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Applying for my kids' citizenship and need "two" ID documents

matts19

Newbie
Jul 2, 2023
6
1
My kids are born in USA and so I am having to apply for their Canadian citizenship.

Regarding https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-0001-application-citizenship-certificate-adults-minors-proof-citizenship-section-3.html#step1

For establishing their ID, I can provide their passport, but the 2nd ID document seems hard to get because they are both minors with no other ID such as driver's license.

The instruction says in this case I have to attach an explanation as to why I cannot provide secondary piece of ID, but I really don't want to go to that route.

In place of a driver's license, is it OK if I provided my daughter's "Real ID" from Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, that are given to minors who do not yet have driver license but is recognized as a legal state ID ?

My other child (son) is only 9 - and not even eligible to get Real ID. Is there anything else I can do here besides attaching an explanation for not having a secondary ID document ? We have their private health insurance cards, but they do not have DOB so I cannot use them unfortunately.
 

forw.jane

VIP Member
Apr 29, 2019
6,922
2,811
My kids are born in USA and so I am having to apply for their Canadian citizenship.

Regarding https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-0001-application-citizenship-certificate-adults-minors-proof-citizenship-section-3.html#step1

For establishing their ID, I can provide their passport, but the 2nd ID document seems hard to get because they are both minors with no other ID such as driver's license.

The instruction says in this case I have to attach an explanation as to why I cannot provide secondary piece of ID, but I really don't want to go to that route.

In place of a driver's license, is it OK if I provided my daughter's "Real ID" from Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, that are given to minors who do not yet have driver license but is recognized as a legal state ID ?

My other child (son) is only 9 - and not even eligible to get Real ID. Is there anything else I can do here besides attaching an explanation for not having a secondary ID document ? We have their private health insurance cards, but they do not have DOB so I cannot use them unfortunately.
Do they have school records?
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,324
8,920
It says right in the instructions: " If you’re applying on behalf of a minor who does not have two pieces of identification, or does not have a photo ID, please include an explanation letter with the application."

That said - I did for a child and I believe there's an expanded list for minors (which I can't find now), which gives a few more options, like school records, doctor records I believe, etc.

Do a short letter of explanation and try to include a few other documents of 'other stuff' - school records, doctor record, immunization record, Social security if the kid has one, etc. These are just examples. You'll see there it also says a few other things that are not accepted as ID, but nothing says you can't include a few of those as supporting documents.
 

matts19

Newbie
Jul 2, 2023
6
1
Thank you guys, as a 2nd piece of ID I will include proof of school enrollment and medical record with a letter explaining these pieces of evidence. More papers, the merrier in this case I guess! Thanks again!
 
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abbas.pasha

VIP Member
Sep 17, 2016
3,606
2,023
Thank you guys, as a 2nd piece of ID I will include proof of school enrollment and medical record with a letter explaining these pieces of evidence. More papers, the merrier in this case I guess! Thanks again!
Back in 2021 when we applied for citizenship along with our kids, we provided the passport and health insurance(OHIP) card.

you should refer this link(if they are applying for citizneship along with at least one of the parents): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-0003-application-canadian-citizenship-minors-under-18-years.html#step2

  • Photocopy of two (2) pieces of personal identification.
    Both pieces of identification should show the minor’s name and date of birth, one of which must have a photo on it.
    Examples include:
    • permanent resident card (PR card)
      • A PR card may only be used as personal identification if your second piece of personal identification was issued by the Canadian government
    • school record;
    • health insurance card;
    • a passport page containing their photo and personal details;
    • a hospital or immunization record, may be provided.
    • Note: If there is information on both sides of the identification document, photocopy both sides.
  • Photocopy of birth certificate or adoption order
    The document must show:
    • the minor’s name;
    • date of birth;
    • place of birth;
    • the names of the parents or adoptive parents.
 
