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How do I register my child for OHIP?

Depending on where your child was born, the OHIP application process may be different.

If your child was born outside of Canada and is eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), you will need to apply for a Health Card (OHIP) online or at a Service Ontario location.

Place of Birth

If your child was born in Canada, there are two separate ways to register them for OHIP, depending on where they were born. Your child may be eligible for OHIP even if you are not.

Home, Birth Centre or Hospital Birth

If your child was born in an Ontario hospital, birth centre or at an Ontario home attended by a registered midwife, you must complete an Ontario Health Coverage Infant Registration form.

Hospital staff or a registered midwife will give you this form soon after your child is born. It is not available online.

For this form, you will need to:

• Provide your child’s name, birth date and mailing address.
• Confirm that your child’s primary place of residence will be Ontario.
• Confirm that your child will be physically present in Ontario for at least 153 days in any 12-month period.

Make sure you keep the bottom part of this form for your records. It contains the Health Card (OHIP) number assigned to your child.

You can use this portion of the form to access health services for your child until you receive a plastic OHIP card for your child by mail.

Unattended Birth

If your child was at home without a midwife, you can still apply for your child's Health Card (OHIP); the process is just a little different.

As a first step, you will need to register your baby’s birth. You can do this with the 5-in-1 newborn bundle through Service Ontario.

Once you have your child’s Ontario birth certificate or an Ontario Statement of Live Birth, you can complete a Registration for Ontario Health Insurance Coverage form and bring it with all the required original documents to your local Service Ontario office.

Many settlement agencies can help you apply for your child's Health Card (OHIP). To find a settlement agency in your area, go to Services Near Me.

Can my baby have OHIP if I do not have my PR?

As a parent, you do need to have permanent resident (PR) immigration status in Canada for your baby to be eligible for OHIP, but you must live primarily in Ontario.

According to the Association of Ontario Midwives, an infant is eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) if they:

• Are born in Ontario
• Have at least one parent/custodian who is a resident of Ontario and
• Will be staying in the province for 153 days in the following year.

If you are pregnant and don’t have OHIP, you are still eligible for certain types of prenatal care.

How do I renew my child’s OHIP card?

Under 16 Years Old

You will receive notification in the mail before your child turns 2, 9 and 16. For children under 15.5 years old, you can renew online, by mail or in person; they don’t need to be present with you if you renew in person.

Over 16 Years Old

Once your child is over 15.5 years old, they must renew their health card in person at a Service Ontario centre. They will have up to 3 months after they turn 16 to renew their card. They have a few extra months because it may take time for them to gather the two original documents required for an adult OHIP card renewal. They will also have their photo taken for their health card.

For More Information

• Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) - This page explains how OHIP works, provides forms, and offers other relevant information. From the Ministry of Health.
• Renew a Health Card - Learn how to renew an Ontario health card. From the Service Ontario
• Student-Run Free Clinics - Available in some communities across Canada. You can see a medical student being supervised by a doctor.
• HNUC.org - The Health Network for the Uninsured provides information for people without OHIP in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).