Wondering how to open a bank account without proof of address in Canada? If you need a Canadian bank account as soon as possible, opening an account with a digital bank usually takes just a few minutes. You’ll need to provide proof of identity like a passport or driving licence, but some online banks don’t require additional proof of address.
Canadian banks that normally don’t require proof of address
You can open an account with the following digital banks that don’t normally need proof of address on top of existing ID requirements like a driver’s licence or passport.
EQ Bank. This Canada-based digital bank offers a savings account, TFSA, US dollar account, GICs and more.
Simplii Financial. Owned by CIBC, this online bank offers bank accounts, loans, mortgages, investment solutions, international money transfers and other financial products and services.
Neo Financial. An increasingly popular competitor in the digital banking space, Neo Financial offers a cashback spending card, a combined savings and spending account, online investing and mortgages.
Koho (financial services provider, not a bank). Although not technically a bank, Koho offers several prepaid Mastercards that let you earn interest on your savings and get cashback on your purchases. Spend and manage funds using Koho’s card and highly-rated mobile app like you would with a bank-issued debit card.
If you need an account primarily for sending and receiving money abroad, consider using an online money transfer service like Wise, Western Union or WorldRemit. These services support a wide variety of payment and receiving methods, and the fees for sending money internationally are low compared to banks.
Compare accounts that don’t normally require additional proof of address
How to get a bank account without proof of address
Opening a bank account is pretty straightforward. This is especially true if you go with an online bank, which is your best best if you want a simple process with minimal requirements. Here’s how it works:
Compare digital banks.Compare fees and features of digital banks that don’t normally require a proof of address on top of government-issued ID.
Go to your bank’s platform. Visit the website of the bank you want to go with, or download its mobile app.
Apply for an account. Sign up for an account — this can usually be done in a few minutes.
Begin using your account. Access your account online or via mobile app. While waiting for you card to arrive in the mail, begin using your account features.
Here’s a list of proof of address documents in Canada you can usually use when banks want to confirm your residency. Bank policies vary, so speak to a representative or check online to find out which proof of residency documents are acceptable.
Recent utility bill (phone, water, gas, electricity, cable etc.)
Recent bank statement
Recent credit card statement
Recent pay stub
Signed and dated employment letter
Driver’s licence issued in Canada
Vehicle ownership or registration document (if address is shown)
Most recent CRA Notice of Assessment
Government cheque or cheque stub (with name and address)
Statement of Old Age Security (T4A) or of Canada Pension Plan Benefits (T4AP)
Rental or mortgage agreement
Property tax receipt
Voter registration card
Insurance policy
P.O. Box rental agreement
University acceptance or enrollment letter
What ID do you need to open a bank account in Canada?
Check out the documents required to open bank account in Canada with major banks like TD, CIBC, RBC, Scotiabank, BMO and National Bank.
Bank
Required ID
TD Canada Trust
2 documents from a reliable source with your name and address or 1 valid Canadian government-issued photo ID (passport, driver’s licence or permanent resident card)
Social Insurance Number
Proof of address may be requested
CIBC
Additional proof of address not required if you can present one of the following:
Driver’s licence issued in Canada, US or UK
Canadian passport or eligible foreign passport
BC Services Card (in BC)
NEXUS card
CANPASS Air membership card
Certificate of Canadian or US Citizenship
Certification of Naturalization (not a commemorative issue)
Canadian or US Permanent Resident card
Canadian Certificate of Indian Status
Provincial or territorial health insurance card (not valid in all provinces)
Provincial/territorial identification card
Government of Canada employee ID card with name and photo
Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation (MPIC) card
A Yukon General ID Card
Canadian Firearms Licence
Provincial or Federal Police force ID
Canadian Forces ID
Correctional Services Canada ID
US Certificate of Naturalization
RBC
1 piece of government photo ID issued in Canada or
2 pieces of ID from List A or
1 piece of ID from List A and 1 from List B
List A:
Canadian Birth certificate
Canadian Citizenship Certificate
Canadian Citizenship and Immigration form IMM1000 (before June 28, 2002), IMM1442 or IMM5292
Canadian Naturalization Certificate (not a commemorative issue)
Canadian Old Age Security card
Canadian Social Insurance Number Card (issued March 31, 2014 or prior)
Provincial and territorial health insurance card (except for Ontario, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and PEI)
Canadian Social Insurance Number letter (issued after March 31, 2014)
Student card with photo issued by Canadian university or college
Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) client card with photo and signature
Credit card with your name and signature
Employee identity card with your photo
Diplomatic ID issued by Foreign Affairs
Sponsor, personally known by a RBC client or community member
Scotiabank
Valid Canada-issued government ID with your name, photo and signature.
1 valid form of ID: passport, national ID card or driver’s licence
Proof of address: utility bill (from the past 6 months and excluding mobile), tax assessment, bank statement, rental contract from your landlord
Proof of income: job letter or most recent pay slip (if employed), proof of business income generation such as bank statements, receipt books or contracts (if self-employed)
BMO
Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
Canadian Certificate of Indian Status
Driver’s licence
Canadian Firearms Licence
Government-issued ID card or document
Immigration Canada Documents: forms IMM 1000, IMM 1442, IMM 5292, or IMM 5688
NEXUS Card
Passport
Permanent Resident card
Provincial or territorial health insurance (except in Ontario, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and PEI)
Provincial/territorial ID card
If you can’t provide photo ID, BMO accepts 2 documents from a reliable source with your name, address and date of birth.
