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ID & Settlement

Provincial Photo ID Cards for Non-Drivers

Current guidance for Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Québec and Manitoba — including newcomer eligibility, fees, validity and what each card can and cannot replace.

What a provincial photo ID is useful for

A non-driver provincial ID card can be useful for everyday identity checks, financial services, government transactions and other situations where an organization asks for government-issued photo identification. The exact documents an institution accepts are not controlled by the province, so a provincial card is not guaranteed to work for every transaction.

For domestic flights, the Government of Canada accepts qualifying provincial or territorial identification containing your photo, full name and date of birth. International travel is different: a provincial ID card is not a substitute for a passport or other document required to cross an international border.

Select Your Province

Ontario Photo Card (OPC)

Typical fee$35 CAD
Where to applyServiceOntario Centre (in person)
Validity5 years
Official sourceView current government rules
Key eligibility and rules
  • Ontario resident who is not a visitor.
  • 16 years of age or older.
  • Does not have a driver’s licence from Ontario or another jurisdiction, and does not hold another similar photo card.

2026 provincial comparison

ProvinceCredentialTypical new-card feeMinimum ageValidity
OntarioOntario Photo Card$35165 years
British ColumbiaBCID$3512About 5 years
AlbertaAlberta Identification CardRegistry-agent schedule121–5 years
QuébecRAMQ Health Insurance CardPhoto fee may applyPhoto normally from 14Card expiry date
ManitobaManitoba Identification Card$20No separate minimum stated on current general card guidanceUp to 5 years

Fees, renewal periods and document requirements can change. Treat the official issuing authority as the final source before applying.

Common documents to prepare

There is no single Canada-wide document checklist. The issuing authority may require original documents, and some credentials have special rules for newcomers or temporary residents.

  • Identity: passport, birth certificate or another document on the province’s accepted list.
  • Immigration/status: where required, bring your PR card, work permit, study permit, visitor record or another accepted status document.
  • Provincial residence: lease, utility statement, bank statement or another accepted address document.
  • Name changes: marriage certificate or other legal name-change evidence if the documents do not match.
  • Originals: verify whether originals are required before your appointment; do not assume photocopies are accepted.

Newcomers and temporary residents

Visitor, work-permit, study-permit and permanent-resident status do not produce one uniform Canadian ID-card rule. Alberta expressly requires proof that the applicant can legally live in Canada. Ontario requires Ontario residence and is not a visitor credential. BCID relies on age, BC residence and satisfactory identity evidence, while the Photo BC Services Card has separate MSP-related eligibility.

When a province does not issue the type of card you expected, do not substitute a health card, status document or provincial card automatically. Check the exact identification accepted by the bank, employer, airline, landlord or government service you are dealing with.

Frequently Asked Questions

In several provinces, yes. Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba issue non-driver identification cards subject to provincial eligibility rules. Québec does not issue a comparable standalone non-driver card; eligible residents generally use the RAMQ Health Insurance Card as an important government credential, usually with a photo and signature for people aged 14 to 74.

For domestic air travel, the Government of Canada says Canadian identification issued by a federal, provincial or territorial government can be used when it includes your photo, full name and date of birth. A provincial identification card can therefore satisfy the domestic-air-travel identification requirement when it meets those conditions. International travel is different: a provincial ID card is not a substitute for the travel document required to cross an international border.

It depends on the province and the specific credential. Alberta requires proof that the applicant can legally live in Canada and accepts certain temporary-resident documents. BCID eligibility is based primarily on age and BC residence, but the identification and status documents used to establish identity must satisfy ICBC. Ontario requires the applicant to be an Ontario resident and is not a visitor credential. Always check the province-specific rules before applying.

Not necessarily, and Ontario and Manitoba explicitly require a non-driver cardholder not to hold the relevant driver’s licence. Ontario also requires surrender of the Photo Card if you later obtain an Ontario driver’s licence. BC and Alberta have their own rules governing driver’s licences and identification cards. Do not assume you can hold both credentials without checking the province.

The exact document list varies by province. Common categories include original identity documents, proof of date of birth or legal name, proof of immigration or citizenship status where required, and proof of provincial residence. Electronic copies or photocopies may not be accepted in every situation. Check the issuing authority’s current document list before visiting.

No single provincial card is guaranteed to be accepted by every organization or transaction. The issuing government provides the credential as government identification, but individual institutions can have their own document requirements. A provincial ID card is not a universal substitute for a passport, permanent resident card or other immigration/travel document when those documents are specifically required.
Official References
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Quick provincial guide

OntarioPhoto Card
British ColumbiaBCID
AlbertaAlberta ID
QuébecRAMQ card
ManitobaMPI ID

Don’t confuse ID with travel documents

A provincial photo card is primarily identity documentation. It does not prove citizenship or permanent-resident status and does not automatically give you the right to enter another country. Permanent residents returning to Canada by commercial vehicle generally need a valid PR card or another accepted travel document.

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