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Identity Documents

Updated

On this page:

 

Select your Photo ID

The government-issued ID you use for your status card application must meet several requirements:

  1. Have a photo
  2. Include your name
  3. Include your date of birth
  4. Include your signature
  5. Be valid (not expired)

Accepted government-issued Photo IDs:

  • Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) - White plastic status card
  • Canadian/US Passport
  • Drivers Licence 
  • Provincial/Territorial or US State Photo ID
  • Provincial/Territorial Health Card  **Must have your photo, full name, date of birth, and signature to be acceptable. 

**Note: Laminated paper CIS cards are no longer accepted as ID on Adult (16+) status card applications as per Indigenous Services Canada.

Other accepted Photo IDs:

  • Government Employee ID (CA/US)
  • Canadian Military ID
  • Provincial, Territorial, or Federal: Correction Services ID
  • Canadian Citizenship Card
  • US Passport Card
  • Permanent Resident Card (CA/US)
  • US Old Age Security Card
  • Nexus or Fast Card

If you need to select a different document type, click the Change link under Document Type in the document information section.

Document Information

  1. In the Name as Appears on Document box, enter your name that shows on your Photo ID. Note this needs to provide your name exactly as it appears on the ID you've chosen
  2. In the Document ID box, enter an ID number from the front of your ID
  3. From the Expiry Date Dropdown, select your ID's expiry date
  4. Click Next

If you need help finding your Document ID number, you can look at our guide here.

Upload your Photo ID

 

You will need to take three photos for this step:

  • Front of your Photo ID
  • Back of your Photo ID
  • A Selfie of you holding your Photo ID

You will want to make sure your photos are clear with no blur; the text on your ID should be readable, and the photo is taken with a lot of lighting, with minimal or no shadows that other objects or your fingers are not covering the ID. Only photos of the physical ID can be accepted; no photocopied IDs or temporary IDs. 

**Note on using a passport as ID: If you have selected your passport as your photo ID, please use the photo information page as the front of your ID and the page that includes your signature as the back of your document.

**Note on name changes: If you would like to change your name on your new SCIS card, the ID you use in this step MUST have your new name on it. This means changing your name in person with one government agency prior to completing your status card renewal/replacement application.

 

Upload your ID:

  1. Take your three photos:
    1. Front of your Photo ID
    2. Back of your Photo ID
    3. Selfie of you holding your Photo ID - Ensure your full face is visible, and your fingers are not hiding any information on your ID card
  2. In the Front of ID section, click Select
  3. Find and select your photo of the Front photo of your ID on your device
  4. Click Open
  5. Repeat these steps for the Back of ID and Selfie with ID sections.

 

How to replace ID photos:

  1. Go to the section you want to replace (Front of ID, Back of ID, or Selfie with ID)
  2. Click Replace 
  3. Find and select your replacement photo on your device
  4. Click Open

Your photo will now be replaced with your newly uploaded photo.

 

Name-Linking Docs

To change your name on your new status card, you must provide a legal document linking your previous last name to your new last name. Examples of this can be a name change certificate, marriage certificate, a divorce order, or an amended birth certificate with your current name and your parents' name.
The ID you provide in the previous step must have your new name on it for your name change to be accepted by ISC. This means changing your name in person with another government agency first.

 

How to add your name change documents:

  1. Select if your name has changed recently since you last applied for a SCIS or if your name is still the same. A possible name change could be marriage, divorce, or a legal name change.
    1. If your name is still the same, you have finished this step
    2. If your name has changed, follow the steps below
  2. Select Upload a name-linking document
  3. In the Document Type box, enter the document type (name change certificate, marriage certificate, a divorce order, etc.)
  4. In the Full Name on Document box, please enter your name exactly as it appears on the document
  5. In the Front of Document section, click Select
  6. Find and select your photo of the Front on your device
  7. Click Open 
  8. In the Back of Document section, click Select
  9. Find and select your photo of the Front on your device
  10. Click Open
  11. Click Add Document

You may repeat these steps for up to three name-linking documents.

 

How to replace a name-linking document photo:

  1. Go to the section you want to replace (Front of Document or Back of Document)
  2. Click Replace 
  3. Find and select your replacement photo on your device
  4. Click Open

 

Delete Uploaded name-linking document

Once a name-linking document has been added to your application, you cannot edit it. If you need to change details for the name-linking doc, you will need to delete the old version and upload the document again.

  1. Scroll down to the name-linking document you wish to delete
  2. Click on the trashcan icon beside the document
  3. You will see a success message saying "Document successfully deleted"

 

You are now ready to take your portrait photo for your status card application.

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