Status Card Application: FAQs

On this page:

• Do I need my own status number before applying?
• Can I apply for my kids?
• Can I apply for a child who is aged 16 or older?
• Are your status card services open to the U.S?
• How does the status card process work/what is the timeline?
• What happens if I have a name change?
• How do I take a portrait photo that fits the requirements of a passport style photo?
• What government photo IDs are accepted?
• Who can I ask to be my guarantor?
• What are the benefits of renewing/replacing a status card?
• How secure is my information?
• How do we work with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)?
• What happens if I am rejected?

Do I need a status / registration / treaty number before applying with OneFeather?

YES - All applicants must already have their own status number to apply for a status card on OneFeather. We currently don't support applying for status for the first time (registering under the Indian Act). You will need to do this with the government directly and information can be be found here on the Indigenous Services Canada website.

Status Number Requirements

Personal: If you are applying for a renewal or replacement card for yourself, use your personal status number.

Dependant: If you are applying for a first card, renewal, or replacement card for a dependant, you will need their personal status number, as well as your own.

You cannot use anyone else's status number and need to have your own in order to use our status card applications. Indigenous Services Canada will reject your application if you use someone else's number and we cannot refund applications in these situations.

Q: In the application, you mention 'First SCIS card' in the 'Reason for Application' section, doesn't that mean apply for status?

A: No. You or your dependants may have status (be registered under the Indian Act), but have never acquired a Secure Certificate of Indian Status card from the government of Canada before. 

Your last status card may be a paper laminated status card you got directly from your Nation, or you've never had a status card before although you are registered under the Indian Act. This means it will be your 'first' government-issued (by way of Indigenous Services Canada) Secure Certificate of Indian Status card.

Can I apply for my kids?

Yes! We offer Status Card Renewals/ Replacements for Dependants aged 4- 15 years old; the following must apply: 

• Child / dependant adult already has their own status number.
• You must be the parent, custodial parent, or legal guardian to the dependant.
• You may need to provide legal documentation to prove your relationship to the dependant if a custody agreement or legal guardianship is in place.

You can apply for any dependants (children/dependent adults) using your personal OneFeather account.

For more information on Child / Dependent Adults applications, see Getting started with dependent applications.

Can I apply for my child who is aged 16 or older?

You can, but only if your child is considered a legally dependent adult and meets the description below:

• An adult who may have a mental and/or physical limitation and depends on assistance to carry out regular activities, obtain services, as well as access and protect their rights.

An Order of Guardianship document is required to apply on behalf of a dependent adult.

Children living at home, who are not considered dependent adults, over the age of 16 will need to apply using their own OneFeather account and the adult application (16+) form. As a parent, you are welcome to assist them with their own application, but it must be created and signed by the applicant themselves.

Are your status card services open to people living in the U.S?

Our status card renewal/replacement services are open to:

• Anyone in Canada or the US that is registered with a Canadian First Nation

How does the status card process work/ what is the timeline?

You will need to create a OneFeather account at members.onefeather.ca using your personal email address. Anyone ages 16+ will need their own OneFeather account to create an application, with the exception of dependent adults. Parents with children 15 and under, as well as legal guardians to dependent adults, can apply on their behalf using their own personal OneFeather account.

Creating an account only takes a few minutes and will give you access to online status card applications. 

1. Go to members.onefeather.ca and log in or sign up for a OneFeather account.
2. Once you are logged in, select Status Card Applications from the home page or top navigation
3. One the status card applications page, start an application for yourself or for a dependant.
4. Our application process is easy and will guide you step-by-step:
   1. Fill out your personal information
   2. Attach a valid government-issued ID
   3. Take a portrait photo for your new card
   4. Review and sign your application
   5. Pay for your application (If your Nation has a subscription to our status card services, you will not be prompted to pay and can continue forward)
5. Depending on the application type, you may need to attach a guarantor* to your application to confirm your identity.
   *A guarantor can be anyone 18+ with a status number who has known you personally for at least 2 years.
6. When you submit your application with OneFeather, it comes to us for a review. We do this to ensure the success of your application at Indigenous Service Canada.
   If we find anything that needs to be adjusted, our customer service team will reach out to you directly via email or text (based on your notification settings).
   ***Please watch for our emails and add us to your safe list—your application will not be submitted to Canada for processing until suggested adjustments are made by you.
7. Once your application is approved to move forward by us, we notify your guarantor by email (we'll also send you an email to let you know we've contacted them) to review and sign your application.
8. Once your guarantor is done, we submit your completed application to Indigenous Services Canada digitally—ensuring it gets there immediately and securely without the delay or risk of paper mail.
9. Indigenous Services Canada processes your application and mails your new card to you directly. This can take anywhere from 3-12 weeks depending on the volume of applications at ISC at the time of submission. 

