Chapter 11 · Topic 11.3 · Phone & Mail
Mail forwarding from Canada to Florida — Canada Post & options
Setting up Canada Post mail forwarding before you leave ensures bills, cheques, and important letters follow you to Florida. This guide covers the setup process, cost, limitations, and smarter alternatives.
Direct answer · 60-second summary
The 60-second version
Canada Post mail forwarding costs approximately $85–$125 CAD for a 2–6 month period and forwards first-class mail and periodicals to any US address. It does NOT automatically forward parcels over 1 kg or registered mail. Set up at canadapost.ca or at your local post office, effective within 5 business days. Smarter long-term strategy: update your most important senders (CRA, bank, insurance) directly to your Florida address or use a virtual US mailbox for year-round management. Also request a Canada Post mail hold (free, up to 30 days) for short absences when forwarding is not needed.
Acronyms used in this guide
- CRA — Canada Revenue Agency (update your address via CRA My Account)
- USPS — United States Postal Service
- Informed Delivery — Free USPS email service previewing incoming mail envelopes
Canada Post mail forwarding service
Canada Post offers a mail forwarding service that redirects your first-class letter mail and addressed admail from your Canadian address to any domestic or international address, including a US Florida address. This is the simplest option for the first snowbird season and requires no changes to who has your address on file.
Cost
- 2 months: approximately $85 CAD
- 4 months: approximately $105 CAD
- 6 months: approximately $125 CAD
- An additional parcel forwarding option may be available for extra cost
How to set up
- Visit canadapost.ca → "Mail holds and redirects" → "Redirect mail"
- Provide your current Canadian address, your Florida delivery address, and start/end dates
- Pay by credit card or at a post office
- Allow 5 business days for the redirect to take effect
What gets forwarded — and what does not
The service forwards letter-size mail, flats (large envelopes), and addressed periodicals (magazines). It does NOT forward: Canada Post parcels over a certain size (check current terms); registered mail; courier shipments; unaddressed admail (flyers); government-issued ID documents. For important government correspondence, update your address directly at the source.
The smarter long-term approach
Mail forwarding is a convenient bridge for the first season, but experienced snowbirds transition to giving their Florida address directly to key senders:
- CRA (Canada Revenue Agency): update at canada.ca/cra-my-account or call 1-800-959-8281. CRA will mail T4s, benefit statements, and correspondence to your Florida address.
- Canadian bank: most Canadian banks allow you to set a seasonal mailing address; call or use online banking.
- Insurance providers: home, auto, and life insurance policies should have your contact address updated.
- Subscriptions: update delivery address for any magazines, newspapers, or subscription boxes you want to continue receiving.
Canada Post mail hold
For short absences (up to 30 days), Canada Post offers a free mail hold service — your mail is held at your local post office for pickup when you return. Request at canadapost.ca or at your post office. This avoids mail piling up in your mailbox if you travel briefly before the snowbird season officially begins. Note: this service is free but limited to 30 days maximum.
Trusted neighbor or property manager
Even with mail forwarding active, designate a trusted neighbor or property manager to check your Canadian address periodically. Mail forwarding misses some items, and unexpected deliveries (registered mail, oversized packages, courier items) will be left at the door or returned to sender. A neighbor checking every 2–3 weeks prevents missed deliveries and visible signs of absence.
Sources
Every figure, rate, threshold, and deadline in this guide is drawn from a verifiable primary source listed at the bottom of the page. The article is updated whenever the underlying rules change, with a fresh review date stamped at the top.
Disclaimer — Educational purpose only
This guide is for educational purposes only. Figures, rules, and procedures are drawn from public sources as of the date shown and may change without notice.
For any concrete decision, consult a licensed professional in the relevant jurisdiction — attorney, accountant, insurance broker.