Canadian provincial and territorial photo cards explained

In Canada, provincial driver's licences are the primary form of government-issued photo ID. Most Canadian provinces produce photo ID cards for Canadians who do not drive. A common feature of these cards is that it cannot be held concurrently with a valid drivers licence.

Provinces

!Province!Name of Card!Minimum Age!Validity (years)!Enhanced Version!Fee!Renew Fee!Notes!ref
AlbertaID Card125no$49$49People under 18 must receive consent from a parent or guardian.
British ColumbiaB.C. identification card (BCID)125$35$15[1]
ManitobaManitoba Identification Card125no$20$20People under 18 must receive co-sign from parents. Enhanced version discontinued June 1, 2022.[2] [3]
New BrunswickPhoto ID CardNo Minimum4no$48$48[4]
Newfoundland and LabradorPhoto ID Card5no$25$25Senior fee $16[5] [6]
Nova ScotiaNova Scotia Photo ID CardNo Minimum5$17.70$17.70[7]
OntarioOntario Photo Card165no$35$35Photos expire in 10 years, separately from the card's own expiration. A new photo must be taken after this 10-year period.[8]
Prince Edward IslandPhoto ID Card5no$50$50People 18 and older have fee waived if they do not or cannot have a driver's licence. A card valid for a single year can be obtained for a fee of $20.[9]
SaskatchewanPhoto ID Card5nofree$15Seniors do not pay a renew fee.[10]

Alberta

Alberta provides its residents with an Alberta identification card. This card is produced by Service Alberta. The minimum age for this card to be issued is 12, but anyone under the age of 18 requires parental consent. Alberta does not produce an enhanced card for non-drivers.[11]

British Columbia

British Columbia produces the B.C. identification card (BCID). The minimum age to apply for this card is 12 years of age, although people under the age of 19 require parental consent.[12] Production of these cards is administered by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, the same office as BC driver's licences. There is a $35 fee for five years, unless a valid drivers licence is exchanged.[13]

British Columbia produced an enhanced ID card to be used as proof of citizenship at land borders.[14]

Manitoba

Manitoba produces both a Manitoba identification card and Manitoba enhanced identification card for non-drivers. These cards are issued by Manitoba Public Insurance, and there is a $20 fee for five years.[15]

New Brunswick

New Brunswick produces a photo ID card for non-drivers for a $48 fee, or $15 for a replacement.[16] The card expires after four years.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador produces photo identification cards.[17] The fee is $25 for five years. The province does not produce an enhanced ID card.

Nova Scotia

As of February 2017, all driver's licences and provincial identification cards conform to the enhanced security measures.

Ontario

In July 2011, the Government of Ontario introduced the Ontario photo card for Ontarians who do not hold a valid Ontario driver's licence.[18] The fee is $35 for five years. As of May 2012, more than 40,000 cards are in circulation.[19] It is offered at 85 ServiceOntario locations.[19] As of 2012, although the Ontario government has produced an enhanced driver's licence, there is no corresponding enhanced photo card as the EDL program is being phased out as of June 2019.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island produces the voluntary ID for residents of PEI who do not drive. These cards are produced by Access PEI.[20]

Quebec

, Quebec does not have a photo card for non-drivers. Residents may use their Quebec health insurance cards as ID, however, as they contain photos.https://www.cibc.com/en/apply/acceptable-identification.html https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/new-ramq-health-insurance-card-1.4499083.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan produces a photo ID for non-drivers, issued through Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI). There is a $15 fee for the production of this card.[21]

Territories

Northwest Territories

In 2012 NWT began issuing the Northwest Territories general identification card [22]

Nunavut

In 2008 Nunavut began issuing general identification cards.[23]

Yukon

Yukon Territory introduced the Yukon general identification card in October 2010, while also upgrading the security features of Yukon driving licences.[24] The fee is $25 for five years. Prior to these cards, non-drivers used a territorial liquor card.[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Apply for a BCID. 2021-11-23. www.icbc.com. en-US.
  2. Web site: How to apply for an identification card. 2021-11-23. www.mpi.mb.ca.
  3. Web site: Making changes to your identification card. 2021-11-23. www.mpi.mb.ca.
  4. Web site: Government of New Brunswick. Canada. 2006-03-14. Photo ID Card. 2021-11-23. www2.gnb.ca. en.
  5. Web site: Driver Fees. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210914124227/https://www.gov.nl.ca/motorregistration/files/drivers-fees.pdf . 2021-09-14 .
  6. Web site: Photo ID. 2021-11-23. Digital Government and Service NL. en-CA.
  7. Web site: Nova Scotia Permits Directory - Registry of Motor Vehicles - ID Cards (Photo). 2021-11-23. novascotia.ca.
  8. Web site: Ontario Photo Card. 2021-11-23. ontario.ca. en.
  9. Web site: Toolkit. Web Experience. 2017-11-17. Photographic Identification Card (Voluntary ID). 2021-11-23. www.princeedwardisland.ca.
  10. Web site: SGI. Photo ID. 2021-11-23. SGI. en-US.
  11. Web site: Get an ID card. 2020-11-18. www.alberta.ca. en-CA.
  12. Web site: Apply for EDL, EIC or BCID . www.icbc.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140516233951/http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/Pages/Apply-for-an-enhanced-licence-ID-or-BCID.aspx . 2014-05-16.
  13. Web site: Fees – Driver licensing . Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. 2015-03-31.
  14. Web site: ICBC B.C.'s enhanced identification card . www.icbc.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090519034032/http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/BCID/eic . 2009-05-19.
  15. Web site: Manitoba Public Insurance | Manitoba Enhanced Driver's Licence and Enhanced Identification Card Program | Applicant's Guide | What is the Manitoba EIC? . 2012-05-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120618124628/http://mpi.mb.ca/EIC/Guide/WhatIsEIC.html# . 2012-06-18 . dead .
  16. Web site: Photo ID Card. gnb.ca. 14 March 2006.
  17. Web site: Welcome to Digital Government and Service NL.
  18. Web site: Newsroom : Ontario Introduces New Photo ID Card. news.ontario.ca.
  19. Web site: Photo card expanding to more service centres. northernlife.ca.
  20. Web site: Guide 0505 Documents: Identification Card - PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada. peianc.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120305001927/http://www.peianc.com/content/lang/en/page/guide_documents_idcard. 2012-03-05. 2012-05-18.
  21. Web site: SGI - Get photo ID. SGI. sgi.sk.ca/.
  22. Web site: New DL and GIC . 2012-05-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120531074149/http://www.dot.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/newDLandGIC.aspx# . 2012-05-31 . dead .
  23. Web site: Archived copy . 2012-05-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111218153332/http://www.gov.nu.ca/files/application%20for%20general%20ID%202007_eng.pdf# . 2011-12-18 . dead .
  24. Web site: Government flashes new drivers' licences - Yukon News. yukon-news.com.
  25. Web site: Secure Driver's Licence & General Identification Card. gov.yk.ca. 19 November 2021.