Alberta Adds Citizenship Marker to Driver’s Licences, Fall 2026

(ALBERTA, CANADA) Alberta will become the first province to place a Canadian citizenship marker on provincial driver’s licences and government-issued ID cards, Premier Danielle Smith announced on September 15, 2025, in Calgary. The change adds a simple “CAN” notation for Canadian citizens and is planned to roll out in Fall 2026 for all new and renewed cards.

Non-citizens—including permanent residents and temporary workers—will receive licences without a citizenship marker. The government says the update will make it easier to prove identity and citizenship when dealing with provincial programs, while also helping protect the integrity of Alberta’s elections.

How the change will work

Albertans applying for or renewing a licence or ID starting in Fall 2026 will be asked to show proof of Canadian citizenship or immigration status. Officials say this extra step will allow the province to:

• Print the “CAN” marker on cards held by citizens
• Leave the marker off for everyone else
• Create a clearer, faster way to confirm eligibility for services that are limited to citizens

Current cards will remain valid until their normal renewal dates; the province will not reissue existing cards early.

“Better, faster, and more convenient” — Premier Smith framed the change as both a convenience upgrade and an election security tool.

Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said Alberta worked with Ottawa but could not get a single centralized federal data source to verify citizenship in real time, so the province chose to build the solution into everyday ID. Officials note that 67 countries already include nationality or citizenship indicators on official IDs, making Alberta’s approach new in Canada but familiar globally.

What the marker and card do — and what they don’t

• The marker will appear only as “CAN” for citizens.
• There will be no labels for non-citizens (no “PR” or “TEMP” markers).
• The card does not change a person’s legal status and does not replace federal documents.
• It is intended as a one-stop provincial ID that signals citizenship when needed (for example, for student financial aid or certain provincial disability programs).

Policy timeline and cost

• Legislation to authorize the update will be introduced in Fall 2025.
• Implementation will follow in Fall 2026 across Alberta registry offices for both driver’s licences and provincial ID cards.
• The new cards will be issued at no additional cost to Albertans.
• Expect routine attendance at a registry office for renewals, with a documentation check tied to status.

Health care number addition

Alongside the citizenship marker, Alberta will add health care numbers to driver’s licences to improve accuracy within the provincial health system. Premier Smith highlighted a concerning discrepancy: more than 500,000 extra health care numbers exist in the registry compared to the province’s population.

Officials expect that placing the number on the card will help:

• Find and fix registry errors more quickly
• Spot “outliers”
• Reduce waste in billing and coverage

Impact on election processes

The province says the new feature will support local election integrity by helping ensure only Canadian citizens vote in provincial elections. While the voter list is managed separately, officials believe a clear citizenship signal on a commonly used ID will reduce confusion at the polls.

Note: The change will not affect federal elections, where Elections Canada runs separate processes.

What applicants should bring (starting Fall 2026)

Albertans seeking a new or renewed licence or ID should bring documents that confirm both identity and citizenship or immigration status. The province has not published a final list, but common examples include:

• Canadian passport (confirms identity and citizenship)
• Canadian citizenship certificate or card (confirms citizenship)
• Alberta birth certificate or other Canadian birth certificate
• Permanent resident card, work permit, or study permit (confirms legal status for non-citizens)
• Record of Landing or Confirmation of Permanent Residence, if applicable

For federal guidance on citizenship proof—especially if documents are lost or outdated—see the Government of Canada page: IRCC – Citizenship certificate (Proof of citizenship).

Effects on different groups

• Citizens: Will receive the “CAN” marker when they present appropriate proof at issuance or renewal.
• Permanent residents and temporary residents: Will continue to receive Alberta driver’s licences and access services they are entitled to, but their cards will not display any citizenship notation.
• Immigrants renewing licences: Will present current status documents (PR card, valid work/study permit) as they do today. Cards will show name, address, and class but will not include labels like “PR” or “TEMP.”
• Families and new drivers: For Canadian-born teens getting a first licence, parents should bring the child’s birth certificate or passport to ensure the “CAN” marker is added immediately. Naturalized teens should bring citizenship certificates. Permanent resident teens should bring PR documents.

Privacy, concerns, and administration

Some privacy advocates may question potential misuse of the marker. The province’s responses:

• The notation is minimal—just three letters (CAN)—and mirrors indicators used in many countries.
• It may reduce the need to carry more sensitive documents (like passports) for routine provincial tasks.
• Officials plan to publish clear document lists and provide training for registry agents.
• The government will engage with communities to ensure people who lack passports or have lost citizenship certificates can still complete renewals by using other accepted records.

Practical benefits and expectations

The update aims to reduce paperwork and day-to-day friction. Examples:

• A student applying for Alberta student aid may need one less trip to retrieve a passport or citizenship certificate.
• Seniors applying for benefits that require citizenship may experience faster identity checks at government desks.
• Election frontline workers may face less uncertainty about voter eligibility, while usual ID rules remain in force.

Industry observers note the move could reduce service delays tied to missing or mismatched status documents. If successful—by reducing mistakes, speeding service, and supporting election integrity—other provinces may consider similar notations.

Final notes and recommendations

• Officials urge residents to keep current documents in a safe place and be ready to bring them to registry offices once the Fall 2026 changes begin.
• Expect more guidance and finalized document lists from the province as the rollout approaches.