What happens after your application leaves OneFeather

After your application has been securely digitally submitted to Indigenous Services Canada, it is then added to their processing queue in an order determined by ISC. Every application is unique and the time is takes to process at the government will vary depending on the complexity of your application. For some, it may only take a few weeks and they may receive their card faster than they expected. For others with more complex applications, such as those that require legal documents to be attached, it may take longer. 

OneFeather has no control over government processing time. If you have not heard from Indigenous Services within 6 months of your application being submitted, please reach out to our customer service team for help.

So where is your application in the queue at ISC?

Unfortunately, Canadian privacy laws do NOT allow us to have visibility or control of your application once it has been submitted to Indigenous Services Canada. You will need to contact ISC directly if you have any questions regarding the status of your application.

Contact the Public Enquiries department at Indigenous Services Canada for more information on your application.

For a detailed step-by-step of our status card process, see here.

What happens if I have changed my name?

If you've had a name change, these are the documents that are required for your application:

• A government-issued photo ID with your new name on it. This means you need to change your name in person with one official governing body first, such as your driver's license.
• And any one of the following name-linking documents that links your former name to your new name: A marriage certificate, divorce order or certificate, name-change certificate, or an amended birth certificate with your new name on it.

How do I take a portrait photo that fits the requirements of a passport-style photo?

The goal: A clear, good quality portrait photo of your head and upper torso (shoulders) where your facial features are fully visible and sharp, with no visible lighting glares or harsh shadows. The background is flat white or light and free of shadows.

This is the part of the application that some people can have a difficult time with as photo quality is entirely subjective. The portrait photo requirements are predetermined by the Government of Canada and not OneFeather.

The portrait photo for your new card will need to meet the same requirements as a Canadian passport photo.

We also understand getting the right photo can be difficult if you are doing it yourself. It is very important to read the instructions fully first, and use the review portrait process at the end of the application to check if your photo meets all the necessary requirements.

You can use your mobile phone camera, tablet, computer, or digital camera to take the photo. 

Your portrait image must meet ALL of the following requirements:

• It's sharp and in focus - The photo needs to be of good-high quality. Your image cannot be blurry, hazy, grainy, or too dark/light to make out facial features.
  These tips can also help:
  • If your photos are hazy, clean your camera lens and try again
  • Ask a friend or family member for assistance
  • Use a different device to take the photo
  • Add additional lighting to the space where you are taking the photo
• Adequate lighting -  This is one of the most important qualities required. Your lighting should be soft or 'flat', mindful of any harsh shadows or hot spots created from above or side lighting. Your face should be evenly lit.
• Background is plain white or light-coloured - It must be clear of any objects or obvious textures (such as wrinkled fabric, wallpaper, wood panelling, wall moldings, etc.) Step 1-2 feet away from your wall or background to remove any shadows your body may cast on it. 
• Body facing forward with level shoulders - Make sure your body is pointed straight on towards your camera and your shoulders and head are relaxed and level.
• Neutral facial expression - Your eyes are open, your mouth is closed and relaxed with a neutral expression (no smiles).
• Glasses do not have lighting glares on lenses - If you require glasses to see, they may be worn if you have clear lenses. Please be mindful that there are no lighting glares on your lenses in the photo or ISC may reject the photo. When it doubt, remove them for the photo if you can, or ask someone to help you take the photo.
• Do not wear hats (religious or essential medical head coverings are allowed).

If your photo contains qualities that will not meet the specific criteria determined by Indigenous Services, our team will reach out by email or text to provide instructions and support on how to take a new photo. 

Our new photo cropper tool in the application makes it easier to position your photograph!

If you experience difficulties taking a portrait photo yourself, we suggest asking a friend or family member to help. You may also use a service that takes passport photos for you, such as Shopper’s Drug Mart or London Drugs—just make sure they are able to send you a digital copy of your photo. ISC does not accept photos of photos, so you will need to ask for the digital copy to submit with your application.

What government-issued photo IDs are accepted?

