Direct deposit
Related services and info
Watch the direct deposit video produced by Public Works and Government Services Canada
Using direct deposit, the Government of Canada can deposit payments automatically into your bank account.
Direct deposit is a way to receive your payments without any postal delay. Not only will you be able to access your payments more quickly, you can also be sure they will never be lost, stolen or damaged.
Sign up for direct deposit now! It is convenient, secure and reliable.
What you need before you sign up
To sign up for direct deposit, you will need to gather the following personal information:
- your social insurance number;
- the name of your bank or financial institution; and
- the transit number of your branch and your account number.
Your banking information can be found at the bottom of any cheque for the account in which you would like to have your payment deposited.
Example (from the bottom of the cheque):
- The first three numbers are the cheque number (do not include these numbers).
- The next five numbers are the transit number for the branch.
- The next three numbers are the financial institution number.
- The remaining numbers are the bank account number used for direct deposit.
If you are having trouble reading the numbers, or do not have a cheque, you can ask your financial institution for this information.
When to sign up for direct deposit
The easiest and most convenient way to sign up for direct deposit is when you first apply for benefits. Complete the direct deposit section on your application.
If you receive benefits (Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan or Old Age Security benefits) by cheque, or if you recently applied for benefits, you can easily sign up for direct deposit online through My Service Canada Account.
Online
Using My Service Canada Account is the most convenient way to register for direct deposit.
My Service Canada Account is a secure website that allows you to:
- view and update your personal information, including your address, telephone number, and banking information for direct deposit;
- view and print your EI tax information slips;
- view all Records of Employment that your employers have submitted electronically in the last two years.
- print copies of your T4A/NR4 Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) tax slips.
Other ways to sign up for direct deposit
- Employment Insurance (EI)
- Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security
- Canada Pension Plan (including Post-Retirement Benefit) and Old Age Security benefits for applicants living abroad or having a foreign bank account
- Apprenticeship Grants
- Federal income support for Parents of Murdered or Missing Children
- Wage Earner Protection Program
- Canadian Government Annuities
- In person
EI applicants
By phone
Call 1-800-206-7218 (press "0" to speak with an agent) (TTY: 1-800-529-3742).
Canada Pension Plan (including Post-Retirement Benefit) and Old Age Security applicants
By phone
Call: 1-800-277-9914 (press "0" to speak with an agent).
From outside Canada and the United States, call 613-957-1954. Collect calls are accepted Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. (TTY: 1-800-255-4786).
To sign up for direct deposit by phone, we usually have to speak directly to you. If someone calls on your behalf, make sure you are with them when they call. Keep in mind that we have to have trusteeship or power-of-attorney forms on file before we can take the call from your legal trustee or someone with power of attorney.
By mail
Complete and print a Direct Deposit Enrolment Request Form. This form is also available at Canadian banks and financial institutions.
Mail your completed form to:
Direct Deposit
PO Box 5000
Matane, QC G4W 4R6
CANADA
Canada Pension Plan (including Post-Retirement Benefit) and Old Age Security applicants living abroad or having a foreign bank account
If you live outside Canada or have a foreign bank account, you can apply by phone or by mail.
By phone
Call 1-800-277-9914 (press "0" to speak with an agent).
From outside Canada and the United States call 613-957-1954. Collect calls are accepted Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. (TTY: 1-800-255-4786).
To sign up for direct deposit by phone, we usually have to speak directly to you. If someone calls on your behalf, make sure you are with them when they call. Keep in mind that we have to have trusteeship or power-of-attorney forms on file before we can take the call from your legal trustee or someone with power of attorney.
By mail
You can complete and print the enrolment form for your country of residence and mail it to the address below. You can also request a form by mail:
International Direct Deposit
PO Box 7000
Matane, QC G4W 4T5
CANADA
Check the list of countries where direct deposit is offered to see in which countries the Receiver General of Canada can issue payments by direct deposit in local currency.
Check the list of countries where OAS and CPP payments are made in foreign currency to see in which countries the Receiver General of Canada issues payments by cheque in local currency.
Processing time
If your account is in Canada and you sign up for direct deposit through My Service Canada Account or by phone, we can usually start your direct deposit payments the month after you submit a request.
If you enrol by mail, you should receive your first direct deposit payment within three months.
Separate accounts for each payment
If you receive Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security payments separately, you do not have to deposit both benefits into the same account. If you like, you can ask us to deposit your Canada Pension Plan payments into one account, and your Old Age Security payments into another.
However, we cannot split a single Canada Pension Plan or Old Age Security payment between two accounts.
For Apprenticeship Grants applicants
You can sign up for direct deposit if you inform us before we process your payment.
By phone
Speak with one of our agents Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Call toll-free: 1-866-742-3644. (TTY: 1-866-909-9757).
By mail
Apprentices registered in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Yukon:
Alberta - Apprenticeship Grants Western Processing Centre
Calgary South Service Canada Office
100-6712 Fisher Street SE
Calgary AB T2H 2A7
Apprentices registered in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia:
New Brunswick - Apprenticeship Grants Eastern Processing Centre
Miramichi Service Canada Centre
139 Douglastown Blvd
Miramichi NB E1V 0A4
Apprentices registered in Quebec:
Quebec - Apprenticeship Grants Processing Centre
Service Canada Centre
PO Box 10800, Stn. Ste-Foy
Québec QC G1V 5B4
Parents of Murdered or Missing Children
Direct deposit is available to applicants upon completion of a paper or online application for the grant.
You can apply for the income support grant online by completing the PMMC Application Form or you can print, complete and submit a paper application to the following address:
By mail
PMMC Processing Centre
Service Canada
PO Box 8232, STN T
Ottawa, ON K1G 3H7
Wage Earner Protection Program applicants
The easiest and most convenient way to sign up for direct deposit is when you complete your WEPP online application. If you do not wish to apply online, you can obtain a paper application form at your nearest Service Canada Office.
By phone
Toll-free: 1 866 683-6516 (TTY: 1 800 926-9105)
The telephone support staff responds to enquiries Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time.
By mail
WEPP Processing Centre
PO Box 5900
Cornwall, ON K6H 6J6
Canadian Government Annuities
To have your payments deposited directly by bank account or to change your direct deposit information, contact the Annuities Branch by telephone or in writing. You will need to provide:
- your Annuity Contract Number or your social insurance number
- the name and number of your bank or financial institution
- the number of the branch where you have your account
- your bank account number
By telephone:
1-800-561-7922 (toll-free in Canada and United States)
1-506-548-7972
By mail:
Canadian Government Annuities Branch
Employment and Social Development Canada
PO Box 12000
Bathurst, NB E2A 4T6
In person
Visit the nearest Service Canada Office.
Report a problem or mistake on this page
- Date modified: