Alberta’s government announced Monday that driving licenses and identification cards will have “Canadian citizenship markers.”
The change, which is the first of its kind in Canada, will be implemented at the end of 2026, Prime Minister Danielle Smith told reporters.
“We believe in improving things, faster and more convenient for everyone,” he said.
Adding citizenship information to driving licenses allows Albertaos to more effectively request funds and services such as student help, health benefits and disability support.
“This change means that when Albertaos need to demonstrate both their identity and their citizenship, they can do so with a single document,” said Smith.
The change is “also about the protection of our democracy,” he said, and pointed out that the change will help preserve the integrity and security of the elections.
Smith said that permanent residents and non -citizens who live in Alberta will not be shown on their card.
Albertans must provide citizenship or immigration tests when requesting or renewing a driver’s license, according to the province.
Driving licenses that incorporate alberta medical care card information will be extended at the same time, Smith said.
“This will also provide additional security around medical care numbers,” he said.
Smith said there are 530,438 more numbers of medical attention “than people living in Alberta.”
Alberta Service Minister and the reduction of bureaucracy, Dale Nally, also present in the announcement, said: “The way he was doing it previously only lacked security.”
“In the fall of 2026, we will now know who has Alberta Medical Care cards,” he said. “There will not be half a million false, which opens the door to the abuses.”
Nally said the federal government was consulted about change.
“The federals cannot provide us with a single data source that tells us who is Canadian, who does not,” he said. “So that immediately tells us that this is necessary.”
‘A complete redesign’
These changes, which are being implemented at the same time, are part of “a complete redesign” of the Alberta driver’s license and the identification card.
“There will be more to come, but these changes will demonstrate the security, convenience and functionality of Alberta driver’s licenses,” Nally said.
Add citizenship markers will not have an additional cost for those who request or renew your driver’s license.
A visual model of the new license has not been shared, but Nally said the citizenship score will consist of “a simple can code” on the card.
