Identification
Whether you are submitting a Claim for yourself, for a Class Member who has passed away, or helping someone else, a copy of government-issued identification (ID) is required.
Why is identification needed?
Providing identification helps the Claims Administrator confirm identity, avoid delays, and make sure any approved payment is issued safely to the right person or Estate.
You can submit a Claim even if you do not have every document. Claims Helpers can support you if identification is missing or difficult to obtain.
Important Reminder
Send clear copies only of identification and documents. Do not send original documents.
Accepted Identification
You are asked to include a clear copy of government-issued identification (ID). Photo ID is preferred if you have it.
The identification should match the information on your Claim Form. If the name on your ID is different from the name you used as a child or while admitted to a Federal Indian Hospital, you can still submit your Claim and list other names you have used.
Accepted types of ID include:
- Driver’s licence
- Provincial or territorial photo ID card
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Old Age Security (OAS) card
- Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL)
- Official Military ID
- NEXUS card
- Age-of-majority or “Bring Your ID (BYID)” card
- U.S. state ID card
- Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
- Indian Status Card
- Certificate of Indian Status (CIS)
- Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS)
- Inuit Land Claim Beneficiary Card, Land Claim Beneficiary Card, including NTI Enrolment Card
- Métis Citizenship Card
- Provincial Services Card
- Prison or correctional ID
- First Nations or Indigenous government–issued ID or Certificate of Tribal Membership
- Social Insurance Card
- Statement of Live Birth (must have a raised red seal and be signed by the registrar)
- Death certificate issued by a province or territory
- Funeral home statement of death or internment
Identification that cannot be accepted
Some types of identification cannot be used for the Claim Form. These include:
- Library cards or municipal cards
- Membership cards from First Nation or Indigenous organizations that are not issued by the federal government
If you are unsure whether your identification is accepted, a Claims Helper can help you review your options.
If you do not have identification
Claims Helpers are available to help you complete your Claim Form and answer your questions. Support is free, your information is secure and you can go at your pace.
Call 1-888-592-9101 and press 2 to talk to a Claims Helper.
If you’re submitting as an Heir and don’t have documentation
If you are submitting a Claim for someone who has passed away and you do not have documentation that proves your relationship as an Heir, you can provide a Sworn Declaration that must be signed by a Guarantor.
The Guarantor may be:
- Notary Public
- Commissioner of Oaths (including Northern Villages’ Secretary Treasurer)
- Chief, Councillor, or Inuit Community Leader
- Lawyer
- Doctor or physician
- Accountant (CPA)
- Police officer
- Other accepted professionals listed in the Claim Form
Learn more about what’s required for an Estate Claim
Claims Helpers can help explain which documents apply to your situation.
