CERTIFICATE OF INDIAN STATUS CARDS – ISC ID REQUIREMENTS

This is to advise that Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Canada has implemented new ID requirements for status card applications. This policy must be followed even if the issuing officer personally knows the applicant. If an issuing officer fails to follow these new requirements, they may lose the authority to issue status cards.

Please bring with you the following identification to GGC or to Kispiox or Gitanmaax Band offices for the laminate type status Indian Registry card:

What is considered an acceptable valid identity document?

The identity document must have been issued by a federal, provincial, territorial or state government authority and must be valid (not expired).

To be considered acceptable, the valid identity document must include your:

  1. name
  2. date of birth
  3. photo
  4. signature

Which forms of valid identification are acceptable?

Acceptable valid identification includes:

  • passport (an international passport is acceptable if it includes the name, date of birth, photo and signature of the applicant and is accompanied by a professionally translated version if not in French or English)
  • driver’s license
  • enhanced driver’s license
  • Canadian military identification card
  • government-issued identification card
  • government-issued enhanced identification card
  • health card
  • Canadian citizenship card (issued before February 1, 2012)
  • Canadian permanent resident card
  • U.S. permanent resident card (green card)

Original documents or photocopies are accepted. Photocopies must be of the front and back of the document, signed and dated by a guarantor and accompanied by a guarantor declaration (PDF print only, 137 Kb, 2 pages; PDF fillable/saveable, 92 Kb, 2 pages).

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) makes every possible effort to return original documents within one month after receiving an application.

How to apply if you do not have acceptable valid identification?

If you can’t provide one acceptable valid identity document with the four requirements (name, date of birth, photo and signature), you may provide multiple valid identity documents that, when combined, meet all of the requirements.

If you only have one valid identity document that meets some of the requirements, you may provide that document and an original guarantor declaration (PDF print only, 137 Kb, 2 pages; PDF fillable/saveable, 92 Kb, 2 pages).

If you can’t find a guarantor, you must complete and submit a statutory declaration in lieu of guarantor (PDF print only, 172 Kb, 2 pages; PDF fillable/saveable, 102 Kb, 2 pages. You must complete and sign this form before a commissioner of oaths, a notary public or a lawyer.

To find out more, contact INAC Public Enquiries or your INAC regional office.

What do you need when applying for a secure status card

To apply for a secure status card, you or the child or dependent adult must be registered as a Status Indian under the Indian Act. If you are not registered, you can now apply for both registration and a secure status card at the same time. If you are not sure if you or the child or dependent adult are registered, contact Public enquiries.

You must find a guarantor if you are:

  • applying by mail

or

  • providing identification that does not meet all of the requirements, that is, name, date of birth, photo and signature

or

  • submitting an application in person on behalf of an adult or on behalf of a parent or legal guardian applying for a child or dependent adult

or

For an adult (16 or older)

If applying in person, you must provide:

  1. a completed Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) Application for Already Registered Persons (PDF print only, 239 Kb, 6 pages; PDF fillable/saveable, 126 Kb, 6 pages)
  2. photos that meet the photo requirements
  3. original acceptable valid identification

If the form you need does not download, get help on accessing PDF forms.

If applying by mail, you must provide:

  1. a completed Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) Application for Already Registered Persons (PDF print only, 239 Kb, 6 pages; PDF fillable/saveable, 126 Kb, 6 pages)
  2. photos that meet the photo requirements
  3. photocopies of the front and back of original acceptable valid identification, each photocopy signed by a guarantor
  4. a guarantor declaration (PDF print only, 137 Kb, 2 pages; PDF fillable/saveable, 92 Kb, 2 pages)

If your name has changed, you must also provide:

  • an original legal name-linking document, such as a change-of-name certificate, marriage certificate or divorce order, that links your previous name with your current name

or

  • a photocopy of a legal name-linking document and a photocopy of acceptable valid identification with the name that is on the application, for example, driver’s licence

For a child (15 or younger) or dependent adult

A parent or legal guardian must have the authority to act for the child or dependent adult in legal or financial matters to apply on their behalf.