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karthik2479

Hero Member
Apr 19, 2017
608
174
Back in 2021 when we applied for citizenship along with our kids, we provided the passport and health insurance(OHIP) card.

you should refer this link(if they are applying for citizneship along with at least one of the parents): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-0003-application-canadian-citizenship-minors-under-18-years.html#step2

  • Photocopy of two (2) pieces of personal identification.
    Both pieces of identification should show the minor’s name and date of birth, one of which must have a photo on it.
    Examples include:
    • permanent resident card (PR card)
      • A PR card may only be used as personal identification if your second piece of personal identification was issued by the Canadian government
    • school record;
    • health insurance card;
    • a passport page containing their photo and personal details;
    • a hospital or immunization record, may be provided.
    • Note: If there is information on both sides of the identification document, photocopy both sides.
  • Photocopy of birth certificate or adoption order
    The document must show:
    • the minor’s name;
    • date of birth;
    • place of birth;
    • the names of the parents or adoptive parents.
I recently got my citizenship and am planning to apply online for my daughter who is a US citizen. Is it ok to upload her expired PR card as 1 ID? Don’t see it mentioned in the instructions about the ID being valid - has anyone done it?
 

abbas.pasha

VIP Member
Sep 17, 2016
3,606
2,023
I recently got my citizenship and am planning to apply online for my daughter who is a US citizen. Is it ok to upload her expired PR card as 1 ID? Don’t see it mentioned in the instructions about the ID being valid - has anyone done it?
Expiry of PR card does not alter the PR status of the individual within Canada
 
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Mounat

Star Member
Sep 15, 2022
139
126
Texas
In place of a driver's license, is it OK if I provided my daughter's "Real ID" from Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, that are given to minors who do not yet have driver license but is recognized as a legal state ID ?
That's what I used for 2nd ID (Texas DPS ID for minors, which looks exactly like a DL). So total 3 docs: BC, US Passport, Texas ID. No questions asked and CoC was issued (after a LONG wait).
 

Sean Wu

Hero Member
May 26, 2019
334
104
Minor's personal identification (ID)

You must provide 2 pieces of ID. The minor's ID needs to

  • have their name, date of birth, photo and signature
  • be valid (not expired)
    • Exception: You can use an expired permanent resident card (PR card).

Personal ID 1
* Choose the ID you want to provide:
Biographical page (bio page) of the minor’s passport or travel document
Valid or expired permanent resident card (PR card)
Personal ID 2

The second ID can be issued by the Canadian or a foreign government.

* Choose the ID you want to provide:
Identity card issued by government
Social services card
Driver's license
Health insurance card
School identification card
Hospital or immunization record (minor under school age)
Non-government issued ID
Other ID issued by a foreign government

Can I upload the ID 1 with the passport and ID 2 with the PR Card?
 

abbas.pasha

VIP Member
Sep 17, 2016
3,606
2,023
Minor's personal identification (ID)

You must provide 2 pieces of ID. The minor's ID needs to

  • have their name, date of birth, photo and signature
  • be valid (not expired)
    • Exception: You can use an expired permanent resident card (PR card).

Personal ID 1
* Choose the ID you want to provide:
Biographical page (bio page) of the minor’s passport or travel document
Valid or expired permanent resident card (PR card)
Personal ID 2

The second ID can be issued by the Canadian or a foreign government.

* Choose the ID you want to provide:
Identity card issued by government
Social services card
Driver's license
Health insurance card
School identification card
Hospital or immunization record (minor under school age)
Non-government issued ID
Other ID issued by a foreign government

Can I upload the ID 1 with the passport and ID 2 with the PR Card?
Read it again PR card is not mentioned list of applicable documents under ID 2
You can use e.g. a provincial health card even if it does not have a photo
 
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agent_47

Star Member
May 18, 2019
61
12
I have a BC ID issued by BC Province. BCID is similar to driver's license (has a picture, signature and date of birth) except it is not a health card and not a driver's license. I do not have driver's license.

I also have health card but it doesn't have any picture in it.

BC issues a BC Services Card if you have a surname but in my case - my passport doesn't have a surname and my whole name is under the first name section. Even my PR card is issued the same way, they took my entire name and placed it in the surname section.

Now the question is --> I think I am left with only choice to upload this BCID as my secondary ID. But what do I select here? Because BCID is not a driver's license and it is not a health card too.