Opening 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 license, 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, which don’t normally require proof of address on top of existing ID requirements like a driver’s license 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.

What counts as proof of address in Canada?

For banks that require proof of address when opening a bank account, here’s a list of documents you can usually use. Bank policies vary, so speak to a representative or check online to find out what type of proof is acceptable.

Open a digital banking account without proof of address

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Name	Product	Promo Rate	Regular Interest Rate	Monthly Account Fee	Transaction Fee	e-Transfer Fee	Offer
EQ Bank Savings Plus Account		N/A	2.50%	$0	$0	$0		Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Simplii High Interest Savings Account		5.25% for 5 months	0.40%	$0	$0	$0		Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Neo Money Account		N/A	2.25%	$0	$0	$0	Earn 2.25% interest on your balance + get up to 15% cashback on first-time purchases with your Neo Money card.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
KOHO Save		N/A	2.00%	$0	$0	$0	Use promo code FINDERCODE and get a $20 cash bonus when you make your first purchase within 30 days.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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ID requirements for major Canadian banks

Bank	Required ID
TD Canada Trust	1 valid Canadian government-issued photo ID (passport, driver’s license 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 license 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 Liquor Control Board Age of Majority (BYID) card Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation (MPIC) card Canadian Firearms License 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 28th, 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 (not acceptable in all provinces) List B: ATM card or client card 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 RBC client or community member
Scotiabank	Valid Canada-issued government ID with your name, photo and signature. Acceptable ID: Passport Citizenship card (issued prior to 2012) Permanent resident card Secure Certificate of Indian Status Canadian Forces Card Foreign Passport Provincial Drivers Licenses DND 404 Driver’s License British Columbia Services Card Provincial Health Card (BC & Quebec only) Provincial/territorial identity cards
BMO	Certificate of Canadian Citizenship Canadian Certificate of Indian Status Driver’s license Canadian Firearms License Government-issued ID card or document Immigration Canada Documents; Immigration Canada form IMM 1000, IMM 1442, IMM 5292, or IMM 5688 NEXUS Card Passport Permanent Resident card Provincial or territorial health insurance (not acceptable in all provinces) Provincial/territorial ID card Newcomers to Canada: A valid passport + Canadian visa
National Bank	Valid Canada-issued government ID such as: Canadian passport Driver’s license 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 with which they have an account.

Benefits of digital banking

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 Easy Prepaid Mastercard only charges 1.5% 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.

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.

Frequently asked questions

• Are digital banks safe?

  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.

• Can my Social Insurance Number (SIN) card be used as proof of residency?

  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 licenses 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.

• Can I open a bank account at a Big Bank without proof of address?

  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 license, passport or permanent resident card. If you don't, then you'll likely have to present multiple pieces of ID including proof of address.