I changed my legal name. What documents do I have to update?
NewUpdated August 7After you change your legal name in Ontario, your identity documents and personal records are not automatically updated.
To update your name with government agencies and other organizations, you must contact them and update your information using their process.
You can usually use the change of name certificate that the Ontario government sends you after you apply to change your name. You may also need to submit other supporting documents.
Gender marker
If you changed your gender marker, you can use your updated birth certificate to update your gender marker on most of your other identity documents and personal records. You may also need to submit other supporting documents.
But for some identity documents and personal records, you do not need an updated birth certificate to change your gender marker. For example, to change your gender marker to X on your Ontario driver's licence or photo card, you do not need any supporting documents.
Get help
Call ServiceOntario if you need help changing your name on your Ontario identity documents.
Call the Government of Canada's general information line if you need help changing your name on Government of Canada identity documents.
There are also organizations that help people change their legal name and gender marker on identity documents.
Checklist
Here's a list of government agencies and other organizations you may need to contact to update your name. Each link goes to a page that explains how to update your information on that identity document, or with that government agency or organization.
Some people find it easiest to update their Government of Ontario identity documents first, as they're usually processed faster than the Government of Canada ones.
The list also includes legal documents and other records that you may also want to update.
Government of Ontario records
You will want to update the following records with ServiceOntario:
- your Ontario driver's licence or photo card, if you have one, and
- your Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card
And if you own a vehicle, such as a car or truck, you must update your name on your Ontario vehicle permit with ServiceOntario within 6 days of getting your change of name certificate.
If you're getting income support, you can talk to your caseworker to update your information with Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) or Ontario Works (OW).
Government of Canada records
You must update your name on your Social Insurance Number (SIN) record within 60 days of changing your legal name.
You should also update your name with the Canada Revenue Agency.
If you receive services from the Government of Canada, you should update your name with each program or department. You can call the Government of Canada's general information line to learn how to update your information with programs like:
- Employment Insurance (EI)
- Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
- Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
- Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)
- Old Age Security (OAS)
You apply to Service Canada for a new passport to update your name and gender marker on your Canadian passport.
Travel outside Canada
If you're a person changing your legal name or gender marker, think about your safety when travelling abroad. Research the situation in every country you want to travel to or transit through. Read the Government of Canada travel advisory and contact a country's embassy or consulate for more information.
X gender marker
Government agencies and organizations in other countries might not accept a passport with X as a gender marker. You might not be allowed to enter certain countries using a passport with X as a gender marker.
You apply to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada:
- to update the name on your Canadian citizenship certificate or card
- for a new permanent resident (PR) card with your updated name and gender marker
You apply to Indigenous Services Canada to update the name and gender marker on your Status Card.
Other organizations and records
You may also want to update your information in other areas of your life. This list provides some examples:
- Health care – your health professionals such as your doctor, dentist, pharmacist, psychologist, therapist, or social worker, and your insurance company if you have extended health benefits
- Finance – your banks, credit card companies, credit bureaus, such as Equifax and TransUnion, your home, auto, and life insurance company, and other financial institutions you deal with, for example, to get a loan
- Work – your employers and professional regulatory bodies you may be licensed with, for example, the College of Nurses of Ontario if you're a nurse in Ontario
- Education – your school, college, or university records and transcripts, and any student loan providers, for example the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) and the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
- Home – lease agreement and apartment or condo records, your landlord, property titles, municipal property tax records, mortgage lender
- Utilities – utilities companies for things like your hydro, gas, phone or cell phone, internet, and cable tv
You should update your name with Elections Ontario, Elections Canada, and your municipality's voter list for a municipal election.
If you're a parent, you may want to update your name on your child's birth certificate. The 519 has a guide for doing this.
You may want to update your will and powers of attorney.
You may want to update your:
- Métis Nation government citizenship card,
- your enrolment under an Inuit land claim agreement, or
- citizenship with an Inuit government.
And you can update subscriptions and memberships like your gym memberships, library cards, streaming services, and rewards programs. You may also want to update online shopping platforms that have your personal information saved.