Get a government ID card

Overview

If you are an Alberta resident who can legally live in Canada and do not have a valid driver’s licence, you can apply for an ID card to use as photo identification.

Eligibility

The minimum age to hold an ID card is 12 years old.

Applicants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to provide consent.

If you are a student from another jurisdiction and are attending an accredited school in Alberta, you can apply for an ID card.

You will need to prove that you are an Alberta resident and that you can legally live in Canada.

Alberta residence documents

You can prove that you are an Alberta resident by providing the registry agent with a utility bill, bank statement, or credit card statement. The documents may be presented in paper or electronically.

Canada residence documents

One of the following original valid / not-expired documents may be presented as proof you are a permanent or temporary resident of Canada:

• Canadian provincial birth certificate
• valid Canadian passport, NEXUS or Permanent Resident card
• Secure Certificate of Indian Status Card
• Canadian Citizenship Card with photo (dated before February 2012)
• a confirmation document, permit or resident visa issued by the Government of Canada that gives you resident status in Canada for more than the next 90 days
• refugee claimants with a Refugee Protection Claimant Document

If your Canada residence documents are not in English, you must present a written translation from an approved translator.

How to apply

To apply for an Alberta ID card, visit any authorized registry agent in Alberta.

There are 3 options to renew your ID card.

Renew online

The online site can only be used if you are renewing your ID card without changes. If your ID card has expired, or you require any changes, for example a name or address change, you must apply for the renewal in person at a registry agent office.

Online ID card renewals require a verified account. If you do not already have an account, allow 10 business days after signing up for your activation code to arrive in the mail. Finalize your verification using the activation code before completing your online ID card renewal.

To renew online, you will need:

• verified account
• valid ID card
• credit card (VISA, MasterCard or American Express)
• current web browser (Internet Explorer 6 or higher, Firefox, Chrome or Safari)

Start your online ID card renewal

Renew in person

Bring your ID card to a registry agent to renew.

If the photograph on your ID card is 4 or more years old, a new one will have to be taken.

If your ID card expired more than 6 months ago, you will need to provide proof of legal entitlement to be in Canada (birth certificate, passport, etc.), as well as proof of your residency in Alberta (utility bill, residential lease agreement, etc.).

Renew or replace an ID card remotely

If you require a new ID card and you are unable to attend a registry agent in person because you are either temporarily outside of Alberta or are medically homebound, you can apply for a new ID card by completing the Remote Driver's Licence/ID Card Application (REG11197)

You will need to provide proof of identification and Alberta residency with your application.

You can send your application and the applicable fees to any Alberta registry agent.

At the time of your next ID card service, you will be required to provide proof of Alberta residency and Canadian legal presence.

Cost for renewing an ID card

The maximum charge for renewing an ID card is outlined in the Registry Agent Product Catalogue.

If you have not received your ID card

The registry agent will provide you with a 30-day identification card receipt to use until your new identification card arrives in the mail (up to 21 days). If you renew your card online, you can download your identification card receipt. You can keep the downloaded receipt on your mobile device, or print it.

Your new ID card will arrive in the mail within 3 weeks of your application date.

If your card has not arrived in 21 days, call the number on the back of your identification card receipt. You may be asked to go back to a registry office to order a no-charge replacement, and you’ll be issued a new 30-day identification card receipt.

You can keep your previous Alberta identification card as government-issued photo identification until your new one arrives in the mail, but you must securely destroy your previous ID card and tear apart the identification card receipt when the new card arrives.

If you don’t report a missing card within 60 days of the day you applied, you may be charged for a replacement.

Contact

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-7013
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)