How to apply for Indian status

On this page

• Are you entitled to be registered under the Indian Act
• Have known sex-based inequities in the Indian Act affected your entitlement to registration
• How do you apply for registration
• What do you need to submit with the application for registration
  • for an adult (16 or older)
  • for a child (15 or younger) or dependent adult
• Are you entitled to be registered through a parent not listed on your proof of birth document
• What other documents do you need to submit if you're adopted
• Can you apply for someone else
• Where can you submit the application
• How are original documents returned
• How long does it take to be registered
• What is the 10-digit registration number
• When do you become eligible for the Non-Insured Health Services program
• Can you protest the Registrar's decision

Are you entitled to be registered under the Indian Act

Entitlement to registration under the Indian Act is based on the degree of descent from ancestors who are registered or entitled to be registered.

To find out if you're entitled to be registered, ask yourself:

• Are either or both of my parents registered or entitled to be registered?
• Are any of my grandparents registered or entitled to be registered?
• Is anyone in my immediate or extended family registered or entitled to be registered?

You may be entitled to be registered if:

• at least one of your parents is registered or entitled to be registered under subsection 6(1) of the Indian Act

or

• both of your parents are registered or entitled to be registered under subsection 6(1) or 6(2) of the Indian Act

Have known sex-based inequities in the Indian Act affected your entitlement to registration

Your or your ancestors' date of birth and life events, such as marriages and divorces, may have affected your entitlement to registration.

Between 1985 and 2019, the Indian Act was amended to address sex-based inequities and comply with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms:

• Bill C-31 restored entitlement to women who had lost entitlement due to marriage to a non-entitled man, entitling their children to registration as well
• Bill C-3 granted entitlement to grandchildren of certain women who regained entitlement under Bill C‑31
• Bill S-3 eliminated all known sex-based inequities not addressed by Bill C-31 or Bill C-3, entitling all descendants born before April 17, 1985, or from a marriage that occurred before that date, of women who had lost their entitlement due to marriage to a non-entitled man

If your entitlement to registration has been affected by known sex-based inequities in the Indian Act, you may now have the right to be registered if:

• your mother, grandmother or great-grandmother lost her entitlement through marriage to a non-entitled man before April 17, 1985

or

• your mother, grandmother or great-grandmother was born outside of marriage to an entitled father and a non-entitled mother between September 4, 1951, and April 16, 1985

or

• your parent, grandparent or great-grandparent lost their entitlement because of their mother's marriage to a non-entitled man before April 17, 1985

or

• your parent's, grandparent's or great-grandparent's name was omitted or deleted from the Indian Register or from a First Nation membership list because of their non-entitled father

As of August 15, 2019, Bill S-3 amendments addressed all known sex-based inequities in the registration provisions of the Indian Act. On December 11, 2020, the third and final report to Parliament on the review of Bill S-3 was tabled.

To find out more, visit:

• Bill S-3: Eliminating known-sex based inequities in registration
• Removal of the 1951 cut-off
• How do you apply for registration

or call:

• 1-844-280-5011

Enfranchisement of unmarried women

On July 31, 2020, the Quebec Superior Court issued its decision in the case of Hele c. Attorney General of Canada (Hele decision), ruling that unmarried women could not be enfranchised under the 1951 Indian Act.

If you, your mother or grandmother were unmarried and enfranchised by application as an adult between September 4, 1951, and April 17, 1985, you may be affected by that decision.

To find out more about enfranchisement and the steps the Government of Canada is taking to address the Quebec Superior Court's decision, visit Addressing enfranchisement of unmarried women in registration.

How do you apply for registration

What do you need to submit with the application for registration

Are you entitled to be registered through a parent not listed on your proof of birth document

A proof of birth document listing the names of the parents is the main document needed to support entitlement to registration.

If one of the biological parents isn't listed on the proof of birth document but is registered or entitled to be registered, you can submit:

• an original amended proof of birth document listing the unstated parent's name

or

• statutory declarations, 1 from the parent listed on the proof of birth document naming the unstated parent and 1 from the unstated parent acknowledging parentage

or

• a court order declaring parentage

or

• original DNA testing results that demonstrate a conclusive 99% probability or higher of a parent-child relationship from one of these laboratories accredited by the Standards Council of Canada:
  • Bureau Veritas
  • DNA Diagnostics Center
  • Genetrack Biolabs Inc.
  • Orchid PRO-DNA
  • Wyndham Forensic Group Inc.

