New Card Design

AANDC has two formats of the Secure Certificate of Indian Status in circulation. As you may be aware, the name of the department has changed to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC), but the SCIS still references Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). The department is phasing in the new applied department name over a period of time and as a result we continue to issue the existing SCIS stock that features the INAC logo. This does not affect the validity of the card.

1.  In-Canada Format:

• Denotes that the cardholder has registered Indian Status that provides the identified individual with access to a variety of statutory entitlements and program-based services in Canada.
  
  
• Is temporarily an acceptable document to present for crossing the border into the United States (U.S.) via land ports of entry (which can include ferry and lake crossings). (For information on documentation requirements for visiting the United States, please visit the Border Crossing information section.)
  
  
• The only format that will be issued to a cardholder that is born outside the U.S. or Canada, regardless of Citizenship
  
  
• Issued to cardholders that do not wish to have their personal data shared with Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs Border Protection

 

 

2.  Border-Crossing Format:

• Denotes that the cardholder has registered Indian Status that provides the identified individual with access to a variety of statutory entitlements and program-based services in Canada.
  
  
• Acceptable document to present for crossing the border into the United States (U.S.) via land ports of entry (which can include ferry and lake crossings).  For information on documentation requirements for visiting the United States, please visit the Border Crossing information section.
  
  
• Only issued to individuals who are born within Canada or the United States, regardless of citizenship
  
  
• Issued to cardholders who give consent to sharing information with Canada Border Services Agency, Passport Canada and, only when presented, to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection when visiting the U.S. via land ports of entry (which can include ferry and lake crossings).

 

Symbol

What this symbol represents

The large semi-circles represent four people reaching out to each other and forming a seamless circle. They represent First Nations from the North, South, East and West.

The inner circle contains a stylized image of the medicine wheel used among many First Nations and easily recognizable to most members.