Is your status card valid

Your registration under the Indian Act doesn't expire, but your status card needs to be renewed.

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Why your status card expires

Similar to other federal, provincial and territorial identity documents, such as a passport, driver's license or health card, a status card needs to be renewed to reflect the cardholder's current appearance.

If your status card is past the renewal date, submit an application to renew it.

What makes a status card valid

A status card is valid if it is:

Status cards that are being issued

The Secure Certificate of Indian Status (or secure status card) and the Certificate of Indian Status (or status card) are issued to confirm registration under the Indian Act.

Secure Certificate of Indian Status

The Secure Certificate of Indian Status issued centrally by ISC, has a number of security features:

  • laser-engraved information burned directly into the card
  • raised letters and numbers on the surface
  • patterns of extremely fine lines not easily scanned or copied
  • ultra-violet imaging and printing visible with special equipment
  • secondary photo image of the cardholder visible from both sides of the card
  • toll-free number to call to confirm card is valid
  • machine-readable zone to facilitate Canada–U.S. border crossing
Secure Certificate of Indian Status - Front
Secure Certificate of Indian Status - Back

As of February 1, 2019, all new and renewed secure status cards are issued with a machine-readable zone on the back of the card.

The machine-readable zone contains only cardholder information that is already displayed on the front of the card.

Certificate of Indian Status

The Certificate of Indian Status, or status card, is still issued in some First Nation offices. This card has only a limited number of security features found on other government-issued identity documents.

Certificate of Indian Status - Front
Certificate of Indian Status - Back

The laminated status card with no renewal date is also still valid.

Older versions of the status card

All previously issued versions of both the secure status card and status card are valid until the renewal date on the card.

Some secure status cards in circulation may not have a machine-readable zone but remain valid until their renewal date.

Older versions of the status card - Front
Older versions of the status card - Back

If your status card is no longer valid, you may be denied benefits and rights for Indigenous peoples or have difficulty crossing the Canada–U.S. border.

History of the status card

In 1956, the Government of Canada began issuing the Certificate of Indian Status as an official identity document confirming the cardholder to be registered under the Indian Act.

The status card is either a laminated or a plastic card with fewer security features than now expected of a government-issued identity document.

In 2009, the more secure status card, the Secure Certificate of Indian Status, began to be issued to help protect registered persons from identity theft. Improved security features make it less vulnerable to tampering and counterfeiting.

Registered persons are encouraged to apply for a secure status card. To get a secure status card, visit How to apply for a status card.

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