National Bank
Valid Canada-issued government ID such as:
Canadian passport
Driver’s licence
Permanent resident card
Provincial or federal identification card (excluding Quebec)
Quebec Health Insurance Card (new version)
Online applicants will need to submit a selfie and photo ID for comparison or sign into online banking for any other bank where they have an account.
Can I open a Canadian bank account from outside Canada?
Yes, it’s possible to open a Canadian bank from outside Canada if you plan to relocate to the country soon. Several major banks offer packages designed for newcomers to Canada. These come with special perks like:
Discounted or waived monthly account fees for the first year
Low or no-fee international money transfers
Discounted or waived annual fees on select credit cards
High promotional savings account interest rates
National Bank lets you open a bank account online up to 90 days before arriving in Canada.
Through the CIBC Smart Arrival program, you can open an account up to 12 months before coming to Canada if you’re travelling from an eligible country and have a valid passport as well as a unique client identifier (UCI) issued by the Government of Canada.
Another example is the Scotiabank StartRight program, which allows travellers from certain countries to register for an account up to 18 months in advance of moving to Canada.
The Canadian Bankers Association reports that eight out of 10 Canadians use online and mobile apps for most of their banking transactions. Around two-third of Canadians use a mobile app for banking. Digital banks are riding the wave of technological innovation, eliminating in-person branches, slashing overhead-related fees and making it possible to manage your money just about anytime, anywhere.
Besides an easy signup process, digital banks tend to have well-developed, easy-to-use online and mobile apps. Everything you need to do can be taken care of online, so there’s no need to go to a physical branch. No physical locations means low operating costs, which translates to low or no account fees.
Plus, digital bank accounts can be used just like traditional bank accounts. Have your income automatically deposited into your account, transfer funds between accounts and send/receive money electronically. Like major banks, digital banks in Canada are federally regulated.
Many digital financial products also charge low fees for international transactions. The EQ Bank Card (a prepaid spending card), comes with 0% foreign transaction fees. The KOHO Extra Prepaid Card only charges 0% for foreign transactions, while the KOHO Extra Prepaid Card charges 0%. The transfer fee for Simplii Financial international money transfers is $0.
If that wasn’t enough, most online financial apps come with tools that help you manage your money. This might include budgeting features, categorized spending, automatic savings plans and rounding-up features.
Open a digital banking account without proof of address
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Alternatives to opening a bank account without proof of address
You don’t necessarily need a bank account to make online purchases or send money to friends and family. If your financial needs are simple and straightforward, consider getting a prepaid card (which is like a debit card) for everyday spending.
For example, the Neo Everyday Account comes with a physical card for online and in-store purchases. But it’s not a bank account and doesn’t require additional proof of address on top of other ID requirements.
If you need to send domestic or international money transfers, consider using a transfer service provider like Western Union, Moneygram, Wise, WorldRemit or Remitly. The requirements for opening an account usually aren’t as strict as a bank account. Plus, money transfer services usually offer better exchange rates and lower fees than banks.
Bottom line
If you just arrived in Canada or just moved to a new house, getting the right documentation to open a new bank account can be a challenge. Many digital banks make it possible to open a bank account without proof of address on top of government-issued ID.
An increasingly popular alternative to traditional banks, online financial institutions tend to come with benefits like low fees and convenient money management options.
Major banks in Canada typically require proof of address to open a bank account. However, some digital banks like EQ Bank and Simplii Financial might let you open an account without proof of residency if you have valid government-issued ID like a driver's licence, passport or Canadian permanent residency card.
Banks and other financial institutions in Canada ask for proof of address to confirm the information provided on your application and to communicate with you via letter mail when necessary.
It's also helpful for complying with Canadian laws against fraud and money laundering. Having specific, detailed information about account holders helps banks and law enforcement agencies identify the source of suspicious account activity.
Like traditional banks, online-only banks are federally regulated in Canada. Deposits held in digital bank accounts are usually insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC). This means that deposits up to $100,000 CAD will be protected if the bank fails. See which banks are CDIC members here.
No, SIN cards do not show your address and cannot be used to as proof of residency. Government-issued documents that might be acceptable include driver's licences issued in Canada, a CRA Notice of Assessment, government cheques or stubs showing your name and address, Statement of Old Age Security (T4A) or Canada Pension Plan Benefits (T4AP) document.
It may be possible to open an account at a major bank in Canada without providing additional proof of residency if you have a non-expired, widely-accepted form of government ID like a driver's licence, passport or permanent resident card. If you don't, then you'll likely have to present multiple pieces of ID including proof of address.
Stacie Hurst is an editor at Finder, specializing in a wide range of topics including stock trading, money transfers, loans, banking products, online shopping and streaming. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Writing, and she completed one year of law school in the United States before deciding to pursue a career in the publishing industry. When not working, Stacie can usually be found watching K-dramas or playing games with her friends and family. See full bio
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