Identity Screening Regulations

What do travellers need to do to prepare?

Bring valid, government-issued identification (ID) with you to the airport!

New Identity Screening Regulations require all passengers planning to travel on Canadian domestic flights, who appear to be 12 years of age or older, to present the following ID before boarding:

1. One piece of valid government-issued PHOTO ID that shows name, date of birth, and gender

OR

2. Two pieces of valid government-issued ID (without a photo), one of which shows name, date of birth, and gender

AND

3. The name on the identification must match the name on the boarding pass.

All rules for flights to the United States and other international travel continue to apply.
The verification of passengers’ ID is already a practice followed by most major air carriers in Canada.

What type of ID meets the new requirements?

For implementation of the Passenger Protect Program, the Identity Screening Regulations require either:

1. one piece of valid government-issued photo ID that shows name, date of birth and gender; or
2. two pieces of valid government-issued ID, at least one of which shows name, date of birth and gender.

The following are examples (but not limited to) of valid government-issued ID that may be counted toward the requirements of the Identity Screening Regulations:

• Passport
• Citizenship card
• Permanent Resident card
• Driver’s licence
• Health card
• Provincial/Territorial Government Identification Cards (GIC)
• Birth certificate
• Record of Landing Form / Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292)
• Immigration documents issued to foreign nationals (Work Permit, Study Permit, Visitor Record, Temporary Resident Permit, Refugee Approved Status)
• Canadian military ID
• Federal police ID
• Federal, Provincial, and Municipal government employee ID
• Social Insurance Number (SIN) card
• Old Age Security (OAS) Identification Card
• Certificate of Indian Status (Status Card) issued by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)
• CBSA NEXUS Card

As of Tuesday, September 18, 2007, Transport Canada will not require travellers between 12 and 17 years of age to present ID before they are allowed to board an aircraft. However, passengers are strongly advised to check with their air carrier before they travel, as air carriers may have a policy of requiring passengers to present ID prior to boarding.

The exemption to the Passenger Protect program announced in June will be modified and extended to March 31, 2008, pending regulatory consultations on identification (ID) requirements for air travellers under the age of 18.

DELAY

Delays at check-in could be the result of many reasons such as (but not limited to) individuals not having proper identifications, airport/airline checks, other security lists etc. Delays related to Passenger Protect Program will occur ONLY if a person is checked against the SPL and if an Emergency Direction is issued by Transport Canada.

LOSS OF ID DOCUMENTS

The loss of ID documents will cause problem to check-in or board a plane. If someone looses or gets his/her identification documents stolen, he/she will be responsible to acquire new or temporary government issued identifications. The individual may have some government issued identification faxed to them (birth certificate) and present that to the air carrier. Having a police report may also assist you especially if your ID have been stolen. It is important that the individual contact the air carrier as they are responsible to enforce the Regulations.