How to Renew an Ontario Health Card Online or In Person in 2026

Can you renew your Ontario health card online?

Yes, if you meet ServiceOntario's online eligibility rules. Your Ontario photo health card must:

• expire within the next 180 days or have expired within the past 180 days;
• have an up-to-date photo and signature; and
• have an up-to-date address with ServiceOntario.

You also need either a valid Ontario driver's licence that is not suspended, cancelled or expired, or a valid Ontario Photo Card that is not expired or cancelled.

If you changed your address with ServiceOntario during the previous 90 days, the online health-card renewal is not available during that period.

What do you need for an online health card renewal?

Before starting the online service, have:

• your most recent Ontario health card;
• your current Ontario driver's licence or Ontario Photo Card; and
• access to a printer so you can print the temporary document or transaction record provided after renewal.

Your driver's licence or Ontario Photo Card acts as proof of identity and Ontario residency for the online transaction. Renewing the health card alone does not automatically renew the other card.

How does the online renewal work?

Use Ontario's card-renewal service and select Health card only unless you also need to renew an eligible driver's licence at the same time.

The service verifies your card details and determines whether you meet the online requirements. Ontario estimates that an online driver's licence and health card renewal transaction takes about 6 to 8 minutes.

After completing the transaction, download and print the temporary document or transaction record that the service provides. Ontario specifically advises customers to carry the temporary document while waiting for the new card.

When do you need to visit ServiceOntario?

You will need an in-person renewal when your circumstances do not meet the online rules or when ServiceOntario requires a new photo or additional verification.

Common situations requiring an in-person visit include:

• your health card expired more than 180 days ago and therefore does not meet online-renewal eligibility;
• your health-card photo is 5 years old or older;
• you are turning 16;
• you are between ages 75 and 80 and need the required new photo;
• you are changing your name;
• you are replacing an old red-and-white health card;
• ServiceOntario sent you a notice directing you to attend in person; or
• your circumstances require additional OHIP eligibility documentation.

What documents should you bring to ServiceOntario?

For an in-person health card renewal, Ontario directs you to bring:

• your current health card;
• acceptable proof that you live in Ontario;
• acceptable proof of your identity;
• your most recent citizenship or immigration document if your status has changed since your current health card was issued; and
• your marriage certificate if you are using your married name for the first time.

Ontario maintains an official Health Coverage Document List showing which documents are accepted. Photocopies are not accepted for document types that must be original.

If your health card is already expired or you have been outside Ontario for more than 7 months during the previous 12 months, ServiceOntario may ask for additional documents showing that Ontario is your primary place of residence.

Is there a fee to renew an Ontario health card?

Renewing an Ontario health card costs $0. There is no health-card renewal fee whether the eligible transaction is completed online or through ServiceOntario.

If you renew a driver's licence at the same time, the driver's licence has its own applicable fee. That separate charge is not a health-card fee.

How long does the new health card take to arrive?

Ontario states that the renewed health card will normally be mailed in approximately 4 to 6 weeks.

A standard renewed health card is generally valid for 5 years. Keep the temporary renewal document or transaction record provided by ServiceOntario until your new card arrives.

Can you renew an expired Ontario health card?

Yes, but the renewal route depends on how long it has been expired. A photo health card that expired within the previous 180 days may still qualify for online renewal if all other online conditions are met.

If the card does not meet the online conditions, visit ServiceOntario. An expired card can trigger additional residency-verification requirements, particularly if you have also spent an extended period outside Ontario.

What if your address changed recently?

Your address must be current with ServiceOntario. Ontario states that if your address changes, you must notify the Ministry of Health or ServiceOntario within 30 days.

If you have not yet reported the new address, update it before trying to renew. If your address was updated during the previous 90 days, you cannot complete the health-card renewal online during that period.

Do you need a new photo when you renew?

Not every renewal needs a new photograph, but ServiceOntario requires an in-person photo in several situations, including when:

• your existing photo is 5 years old or older, unless an exemption applies;
• you are turning 16;
• you renew in person;
• you are changing your name;
• you are replacing a red-and-white health card; or
• ServiceOntario specifically instructs you to attend.

The health-card photo must show your face clearly, looking straight at the camera with a neutral expression. Religious or medical headwear is permitted as long as it does not obscure the face.

How does renewal work for children and youth?

Ontario has different renewal processes for younger cardholders. A child under 15½ years old may be eligible for an online application if the child was born in Ontario, has an Ontario birth certificate, has a valid health card expiring within 90 days and has a current ServiceOntario address.

A young person turning 16 must renew in person and can renew up to 6 months before the card expires. They must bring original documents from the Ontario Health Coverage Document List proving identity and Ontario residency, plus updated citizenship or immigration documents if their status has changed.

If you need an Ontario birth certificate for a separate document requirement, see how to order or replace an Ontario birth certificate.

What are the renewal options for people over 80?

For people age 80 or older, Ontario says that renewal can usually be completed by mail when the renewal reminder confirms that option. If the notice requires an in-person visit, bring the original documents specified by ServiceOntario to prove Ontario residency and identity.

People between 75 and 80 must renew their health card in person so a new photo can be taken.

Can you renew through a virtual ServiceOntario appointment?

Ontario currently offers a virtual health-card renewal pilot using a video appointment with a ServiceOntario customer service representative.

The service is currently available in specific circumstances when the health card has not yet expired, including people with a permanent photo and signature exemption and adults age 18 or older with a valid photo health card that does not require a new photo and signature. Further conditions may apply, so ServiceOntario directs customers to call before booking.

What if you cannot visit ServiceOntario for medical reasons?

If a medical condition prevents you from attending a ServiceOntario centre, an Ontario physician or nurse practitioner can complete a Health Card Medical Exemption Request.

Depending on the circumstances, someone else may then bring your completed renewal materials and required original identity and residency documents to ServiceOntario on your behalf, or the medical-exemption renewal can be handled by mail according to ServiceOntario instructions.

Renewal is different from replacing a lost or stolen card

This procedure is for a health card that is expiring or has expired. A lost, stolen or damaged card can follow a different replacement process depending on whether it is a photo card, whether it has expired and whether your personal information changed.

The same distinction applies to other Ontario identity documents. If you specifically need a replacement Ontario birth certificate, use the separate Ontario birth certificate replacement procedure.

Common renewal mistakes to avoid

• Trying to renew online when the health card expired more than 180 days ago.
• Trying to renew online within 90 days after changing your ServiceOntario address.
• Using an expired or cancelled Ontario Photo Card or an invalid driver's licence for online verification.
• Going to ServiceOntario without acceptable proof of Ontario residency and identity.
• Forgetting updated citizenship or immigration documentation after a change in status.
• Assuming a health-card renewal costs money. The health-card renewal itself is free.
• Discarding the temporary renewal record before the new card arrives.
• Waiting for the card to expire when you already know an in-person photo or documentation review will be required.