On this page:
- What is a guarantor and why do I need one?
- Guarantor criteria
- Select a guarantor
- Remove a guarantor
- Resending a guarantor request
What is a guarantor and why do I need one?
A guarantor is a person who can confirm the identity of the applicant.
For most of our applications, you will need to attach a guarantor to your application as our process requires that we follow the Indigenous Services Canada mail-in protocol for status card renewals and replacements. Because our process is 100% online, we do not have the ability or authority to verify an applicants identity in person, therefore a guarantor is required for most* applications.
*Adult (16+) simplified renewal applications do not require a guarantor, but do require the application to meet a specific criteria. Learn more adult (16+) simplified application requirements here.
Guarantor criteria
Your chosen guarantor will need to meet the criteria below.
Please note: you will also need their email address to send them their portion of your application.
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Must have their own status number.
- Must have known you for at least two years.
- Must be reachable for verification by Indigenous Services Canada.
Can my spouse, parent, or another family member be my guarantor?
Family members and spouses can only act as a guarantor if they meet all the criteria listed above.
A parent or legal guardian applying for a child or dependent adult cannot act as a guarantor for the child or dependent adult.
Selecting a guarantor
Select someone who knows* you well, with whom you feel comfortable viewing your personal information. Their job is to review your application and verify your identity with their signature. If you do not have a friend or family member who can act as a guarantor on your behalf, we suggest reaching out to your Nation to see if a staff member will guarantee your application.
*To know the applicant personally means that the guarantor is able to confirm information about the applicant, such as approximate age, place of birth, place of residence and physical description.
*If the application concerns a child or dependent adult, the guarantor must have known the parent or legal guardian (the applicant) personally for at least 2 years and must have knowledge of the child or dependent adult.
- Click Select a Guarantor
- Review the requirements for a guarantor:
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Must have their own status number.
- Must have known you for at least two years.
- Must be reachable for verification by Indigenous Services Canada.
- In the Name box, add in your guarantor's first and last name
- In the Email box, add your guarantor's email
- Check the "I understand that I will be sharing the personal information contained in my SCIS application with the guarantor I have chosen" checkbox
- Click Add Guarantor
- Click Next
Once you have selected your guarantor, your application will come to OneFeather first for a review to ensure it meets the requirements determined by Indigenous Services Canada. If your application requires updates to avoid a rejection from ISC, we will notify you by email or text for more information. Once your application is good to go and any necessary corrections are made, we send a notification to your guarantor, at the email address you've provided, to complete their portion of the application.
Let your guarantor know to watch for our email
We suggest letting your guarantor know to watch for an email from us. Our notification email will contain the link they need to complete your application.
If your guarantor has not received an email from us but should have, suggest they check their junk/spam folders as email filtering can send our notifications there.
You are now ready to move on to the payment details for your status card.*
*If applicable. Some applicants may not see the payment screen as their Nation covers the fee for their confirmed members.
Remove a guarantor
If you need to select a new guarantor due to them not being eligible, or you would prefer to choose someone else, you can remove your current guarantor.
- Click on 6. Select a guarantor under overview
- Scroll down to Select a Guarantor
- Click Remove Guarantor
- A popup will appear asking you to confirm that you want to remove this guarantor request
- Click Yes, Remove Request
Your guarantor will now be removed from your application, and you can now select a new guarantor.
Resending a guarantor request
If your guarantor has not received a notification email from us but your application has been reviewed and approved by us, you can resend the request by:
- Follow the 'remove a guarantor' process above.
- Re-add your same guarantor by entering their name and email address again to trigger a new notification.
- Tell them to watch their spam/junk folder if they still do not receive the notification.
If you continue to experience issues, please reach out to our customer support team for help.