Health card renewal

Renew online

You may be able to renew your health card online either:

• together with your driver’s licence 
• by using your Ontario Photo Card 

Learn more about the eligibility requirements to renew your health card online.

Renew with your driver's licence

If you are renewing your health card online with your valid driver’s licence, 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, Mastercard or Interac® Online (for your driver’s licence renewal fee)
4. a printer to print your temporary documents

Renew your health card and driver’s licence online

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

Renew using your Ontario Photo Card

If you are renewing your health card online using your valid Ontario Photo Card, make sure you have:

1. your most recent health card
2. your current Ontario Photo Card (not expired or cancelled)
3. a printer to print your temporary document

Renew your health card using your Ontario Photo Card

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

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

Find a ServiceOntario centre

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

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

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

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

Medical exemptions

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

The completed form, along with your required documents, must be brought into a ServiceOntario centre by someone else on your behalf to finish the renewal.

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 10 years or older
• 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

• Learn more about how to replace a lost, stolen or damaged 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
• 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)

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.

Related

• Replace, cancel or change information on your health card
• First-time health card
• Register, check or update your organ donor consent online
• Coverage for travelling