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.
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.
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.
EQ Bank Notice Savings Account
★★★★★
Finder rating 4.3 / 5
Bonus Interest Rate
N/A
Ongoing Interest Rate
3.65%
Monthly Account Fee
$0
Simplii High Interest Savings Account
★★★★★
Finder rating 3.9 / 5
Bonus Interest Rate
6%
Ongoing Interest Rate
0.35%
Monthly Account Fee
$0
Neo Everyday Account
★★★★★
Finder rating 4 / 5
Bonus Interest Rate
N/A
Ongoing Interest Rate
0.1%
Monthly Account Fee
$0
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.
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 |
|
 CIBC | Additional proof of address not required if you can present one of the following:
|
 RBC |
List A:
List B:
|
 Scotiabank | Valid Canada-issued government ID with your name, photo and signature.
|
 BMO |
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:
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. |
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:
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.
Must read: Best bank accounts for newcomers 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.
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.
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.
Finder scores, in blue, are based on our expert analysis. We assess multiple key categories broken down into over 30 different data points across both chequing and savings accounts.
To find out more, read our full savings account methodology and full chequing account methodology.
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