If applying in person, you must provide:

  1. a completed Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) Application for Already Registered Persons (PDF print only, 239 Kb, 6 pages; PDF fillable/saveable, 126 Kb, 6 pages)
  2. for a child: a photocopy of the most recent legal documents, for example, divorce order, separation agreement, custody or guardianship order, proving custody or guardianship of the child to the applying parent or guardian, if applicable
    for a dependent adult: a photocopy of the order of guardianship
  3. photos of the child or dependent adult that meet the photo requirements
  4. original acceptable valid identification of the applying parent or legal guardian

If the form you need does not download, get help on accessing PDF forms.

If applying by mail, you must provide:

  1. a completed Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) Application for Already Registered Persons (PDF print only, 239 Kb, 6 pages; PDF fillable/saveable, 126 Kb, 6 pages)
  2. for a child: a photocopy of the most recent legal documents, for example, divorce order, separation agreement, custody or guardianship order, proving custody or guardianship of the child to the applying parent or guardian, if applicable
    for a dependent adult: a photocopy of the order of guardianship
  3. photos of the child or dependent adult that meet the photo requirements
  4. photocopies of the front and back of original acceptable valid identification of the applying parent or legal guardian, each photocopy signed by a guarantor
  5. a guarantor declaration (PDF print only, 137 Kb, 2 pages; PDF fillable/saveable, 92 Kb, 2 pages)

If the name of the child or dependent adult has changed, you must also provide:

  • an original legal name-linking document, such as a change-of-name certificate, that links their previous name with their current name

or

  • a photocopy of a legal name-linking document and a photocopy of acceptable valid identification with the name of the child or dependent adult that is on the application, for example, health card

If the name of the applying parent or legal guardian as it appears on their identity documents is not the same as on the legal custody or guardianship documents, you must also provide:

  • a photocopy of a legal name-linking document, such as a change-of-name certificate, marriage certificate or divorce order, that links their previous name with their current name

Can you apply for a status card at your First Nation or band office

Some First Nations are still issuing Certificates of Indian Status (status cards). If your band does:

If you have any questions, contact your First Nation or band office or Public enquiries.

In 2009, a more secure status card, the Secure Certificate of Indian Status, began to be issued to help protect Status Indians from identity theft.

Status Indians are encouraged to apply for the Secure Certificate of Indian Status, which has a number of security features that the Certificate of Indian Status lacks.

How do you apply

Step 1: Get the application form

Get the Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) Application for Already Registered Persons:

If the form you need does not download, get help on accessing PDF forms.

Step 2: Fill out and sign the application form

Fill out the fillable-saveable form online or write on the printable form in block letters using black or blue ink.

Check the appropriate box under “Reason for application”.

Section 1: Information on person to be issued a Secure Certificate of Indian Status
Provide personal information on the applicant, including permanent address and mailing address, if different.

The name under which the applicant is registered for Indian status, that is, the name on the Indian Register, will be printed on the secure status card. Names that are not on the Indian Register, such as cultural names, can be printed in the alias field of the card.

Section 2: Parent/Legal guardian information
Complete this section only if applying for a child or dependent adult.

Section 3: Identity documents for adult applicant or parent or legal guardian
List the identity documents you are including with the application. Identity documents must be acceptable and valid.

Section 4: Name-linking documents
List the name-linking documents you are including with the application, if applicable. If a name-linking document was provided with a previous application for registration on the Indian Register or for a status card, you don’t need to provide one again.

Section 5: Photo and signature to appear on the Secure Certificate of Indian Status
The signature inside the box will appear on the secure status card. It must be the applicant’s usual signature . The signature must not touch the borders of the box.

The signature of the child or dependent adult is not required.

Section 6: Declaration and signature
The adult applicant or the parent or legal guardian of the child or dependent adult must sign and date the declaration. Failing to do so will delay the application process.

Section 7: Indian Registration Administrator
If an Indian Registration Administrator assisted in completing the application form, the Indian Registration Administrator must complete and sign this section.

Step 3: Submit or send the application

Before submitting or sending the application, make sure you have:

  • filled out all relevant sections
  • signed and dated the form

You can:

  • submit the application in person

Gitanyow

Gitanyow Band

Gitanmaax

Gitanmaax Band

Glen Vowell

Sik-e-dakh Band