay the fee if you renew your driver’s licence at the same time)
- 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:
- your current health card
- proof of your Ontario residency and personal identity
- check Ontario Health Coverage Document List for acceptable documents
- if your Canadian Citizenship or immigration status has changed since receiving your current health card, bring your most recent Citizenship or immigration document
- your marriage certificate, if you are applying under your married name for the first time
- optional: a printed health card renewal form, if you have one
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.
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:
- have a permanent photo and signature exemption, or
- are 18 years of age or older and have a valid photo health card that does not require a new photo and signature
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.
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:
- completed original request form
- required original documents to show proof of identity and proof of residency
- completed health card renewal form
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)