{“menuItems”:[{“label”:”Can I open a bank account without photo ID in Canada?”,”anchorName”:”#can-i-open-a-bank-account-without-photo-id-in-canada”},{“label”:”What ID do I need to open a bank account in Canada?”,”anchorName”:”#what-id-do-i-need-to-open-a-bank-account-in-canada”},{“label”:”ID requirements for major Canadian banks”,”anchorName”:”#id-requirements-for-major-canadian-banks”},{“label”:”How about credit checks?”,”anchorName”:”#how-about-credit-checks”},{“label”:”Why is it sometimes difficult to provide ID to open a bank account?”,”anchorName”:”#why-is-it-sometimes-difficult-to-provide-id-to-open-a-bank-account”},{“label”:”Open a bank account”,”anchorName”:”#open-a-bank-account”},{“label”:”The bottom line”,”anchorName”:”#the-bottom-line”},{“label”:”Frequently asked questions”,”anchorName”:”#frequently-asked-questions”}]}If you don’t have a Canadian passport or driver’s license, you might think it’s impossible to open a bank account without photo ID. But banks may accept other, less commonly used forms of ID.Can I open a bank account without photo ID in Canada?The short answer is no. Banks need to verify your identity before you can open an account. That’s anti-fraud policy 101, and it protects you. You wouldn’t want a random person to be able to open a bank account in your name.This also applies to digital banks. Even if you try to open an account online or through an app, you’ll usually be asked to submit a copy of your ID or a video of yourself.But if you don’t have a valid Canadian passport or driver’s license, banks might accept other forms of ID.What ID do I need to open a bank account in Canada?Banks will look for ID that has an identification number and shows your name, signature and picture. Canadian passports and driver’s licenses issued in a Canadian province or territory are always acceptable (unless expired).If you don’t have these, here’s a list of alternative IDs that banks might accept. If you don’t have photo ID, you may need to provide multiple alternatives types of ID.Permanent Resident cardHealth Card (not acceptable in all provinces)Provincial or territorial identity cardTax Notice of AssessmentSecure Certificate of Indian StatusCanadian Forces CardCanadian citizenship card (issued before 2012)Federally issued firearms licenseForeign passportUS permanent resident cardUS driver’s licenseID requirements for major Canadian banksTD Canada TrustSIN card andValid PassportDrivers LicenseBirth Certificate (if under 21)Government Issued Age of Majority cardCan apply in person at a branch with 2 pieces of ID that show your name, address and date of birth.CIBCDriver’s license issued in Canada, US or UKCanadian passport or eligible foreign passportBC Services Card (in BC)NEXUS cardCANPASS Air membership cardCertificate of Canadian or US CitizenshipCertification of Naturalization (not a commemorative issue)Canadian or US Permanent Resident cardCanadian Certificate of Indian StatusProvincial or territorial health insurance card (not valid in all provinces)Provincial/territorial identification cardGovernment of Canada employee ID card with name + photographLiquor Control Board Age of Majority (BYID) card with an ID numberManitoba Public Insurance Corporation (MPIC) cardCanadian Firearms LicenseProvincial or Federal Police force ID cardCanadian Forces ID CardCorrectional Services Canada ID cardUS Certificate of NaturalizationPlus a birth certificate, recent utility or financial statement, tax Notice of Assessment or similar document with your name and date of birth.RBC1 piece of government photo ID issued in Canada or2 pieces of ID from List A or1 piece of ID from List A and 1 from List BList A:Canadian Birth certificateCanadian Citizenship Certificate (no photo)Canadian Citizenship and Immigration form IMM1000 (before June 28th, 2002)Canadian Citizenship and Immigration form IMM1442Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Form IMM5292Canadian Naturalization Certificate (not a commemorative issue)Canadian Old Age Security cardCanadian Social Insurance Number Card (red and white plastic card issued on or before March 31, 2014)Provincial and territorial health insurance card with no Photo (except for Ontario, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and PEI)List B:ATM card or client cardCanadian Social Insurance Number letter (issued after March 31, 2014)Student card with photo issued by Canadian university or collegeCanadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) client card with photo and signatureCredit card with your name and signatureEmployee identity card with your photoDiplomatic ID issued by Foreign AffairsSponsor, personally known by RBC client or community memberScotiabankNon-expired government ID issued in Canada with your name, photo, a unique identifier number and your signature.Acceptable ID:PassportCitizenship card (issued prior to 2012)Permanent resident cardSecure Certificate of Indian StatusCanadian Forces CardForeign PassportProvincial Drivers LicensesDND 404 Driver’s LicenseBritish Columbia Services CardProvincial Health Card (BC & Quebec only)Provincial/territorial identity cardsBMOCertificate of Canadian CitizenshipCanadian Certificate of Indian StatusDriver’s licence (cannot use a temporary Alberta Driver’s License)Canadian Firearms LicenseGovernment-issued ID card or documentImmigration Canada Documents; Immigration Canada form IMM 1000, IMM 1442, IMM 5292, or IMM 5688NEXUS CardPassportPermanent Resident cardProvincial or territorial health insurance (not acceptable in all provinces)Provincial/territorial identification card with your photo and signatureNewcomers to Canada: A valid passport + Canadian visaNational BankValid government ID issued in Canada including:Canadian passportDriver’s licencePermanent resident cardProvincial or federal identification card (excluding Quebec)Quebec Health Insurance Card (new version)When applying online, you will submit a copy of your ID and a selfie for comparison. You can also verify your identity by signing into online banking at another financial institution where you have a chequing or savings account.How about credit checks?You may be able to open a bank account without providing multiple types of ID if your bank allows digital identity verification by conducting a soft credit check, which won’t affect your credit score. However, some banks require hard credit checks if you open an account online. This will affect your credit score.
Why is it sometimes difficult to provide ID to open a bank account?There are a number of scenarios in which someone might be struggling to provide ID, and there are different options they can take.Just moved to CanadaIf you’ve recently arrived in Canada, you might not yet have a residence, making it tough to provide proof of residency. In this case, many banks accept foreign-issued passports as well as your Canadian-issued visa or other immigration documents.
International studentsIf you’re planning to study in Canada, you might want to open a Canadian bank account for everyday spending and money transfers. Luckily, most major banks have accounts designed for students and newcomers to Canada with provisions for those who can’t provide the usual Canadian ID.Digital nomadsWith more and more people working remotely, travelling the world while working has become much easier. If you’re living the nomadic life, you may want to get a Canadian mailing address from an online address service provider. Note that there is a cost for this service, which varies depending on the provider you choose and whether you pay for add-ons like mail/package forwarding.HomelessnessShould you find yourself without a home, there are ways to get an address without buying or renting property. Similar to digital nomads, you can get a virtual address or proxy address where your mail can be sent.Open a bank accountThe bottom lineTo prevent fraud, you can’t open a bank account in Canada without ID. Although passports and driver’s licenses are the most commonly used forms of ID, banks typically accept a much wider range of documents to verify your identity. You may also be able to verify your ID by consenting to a credit check.Frequently asked questions
How do I open a bank account if my ID is refused?
If you don’t have ID on a bank’s official list of acceptable identification, go into a bank branch personally to speak to a representative. The bank may be flexible with ID requirements as long as you can verify basic details like your name, Canadian residency and date of birth.
How do I provide proof of residency to open a bank account?
When verifying your residency to open a bank account in Canada, banks will usually accept a recent utility bill, bank statement, CRA Notice of Assessment, credit card bill or other document showing your name and address.
Can I open a bank account if my ID has expired?
Canadian banks typically don’t accept expired ID, so you’ll need to renew your ID before opening a bank account.
