Moving to Calgary

Moving to Calgary: what to do before and after you arrive

By Rafael Henriquez Guevara · Published October 21, 2026

Moving to Calgary from another province comes with three deadlines once you've settled: your Alberta health card, your driver's licence and your vehicle registration. Here's what each one asks of you, what's different about living in Calgary, and how a move into Calgary works. We're Top Quality Movers Ltd., a Calgary moving company, and we move households here from across Alberta, BC and Saskatchewan.

Moving to Calgary from another province

All three are handled at an Alberta registry agent office.

Your Alberta health card

Register for the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan within 3 months of establishing residency in Alberta.
Coverage begins on the first day of the third month after you settle. In the province's own example, someone who settles on July 12 is covered from October 1.
Until then, you can keep using the health card from your previous province.
Take your forms to any registry in Alberta, with documents that prove your Alberta residency, your identity and your legal entitlement to be in Canada. There's no charge.

Your driver's licence

If you're living in Alberta permanently, exchange your licence within 90 days of becoming a resident.
You hand in your old licence to the registry agent.
For a Class 3, 4, 5 or 6 licence from another province, there's no knowledge test or road test.

Your vehicle

Register your vehicle in Alberta within 90 days of moving here.
Any vehicle on a public road in Alberta needs valid insurance and a Vehicle Registration Certificate.
At the registry you'll need proof of ownership, proof of valid insurance and ID, and some vehicles from outside Alberta also need an out-of-province inspection.

Things to know before moving to Calgary

No sales tax.

Alberta has no provincial sales tax, so you pay the 5% GST and no PST. Moving to Calgary from BC, you leave BC's 7% PST behind, and from Saskatchewan, its 6% PST, as the Canada Revenue Agency's sales tax rate table shows.
Addresses by quadrant.

Calgary is divided into four quadrants, and the quadrant (NE, NW, SE or SW) is part of a standard address. Include it whenever you give your new one.
Garbage, recycling and compost carts.

The blue, black and green carts belong to the City and are assigned to the home, not the people in it. The City asks people not to take them when they move. Black is for garbage, blue for recycling, and green for food scraps and yard waste.
New builds, apartments and condos.

Moving into a newly built home? Request carts through 311, no earlier than 14 days before you move in. City cart collection serves single-family homes, so in an apartment or condo, ask your building how garbage and recycling work.
Power and natural gas.

In Alberta you choose who supplies your electricity and natural gas: the default retailer for your area, or a competitive retailer. Alberta's Utilities Consumer Advocate explains how to choose.

Getting your things to Calgary

If you're relocating to Calgary and hire us, our crew drives from Calgary to your current home, loads it, drives back and unloads at your new home in Calgary. You pay for the drive time both ways at the hourly rate. On top of that comes a fuel surcharge worked out from the distance, the fuel the truck uses and the price of fuel, charged at cost. GST is added on top. Since your current home is outside Calgary, we price the move with you without a visit.

We run these trips within Alberta, BC and Saskatchewan, not Canada-wide. Moving from Vancouver to Calgary, or from Edmonton, Kelowna or Regina? Each trip has its own page:

Edmonton to Calgary movers: about 300 km on the QEII, or roughly three hours each way.
Kelowna to Calgary movers: about 600 km each way, through Revelstoke and Golden on the Trans-Canada.
Regina to Calgary movers: about 760 km each way, west on the Trans-Canada through Medicine Hat.
Vancouver to Calgary movers: about 970 km each way, over several mountain passes.

Our trips also run between Calgary and Golden, Revelstoke and Saskatoon. For how we price long trips, see our long-distance movers in Calgary page.

Many of our customers book about a month ahead, especially for a move at the end of the month, and our slower months run from about November through April. If your new home in Calgary isn't ready when you arrive, we arrange storage and handle both moves.

A white box truck on a divided highway past prairie fields and hay bales

Frequently asked questions

When does Alberta health coverage start after I move?

On the first day of the third month after you settle in Alberta: settle on July 12 and you're covered from October 1. Until then, you can keep using your previous province's health card.

How long do I have to switch my driver's licence to Alberta?

90 days from becoming a resident. For a Class 3, 4, 5 or 6 licence from another province, there's no knowledge test or road test.

Does Alberta have a sales tax?

No provincial sales tax. You pay the 5% GST.

Is there a $5,000 bonus for moving to Alberta?

The Alberta is Calling Moving Bonus was a $5,000 refundable tax credit for up to 2,000 eligible people. It covered moves to Alberta between May 1 and December 31, 2024, by people working in an eligible occupation. It stopped taking new applications on March 15, 2026, and the government has archived its guidelines as out of date.

Will my new Calgary home have garbage and recycling carts?

In a single-family home, the City's carts are assigned to the home, so they should be there when you arrive. For a newly built home, request carts through 311 no earlier than 14 days before you move in. In an apartment or condo, ask your building how garbage and recycling work.

Can a Calgary mover move me from BC or Saskatchewan?

Yes. We move households to Calgary from across Alberta, BC and Saskatchewan: our crew drives out from Calgary, loads your home and brings it back.