You will need to attach 1 piece of valid (not expired) government-issued ID with your application. The ID you choose must contain all of the following items in order to be acceptable:

1. A photo
2. Legal name
3. Date of birth
4. Signature

Primary Accepted IDs:

• Driver’s license (CA/US)
• Provincial / Territorial, or State ID (CA/US)
• Health Card - Must contain: photo, legal name, date of birth, and signature. (CA/US)
• Passport (CA/US)
• Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS)

Secondary accepted IDs:

• Government Employee ID (CA/USA)
• Canadian Military ID
• Provincial, Territorial, or Federal Correction Services ID
• Canadian Citizenship Card
• US Passport Card
• Permanent Resident Card (CA/USA)
• US Old Age Security Card
• Nexus or Fast Card - Must contain: photo, legal name, date of birth, and signature.
• Certificate of Indian Status (CIS) - Dependant applications only.

If you need to select a different ID type, click the Change link under Document Type in the supporting documents section. 

Your photo ID must be valid and not expired—we suggest at least 30 days of validity left on your ID card to ensure it doesn't cause a rejection of your application at Indigenous Services when being processed.
 

Who can I ask to be my guarantor?

Anyone can be your guarantor—a friend, family member, band member, co-worker, etc. as long as they meet the below criteria:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Has status (and can provide their status #)
• Has known you for at least 2+ years
• Can be reachable for verification by Indigenous Services Canada if necessary

Please note: For child/adult dependent applications, parents/guardians cannot act as the guarantor for the application.

Your guarantor will be notified by email when your application is ready for them to review and complete their Guarantor Declaration. 

What are the benefits of renewing/replacing a status card?

When you renew or replace your card with OneFeather, you will receive the Canada-issued Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) card, like the one below:
 

The benefits of having a valid Secure Certificate of Indian Status card:

• You have a secure, official, and federally recognized form of government-issued ID
• Your card is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for children
• It contains advanced security features and includes a machine-readable zone
• May be used for crossing the Canada–U.S. border at both land and marine ports of entry (subject to border control officer's discretion)
• Can be used for specific tax exemptions, and some non-insured health services

How secure is my information?

OneFeather is Personal Information & Privacy Act compliance verified and SOC 2 type II certified. 

Strong security and data handling is something we don't take lightly at OneFeather, it's a hard requirement. We are routinely independently audited to ensure our security standards are up to the challenge of todays evolving technology. All personal identifiable information (PII) is encrypted in transit and at rest, with robust security measures in place to ensure your information is safely cared for. 

We also stand firm on our data sovereignty practices—All personal information added to our platform is owned by the individual, or the Nation or community that has added it. We will never ask for more information that what is absolutely necessary to use our services and will never share or distribute your information with our service partners unless compliance regulations requires it. We believe in transparency, and will always ask for your consent when a service requires any personal information you have provided before proceeding. 

How do we work with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)?

OneFeather serves as a culturally safe intermediary between you and Indigenous Services Canada. We've developed an online status card renewal and replacement application to remove the significant barriers that many people face when trying to get something as essential as a status card renewal or replacement. We've heard your stories and frustrations—and we've experienced them ourselves.

Our Role in Your Application

We help you apply for your renewal or replacement status card through our easy-to-use online application. Here's how we support you:

• Our dedicated support team reviews every application to identify potential issues that could delay or prevent you from receiving your card
• We provide personalized assistance to help you make any necessary updates before your application is submitted to ISC
• We submit applications to Canada digitally and securely, eliminating the delays and risks associated with traditional mail
• We maintain a 98% success rate in helping people receive their status cards through our process

Important distinction: We facilitate your application and ensure it's complete and accurate, while Indigenous Services Canada processes your application and issues your new card.

What Happens If There's an Issue?

In rare cases, ISC may reject an application—typically for reasons beyond our view or control. If this happens:

• Please contact us immediately
• We'll help identify and address any issues
• We'll refund your application fee
• We'll resubmit your application at no additional cost

What We Don't Currently Offer

Please Note: We do not currently process initial applications for Indian Status registration. If you need to register under the Indian Act for the first time, you must apply directly with Indigenous Services Canada.

OneFeather supports you in obtaining your status ID card—whether it's your first Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) card or a renewal/replacement—but you must already have a status number to use our service.

What happens if I am rejected?

In the very rare event that you are rejected by ISC (Indigenous Services Canada), we provide a refund and help you through the process if you want to proceed to try again. Our Support Team are here for you!