california real id card Examples of Government Issued Photo Identification
Examples of Government Issued Photo Identification
When you are required to verify the identity of individual clients or third parties, you can use the government issued photo identification method. This method of verification requires licensees to verify a client’s identity by relying on a valid, original, and current federal, provincial, or territorial government issued document containing the individual’s name, photograph, and unique identifier number. A foreign government issued photo identification is acceptable if it is equivalent to a Canadian issued photo identification document. However, photo identification documents issued by a municipal government, whether Canadian or foreign, are not acceptable. Privacy laws in Ontario also prohibit the use of an individual’s health card for identification or verification purposes (see the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario’s website).
The government issued photo identification document must show the individual’s name, include a photo of the individual, and have a unique identifier number. To assist licensees in complying with the government issued photo identification method of verification, below are examples of acceptable government issued photo identification documents that may be used for verifying the identity of an individual. Licensees should note that this is not an exhaustive list.
Canadian passport
Permanent resident card
Citizenship card (issued prior to 2012)
Secure Certificate of Indian Status
The Department of National Defence (DND) 404 Driver’s Licence
British Columbia Driver’s Licence
Alberta Driver’s Licence
Saskatchewan Driver’s Licence
Manitoba Driver’s Licence
Ontario Driver’s Licence
Québec Driver’s Licence
New Brunswick Driver’s Licence
Nova Scotia Driver’s Licence
Prince Edward Island Driver’s Licence
Newfoundland and Labrador Driver’s Licence
Yukon Driver’s Licence
Northwest Territories Driver’s Licence
Nunavut Driver’s Licence
British Columbia Enhanced ID
Alberta Photo Identification Card
Saskatchewan Non-driver Photo ID
Manitoba Enhanced Identification Card
Ontario Photo Card
New Brunswick Photo ID Card
Nova Scotia Identification Card
Prince Edward Island Voluntary ID
Newfoundland and Labrador Photo Identification Card
Yukon General Identification Card
Northwest Territories General Identification Card
Nunavut General Identification Card
British Columbia Services Card
United States Global Entry Card
NEXUS (United States or Canada)
France driver’s licence
United States passport
Australian passport
Pennsylvania driver’s licence
This resource has been adapted for Ontario licensees with permission from the Federation of Law Societies of Canada’s Guidance for the Legal Profession (February 19, 2019). The information in this resource was originally sourced from FINTRAC.