Northwest Territories · Health
Health card renewal and replacement in Northwest Territories
Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked
Short answer
Permanent residents of the Northwest Territories apply for a health care card with the NWT Application for Health Care, sent through eServices, by email or by mail to the Health Services Administration Office in Inuvik. Include proof of your legal status in Canada and two documents showing your NWT address. There is no fee, and the card takes about six weeks to arrive.
Who handles it
Health Services Administration Office (Department of Health and Social Services)
Handles it in Northwest Territories.
Canada Service Map is independent and not a government website. The official page always has the final word.
Who can apply
You qualify if you are lawfully in Canada, make your home in the NWT and are physically there at least 153 days each calendar year.
Source: hss.gov.nt.cachecked #
You must be 19 or older to apply. The office may accept you from age 16 if you live on your own and permanently in the NWT.
Source: hss.gov.nt.cachecked #
If you move from elsewhere in Canada, coverage starts on the first day of the third month after the month you arrive. Your old province covers you during the wait.
Source: hss.gov.nt.cachecked #
Steps
Send the NWT Application for Health Care online through eServices, by email to healthcarecard@gov.nt.ca, or by mail to the Health Services Administration Office in Inuvik. Paper forms are at hospitals, health centres and clinics.
Source: hss.gov.nt.cachecked #
What you need
Include a copy of proof of your legal right to be in Canada, such as a Canadian birth certificate, passport, citizenship certificate, status card, permanent resident card or permit.
Source: hss.gov.nt.cachecked #
Also include two valid documents that show your name and current NWT home address. The names must match the application.
Source: hss.gov.nt.cachecked #
Cost
There is no fee to apply for NWT health care.
Source: hss.gov.nt.cachecked #
How long it takes
With processing and mailing, it takes about six weeks for the card to reach you after you apply.
Source: hss.gov.nt.cachecked #
Questions people ask
How long does it take to get an NWT health care card?
About six weeks from when you apply, counting processing and mail. If it does not arrive and you have not heard from the Health Services Administration Office, contact them at 1-800-661-0830.
Source: hss.gov.nt.cachecked #
Can I renew my NWT health care card online?
Yes. You can renew through eServices, or email or mail the NWT Health Care Card Renewal Form. You can renew up to four months before the card expires.
Source: hss.gov.nt.cachecked #
How do I replace a lost NWT health care card?
Contact the Health Services Administration Office right away. You do not need a form. Once they confirm who you are, they mail you a new card.
Source: hss.gov.nt.cachecked #
What if my NWT health care card expired more than a year ago?
You cannot use the renewal form. You will be asked to send a new Application for Health Care with proof that you live in the NWT.
Source: hss.gov.nt.cachecked #
How long is an NWT health care card valid?
Three years. It expires on your birthday, and the date is printed in the bottom right corner of the card.
Source: hss.gov.nt.cachecked #
In every province and territory
The same service across Canada: who handles it and the official link. Northwest Territories is marked.
| Province or territory | Who handles it | Official link | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | Health Insurance BC (Medical Services Plan) | Apply for MSPchecked | Enrol in MSP first; adults then get the photo BC Services Card at an ICBC driver licensing office. |
| Alberta | Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (Government of Alberta) | Apply for AHCIP coveragechecked | Apply free at a participating registry agent or by mail to the AHCIP office. |
| Saskatchewan | eHealth Saskatchewan | Apply for a health cardchecked | |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care | Register for a health cardchecked | |
| Ontario | ServiceOntario (Ministry of Health, OHIP) | Apply for OHIPchecked | First-time applicants 16 and over must apply in person at a ServiceOntario centre. |
| Quebec | Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) | About health insurancechecked | RAMQ mails a renewal notice about 3 months before your card expires. |
| New Brunswick | New Brunswick Medicare (Department of Health), through Service New Brunswick | Apply for Medicare coveragechecked | Renewals and changes cannot be done online; call 1-888-762-8600 or visit a Service New Brunswick centre. |
| Nova Scotia | MSI Resident Services (Department of Health and Wellness) | Apply for a Health Cardchecked | There is no in-person counter; apply online, by mail or fax, or use the MSI drop box. |
| Prince Edward Island | PEI Medicare (Health PEI) | Renew a PEI health cardchecked | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Medical Care Plan (MCP), Department of Health and Community Services | Apply, renew or replacechecked | New applications use a paper form; some Canadian citizens can renew online through MyGovNL. |
| Yukon | Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan (Government of Yukon) | None on record | Cards are replaced automatically when they expire; keep your address up to date. |
| Northwest TerritoriesThis page | Health Services Administration Office (Department of Health and Social Services) | Apply for health care coveragechecked | |
| Nunavut | Health Insurance Programs Office (Nunavut Department of Health) | Apply or replace a cardchecked | No fee; email or mail the form to the Health Insurance Programs Office in Rankin Inlet. |
Cite this page
Canada Service Map, "Health card renewal and replacement in Northwest Territories", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/health-card/northwest-territories