If you can't submit any of those documents, you may submit:

• statutory declarations from family members, close relatives, Elders or community members or anyone with knowledge of parentage
• census records
• church records
• hospital records
• school records
• band council resolutions
• First Nation membership or citizenship list
• any other credible evidence

What other documents do you need to submit if you're adopted

Applicants who were adopted as minors by registered or entitled to be registered parents through a legal or custom adoption may be entitled to be registered.

A legal adoption is handled by the court and includes legal documents and an adoption order. If you or the child or dependent adult have or has been legally adopted, you must submit a complete application for registration and:

1. a copy of the adoption order or a copy of a letter from the social services authorities confirming the details of the adoption
2. a consent form signed and dated by the adopted applicant or, in the case of a child or dependent adult, by the adoptive parents or legal guardians, so ISC can get information about biological ancestry from social services authorities involved in the adoption

You can also submit a copy of the pre-adoption birth certificate listing the biological parents' names, if available.

A custom adoption is carried out following the First Nation's practices. Applicants need to submit additional documents to confirm the custom adoption.

To find out what documents you need to submit if you or the child or dependent adult were or was adopted through a custom adoption, contact ISC.

Can you apply for someone else

A third-party application is an application submitted in person by someone other than the applicant. For a child or dependent adult, a third person is any person other than the parent, custodial parent or legal guardian.

When submitting a third-party application, you must submit:

1. a complete application for registration, signed by the applicant
2. a copy of the front and of the back of valid acceptable identification of the applicant, each copy signed and dated by a guarantor
3. a guarantor declaration confirming the identity of the applicant
4. a signed statement from the applicant providing consent to submit the application through the third party
5. original valid acceptable identification of the third party
6. if also applying for a secure status card, a digital photo of the applicant using the SCIS Photo App or 2 printed photos that meet the photo requirements

Where can you submit the application

You can submit the application, including the checklist and all necessary documents:

• at any regional office
• at any First Nation office, if applicable

or

• by mail to
  • National Processing Unit
    Indigenous Services Canada
    10 rue Wellington
    Gatineau QC K1A 0H4

If you've been affected by known sex-based inequities in the Indian Act, you can submit the application, including the checklist and all necessary documents:

• at any regional office
• at any First Nation office, if applicable

or

• by mail to:
  • Application Processing Unit
    Indigenous Services Canada
    Box 6700
    Winnipeg MB  R3C 5R5

How are original documents returned

Original documents submitted, except for guarantor and statutory declarations, will be mailed to you within 1 month after receiving the application.

How long does it take to be registered

If you or the child or dependent adult are or is entitled to be registered, you'll receive a letter confirming registration in 6 to 8 months.

If you've also applied for a secure status card, you should receive it 8 to 12 weeks after receiving the letter of confirmation.

What is the 10-digit registration number

The 10-digit registration number is a unique number used to confirm registration. The first 3 digits of the number identify the First Nation you are affiliated with:

• If your First Nation's membership is maintained by ISC, you automatically become a member of that First Nation
• If your First Nation controls its own membership or citizenship, you need to contact the First Nation to apply for membership or citizenship

The 10-digit registration number on the letter of confirmation is also on the front of the status card.

If you need to confirm your registration number, you can get it from:

• any regional office
• your First Nation office
• Public enquiries

You may be asked for a piece of valid acceptable identification or to answer questions to verify your identity.

When do you become eligible for the Non-Insured Health Benefits program

The letter of confirmation establishing that you or the child or dependent adult are or is registered also confirms eligibility for certain benefits and rights.

Benefits for non-insured health services are available on registration. Services received before can't be reimbursed.

Children less than 18 months whose parent is registered are eligible for the Non-Insured Health Benefits program.

Can you protest the Registrar's decision

If the Registrar determines that you or the child or dependent adult aren't or isn't entitled to be registered, you'll receive a letter explaining why.

If you disagree with the Registrar's decision and wish to protest, visit If you disagree with the Registrar's decision.

Related links

• Indian Act
• Bill C-31: A Bill to Amend the Indian Act
• Bill C-3: Gender Equity in Indian Registration Act
• Bill S-3: An Act to amend the Indian Act in response to the Superior Court of Quebec decision in Descheneaux c. Canada (Procureur général)
• Application forms