ID you'll use every day

When you settle in Canada, you'll quickly discover that the right identification document can make your daily life—and official tasks—much easier. Whether you're opening a bank account, boarding a domestic flight, or renting an apartment, Canada requires government-issued photo ID. This guide covers the main documents you'll use every day, which ones to carry, and how to keep them safe.

Driver's licence vs provincial photo ID card

In Canada, provincial driver's licences are the primary form of government-issued photo ID. But if you don't drive—or haven't obtained a Canadian licence yet—you don't need to settle for carrying your passport everywhere. Most Canadian provinces offer a provincial photo ID card for non-drivers that carries the same ID weight as a driver's licence.

The key difference is simple: a driver's licence lets you legally operate a vehicle and serves as government photo ID. A provincial photo ID card serves only the ID purpose, without any driving privileges. You can't hold both at the same time. Whichever you choose, you'll get a valid, secure government document that works for daily identification needs.

Provincial photo ID for newcomers and non-drivers

If you're a newcomer who doesn't drive, getting a provincial photo card is often the smartest first step. It costs far less than a driver's licence and arrives much faster than dealing with driving tests and graduated licensing. In Ontario, for example, a photo card costs $35 and arrives within 4 to 6 weeks. Other provinces have similar timelines and affordable fees.

To apply, visit your provincial service centre (ServiceOntario in Ontario, Alberta Registry offices in Alberta, etc.) with your original identity documents. You'll need to prove your legal name, date of birth, and signature. Your passport, PR card, or Confirmation of Permanent Residence all work as primary ID. The photo is taken on the spot during your application—you don't bring your own.

• Ontario Photo Card: $35, valid 5 years
• British Columbia Identification Card (BCID): $35, valid 5 years
• Alberta ID Card: $49, valid 5 years
• Manitoba Identification Card: $20, valid 5 years
• Saskatchewan Photo ID Card: free, valid 5 years

PR card, passport, and health card—when each is used

Your PR card (permanent resident card)

If you are a permanent resident, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) will mail your PR card automatically after you complete your landing in Canada. This card shows your photo and proves your permanent resident status. It is valid for five years.

The PR card has one critical use: international travel. If you are a permanent resident and plan to travel outside Canada, you must carry a valid PR card when boarding a flight, train, bus, or boat back into the country. If you don't have a valid PR card, you may not be able to board your flight home. This is why it's essential to keep track of your card's expiry date and apply for a renewal well before it expires.

For day-to-day identification inside Canada—opening a bank account, picking up a package, verifying yourself at a medical appointment—your provincial photo card or driver's licence is what you'll use. Your PR card works as supporting ID for some tasks, but it is typically used alongside another document rather than instead of one.

Your Canadian passport

Your Canadian passport is the gold standard of ID if you are a Canadian citizen. It proves both your identity and your citizenship, and it is the only universally accepted document when you travel outside the country. However, because passports are expensive and difficult to replace, most people don't carry them daily. Reserve your passport for trips outside Canada and situations where you specifically need to prove citizenship.

For domestic flights within Canada, you have options: you can use your provincial photo card, driver's licence, PR card, health card, or passport. You do not need a passport for a domestic flight. This is useful to know if you're visiting another province.

Your provincial health card (OHIP, MSP, RAMQ, etc.)

Your provincial health card—known as OHIP in Ontario, MSP in British Columbia, RAMQ in Quebec, and by different names in other provinces—is essential for accessing healthcare in Canada. However, health cards are not designed for general ID purposes. They lack the security features needed for broader ID checks and are not accepted as standalone photo ID for purchases, age verification, or many other identification needs.

Keep your health card for healthcare appointments and use it as supporting documentation when needed, but always have your provincial photo card or driver's licence as your primary government photo ID.

Keeping originals safe and using certified copies

Your original documents—passport, PR card, birth certificate, marriage certificate—are irreplaceable and valuable. Carrying them everywhere creates unnecessary risk. Instead, keep originals in a safe place at home and use copies for daily life whenever possible. Many situations that feel urgent only actually require a certified copy or even a simple photocopy.

What is a certified copy?

A certified copy is a photocopy of your original document that has been verified by an authorized professional—usually a notary public or commissioner of oaths—as a true and accurate copy. The professional reviews the original, compares it to the photocopy, then signs and stamps the photocopy with a statement confirming its authenticity. This costs roughly $20 to $50 per page, depending on your location.

When IRCC, the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency), a bank, or another organization asks for a certified copy, they are asking for this notarized version. A plain photocopy is not sufficient; the certification proves the copy has been verified by someone in a position of trust.

When you need certified copies

• Applying for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) if IRCC or Service Canada asks for certified documentation
• Opening certain types of bank or investment accounts
• Applying for a mortgage or rental property
• IRCC applications (citizenship, sponsorship, immigration forms) where originals won't be returned
• Legal matters involving marriage, adoption, or name change
• Translating documents: if a document is in another language, the translation must often be certified

Many standard tasks—like opening a basic chequing account at a bank—only require a simple photocopy or just your provincial photo card. Always ask what a organization actually needs before paying for certification.

Getting certified copies of your passport or travel documents

If you need a certified copy of your Canadian passport, you can apply to IRCC directly by mail. You'll download form PPTC 516, mail it along with your passport and payment, and IRCC will mail back certified copies. You cannot pick them up in person—they are mailed to a Canadian address. For passports issued by other countries, visit your country's embassy or consulate in Canada.

Creating a safe document storage system

Set up a home filing system that works for your lifestyle. Keep original documents in a secure, dry place—a locked drawer, home safe, or safety deposit box at your bank. Make 2 to 3 photocopies of key documents and store them separately (for example, one copy at home, one with a trusted friend or family member).

For documents you use frequently but safely, like your provincial photo card or driver's licence, keep the original with you. For documents you rarely need in physical form—like your passport—keep it at home and carry a photocopy only when you know you'll need it.

If you plan to apply for Canadian citizenship in the future, remember that IRCC does not return documents submitted with citizenship applications. This is why certified copies are so important: you can send certified versions to government without losing your originals.