THE TWO-ID RULE
Two pieces of ID. One with a photo.
IRCC requires every applicant — adult or minor — to include copies of two valid pieces of identification with the application. The rule sounds simple, but the list of what counts is more flexible than most people expect.
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TWO
When you don't have two pieces of ID.
IRCC's own instructions acknowledge that not everyone has two forms of government-issued ID. The fix is straightforward: include what you have, and explain why you don't have more.
MOST COMMON SCENARIO
A child with only a passport.
Minors often have a passport from family travel but no second ID. The most reliable fix is a state-issued ID from the same office that issues driver's licenses — typically cheap, processed in a few weeks, and unambiguously acceptable to IRCC. If the wait for an appointment is too long, parents sometimes submit the passport alone with an explanation letter.
Unlock →WHAT THE LETTER SHOULD SAY
Specific, not generic.
Name the applicant. Name the ID you're including (with its number and expiration). State plainly why a second piece isn't available right now — "my daughter is twelve and has never needed a state ID; the wait time for a DMV appointment is six months" is better than "we don't have two forms of ID." The specificity shows IRCC you've thought about it.
Unlock →WHAT COUNTS
What counts as acceptable ID.
IRCC doesn't publish a closed list of acceptable IDs — they publish criteria. Any government-issued document that meets the four requirements above qualifies, which opens up more options than the obvious ones.
WHAT COUNTS
- Driver's license
- Passport
- State or provincial ID card
- Age of majority card
- Certificate of Indian status card
- Health insurance card
- Senior citizen's card
- Voter registration card
- Hunting or fishing license
- Concealed carry permit
- Military ID
WHAT DOESN'T
- Birth certificate
- Social Security card or SIN card
- Bank card or credit card
- Previous Canadian citizenship certificate
- Library card
- Costco or warehouse club card
- Work or school ID (private)
- Expired government ID
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TWO
When you don't have two pieces of ID.
IRCC's own instructions acknowledge that not everyone has two forms of government-issued ID. The fix is straightforward: include what you have, and explain why you don't have more.
MOST COMMON SCENARIO
A child with only a passport.
Minors often have a passport from family travel but no second ID. The most reliable fix is a state-issued ID from the same office that issues driver's licenses — typically cheap, processed in a few weeks, and unambiguously acceptable to IRCC. If the wait for an appointment is too long, parents sometimes submit the passport alone with an explanation letter.
Unlock →WHAT THE LETTER SHOULD SAY
Specific, not generic.
Name the applicant. Name the ID you're including (with its number and expiration). State plainly why a second piece isn't available right now — "my daughter is twelve and has never needed a state ID; the wait time for a DMV appointment is six months" is better than "we don't have two forms of ID." The specificity shows IRCC you've thought about it.
Unlock →KEEP GOING
Where ID fits in the process.
ID is one piece of the application package. Where to go next depends on your situation.
TRANSLATIONS →
Non-English or French IDs
Foreign passports, non-English IDs, and the rules for who can produce a translation IRCC will accept.
APPLYING FOR A MINOR →
When the applicant is your child
How CIT 0001 gets filled out when a parent applies for a minor, and which supporting form you can skip.
APPLICATION FORM →
Fill out CIT 0001
Practical guidance for filing CIT 0001 — including the two sections descent applicants find confusing.
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