Documents Needed for Air Travel
Bringing the right identification to the airport will help with a quick identity verification and check-in process.
Remember that the name on your identification must match the name on your airline ticket and boarding pass.
Domestic air travel
If you have Canadian identification
Show one of these documents at the boarding gate:
- one piece of photo identification issued by a Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government with your full name and date of birth or
- two pieces of identification issued by a Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government. Both must have your name and at least one must have your full name and date of birth.
All government-issued identification documents (Canadian or foreign) must be valid. They cannot be expired.
Here are some examples of acceptable Canadian government-issued identification documents:
- passport
- citizenship card
- Canadian permanent resident card
- Canadian provincial or territorial driver's licence
- Canadian provincial or territorial health card
- Canadian provincial or territorial government identification cards
- birth certificate
- Record of Landing Form/Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 and IMM 5688)
- immigration documents issued to foreign nationals (e.g., Work Permit, Study Permit, Visitor Record, Temporary Resident Permit, Refugee Approved Status)
- Canadian military identification
- federal police identification
- federal or provincial government employee identification cards
- Old Age Security (OAS) identification card
- Certificate of Indian Status (Status Card) issued by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
- NEXUS card
- firearms licence
You can no longer use hunting, boating and fishing licences as identification for domestic flights.
In the event of loss or theft of identification documents, see subsection 3(2) of the Secure Air Travel Regulations for information on alternative identification requirements for domestic air travel.
If you don’t have Canadian identification
You can use one of the following pieces of photo identification issued by a government authority that shows the passenger’s surname, first name and any middle names and their date of birth and that is valid:
- passport issued by the country of which the passenger is a citizen or a national
- NEXUS card
- permanent resident card issued by the United States
- enhanced driver’s license issued in the United States
- any document referred to in subsection 50(1) or 52(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations
International air travel
Show one of these required forms of identification at the boarding gate for an international flight to/from Canada:
